of mice and men paper assignment of mice and men literary analysis structure

Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men paper paper assignmentassignment

OF MICE AND MENOF MICE AND MEN

LITERARY ANALYSISLITERARY ANALYSIS

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

OF MICE AND MENOF MICE AND MEN

REVIEW:REVIEW:

In addition to a thesis statement, an In addition to a thesis statement, an introduction includes:introduction includes:

An attention-getting first sentence. An attention-getting first sentence. The name of the author and the title of the The name of the author and the title of the

book.book. A preview of points that will be used to A preview of points that will be used to

support the thesis statement.support the thesis statement.

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

Now, we move on to writing structure:Now, we move on to writing structure:

Writing in present tenseWriting in present tense

Because literature is timeless, it is written about in Because literature is timeless, it is written about in present tense. For example, George and Lennie are on present tense. For example, George and Lennie are on an endless quest for their dream because the story an endless quest for their dream because the story starts anew each time a new reader picks up the book. starts anew each time a new reader picks up the book. They are forever in the circumstances of the book. To a They are forever in the circumstances of the book. To a new reader, Lennie new reader, Lennie isis mentally challenged, not mentally challenged, not waswas. . Even after you finish reading the book, Slim still Even after you finish reading the book, Slim still movesmoves with the majesty of a master craftsman. with the majesty of a master craftsman.


So let’s look at some samples of how the So let’s look at some samples of how the world in the book is caught in time. It world in the book is caught in time. It never ends.never ends.

Original: When Lennie Original: When Lennie killedkilled the mice the mice and puppy, when Carlson and puppy, when Carlson killedkilled Candy’s Candy’s dog, and when the heron dog, and when the heron ateate the snake; the snake; this all this all foreshadowedforeshadowed what what happenedhappened to to Lennie at the end. Lennie at the end.


Notice how all of the verbs or action words are in the past Notice how all of the verbs or action words are in the past tense: tense: killedkilled the mice; the mice; killedkilled Candy’s dog; the heron Candy’s dog; the heron ateate the the snake; all snake; all foreshadowedforeshadowed what what happenedhappened to Lennie. to Lennie.

The solution: simply convert the verbs to present tense.The solution: simply convert the verbs to present tense.

Revised: When Lennie Revised: When Lennie killskills the mice and puppy, when the mice and puppy, when Carlson Carlson killskills Candy’s dog, and when the heron Candy’s dog, and when the heron eatseats the the snake; this all snake; this all foreshadowsforeshadows what what happenshappens to Lennie at the to Lennie at the end. end.


Now you try one:Now you try one:

Original: George and Lennie had more Original: George and Lennie had more than just a friendship; they were different than just a friendship; they were different than any other ranch workers.than any other ranch workers.


Your correction should look like this:Your correction should look like this:

George and Lennie George and Lennie havehave more than just more than just a friendship; they a friendship; they areare different than any different than any other ranch workers. other ranch workers.


OK, your next challenge: writing in third person. This OK, your next challenge: writing in third person. This simply means taking “I,” “we,” “us,” “my,” “mine,” and simply means taking “I,” “we,” “us,” “my,” “mine,” and “our” out of your writing. Those are first-person words “our” out of your writing. Those are first-person words (pronouns).(pronouns).

In this type of paper, you need to write in third person. In this type of paper, you need to write in third person. Think of it as becoming a professional critic for this Think of it as becoming a professional critic for this paper. You don’t need to say things like “I think.” It’s paper. You don’t need to say things like “I think.” It’s implied that implied that you knowyou know. Does it make your opinion the . Does it make your opinion the only right one? No, but this is your reading of the book. only right one? No, but this is your reading of the book. When someone reads your paper, you become a When someone reads your paper, you become a source who knows what you are saying. source who knows what you are saying.


First-person example:First-person example:

Friendship can teach Friendship can teach usus some strange but some strange but meaningful lessons.meaningful lessons.

Solution: Simply remove “us.”Solution: Simply remove “us.”

Friendship can teach some strange but Friendship can teach some strange but meaningful lessons.meaningful lessons.


Now you try changing one from first Now you try changing one from first person to third person:person to third person:

My final example is a little more vague. My final example is a little more vague. Just before the scene where George kills Just before the scene where George kills Lennie, a heron snatches a snake out of Lennie, a heron snatches a snake out of the water.the water.


You could have done something like this:You could have done something like this:

Although subtle, the encounter between Although subtle, the encounter between the heron and the snake provides a the heron and the snake provides a meaningful illustration of foreshadowing.meaningful illustration of foreshadowing.


Now, let’s look at effective transitions.Now, let’s look at effective transitions.

A transition is a word or phrase that joins the A transition is a word or phrase that joins the thought or point in one paragraph with the thought or point in one paragraph with the thought or point you want to make in the next thought or point you want to make in the next paragraph. This makes your writing flow in a paragraph. This makes your writing flow in a smooth and logical pattern.smooth and logical pattern.

Let’s try to create one for these two paragraphs.Let’s try to create one for these two paragraphs.


(This is the last sentence of the prior (This is the last sentence of the prior paragraph): Never once does George take paragraph): Never once does George take advantage of Lennie’s stupidity. George advantage of Lennie’s stupidity. George regards Lennie as too good of a friend.regards Lennie as too good of a friend.

(This is the first sentence of the next (This is the first sentence of the next paragraph): Crooks is the stable buck. He paragraph): Crooks is the stable buck. He has a bent back, and he is an African has a bent back, and he is an African American.American.


(Let’s put them together as they would appear in an essay):(Let’s put them together as they would appear in an essay):

Never once does George take advantage of Lennie’s Never once does George take advantage of Lennie’s stupidity. George regards Lennie as too good of a friend.stupidity. George regards Lennie as too good of a friend.

Crooks is the stable buck. He has a bent back, and Crooks is the stable buck. He has a bent back, and he is an African American.he is an African American.

This feels disjointed. We need to create a transition that This feels disjointed. We need to create a transition that can help link the two paragraphs/ideas. Feel free to add a can help link the two paragraphs/ideas. Feel free to add a few words or change a few words if necessary.few words or change a few words if necessary.


Does yours look something like this?Does yours look something like this?

Never once does George take advantage of Lennie’s stupidity. Never once does George take advantage of Lennie’s stupidity. George regards Lennie as too good of a friend.George regards Lennie as too good of a friend.

However, Crooks, the lonely stable buck, has no such However, Crooks, the lonely stable buck, has no such friend.friend. Crooks, whose name comes from his bent and damaged Crooks, whose name comes from his bent and damaged back, is the only African American on the ranch.back, is the only African American on the ranch.

See how the word “however” and the phrase “has no such friend” ties See how the word “however” and the phrase “has no such friend” ties this paragraph to the idea expressed in the prior paragraph: this paragraph to the idea expressed in the prior paragraph: friendship. friendship.

Lennie and George are friends. They have each other. Crooks has Lennie and George are friends. They have each other. Crooks has no friends. He is lonely.no friends. He is lonely.


Try one more:Try one more:

The mice, puppy, and Curley’s wife are so weak The mice, puppy, and Curley’s wife are so weak compared to Lennie, they cannot survive.compared to Lennie, they cannot survive.

Candy’s dog is the last example of Candy’s dog is the last example of foreshadowing in the book.foreshadowing in the book.

Create an effective transition. Feel free to add Create an effective transition. Feel free to add more words, or change words, as necessary.more words, or change words, as necessary.


How does yours compare to this one?How does yours compare to this one?

The mice, puppy, and Curley’s wife are so The mice, puppy, and Curley’s wife are so weak compared to Lennie, they cannot survive.weak compared to Lennie, they cannot survive.

In much the same wayIn much the same way, Steinbeck uses , Steinbeck uses another animal, Candy’s dog, to foreshadow another animal, Candy’s dog, to foreshadow the decision George faces at the end of the the decision George faces at the end of the novel in regard to Lennie.novel in regard to Lennie.

The phrase “in much the same way” is the link The phrase “in much the same way” is the link between the two paragraphs.between the two paragraphs.


Putting the text to workPutting the text to work

In this form of writing, it’s very effective (and in In this form of writing, it’s very effective (and in this assignment, required) to use passages this assignment, required) to use passages from the book to help support your points. This from the book to help support your points. This not only provides “evidence” for your points, it not only provides “evidence” for your points, it also adds multiple voices to your writing (as also adds multiple voices to your writing (as long as you don’t overdo it).long as you don’t overdo it).

Let’s see how this works. Let’s say we’re still Let’s see how this works. Let’s say we’re still writing our paper about Crooks.writing our paper about Crooks.


The effects of this isolation become clear whenThe effects of this isolation become clear whenCrooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment inCrooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment inCrooks’s room. Lennie’s mental retardation and shortCrooks’s room. Lennie’s mental retardation and shortmemory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare hismemory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare hissoul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting asoul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting aterrifying picture for Lennie of life without George –terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George –whom Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crookswhom Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooksturns his harsh words inward. He tells Lennie howturns his harsh words inward. He tells Lennie howhard it is to be shunned by the other men, and howhard it is to be shunned by the other men, and howlonely it gets in the barn with just books to keep Crooks lonely it gets in the barn with just books to keep Crooks company.company.


There’s nothing wrong with that paragraph. However, it There’s nothing wrong with that paragraph. However, it becomes even more effective if we let Crooks do some of the becomes even more effective if we let Crooks do some of the talking, like this:talking, like this:

The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’s room. confides in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’s room. Lennie’s mental retardation and short memory span give Crooks Lennie’s mental retardation and short memory span give Crooks the confidence to bare his soul without fear of getting in trouble. the confidence to bare his soul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72).nobody” (72).


We have used Crooks’s own words to help support We have used Crooks’s own words to help support our point. Because they are Crooks’s words, we put our point. Because they are Crooks’s words, we put them in quotation marks. Notice that we put the them in quotation marks. Notice that we put the page number, in parentheses, where the quote page number, in parentheses, where the quote comes from. In this paper, we’re only using material comes from. In this paper, we’re only using material from one source, so we do not need to identify the from one source, so we do not need to identify the author with the page number; simply use the page author with the page number; simply use the page number.number.

Because the quote is shorter than four typed lines, Because the quote is shorter than four typed lines, we can just include it in the same paragraph as the we can just include it in the same paragraph as the writing that comes before it.writing that comes before it.


However, if we use quoted material that is five lines or longer, we make it However, if we use quoted material that is five lines or longer, we make it a separate paragraph; we indent all lines on the left; we take away the a separate paragraph; we indent all lines on the left; we take away the quotation marks; and we leave it double-spaced, like this:quotation marks; and we leave it double-spaced, like this:

The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks confides The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’s room. Lennie’s mental in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’s room. Lennie’s mental retardation and short memory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare retardation and short memory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare his soul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting a terrifying picture his soul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward on his own empty life:loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward on his own empty life:

S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you

like like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could could play horseshoes till it got dark, but play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. then you got to read books.

Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. (72-73)guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. (72-73)


Now, one last step. We have to complete our point with a concluding thought after the Now, one last step. We have to complete our point with a concluding thought after the quoted material. It would look something like this (PLEASE NOTE: THIS WOULD quoted material. It would look something like this (PLEASE NOTE: THIS WOULD ALL BE DOUBLE SPACED)ALL BE DOUBLE SPACED)

After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward on his own travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward on his own empty life:empty life:

S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you

had had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain’t no good. A guy needs but then you got to read books. Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. (72-73)– to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. (72-73)It’s clear that Crooks is aware of the damage loneliness is doing to his soul and that It’s clear that Crooks is aware of the damage loneliness is doing to his soul and that he envies the relationship George and Lennie share. This prompts him to offer to he envies the relationship George and Lennie share. This prompts him to offer to work for free if he is allowed to join George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own work for free if he is allowed to join George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own place. Crooks is willing to work merely for room and board if it means having human place. Crooks is willing to work merely for room and board if it means having human companionship to stave off his devastating isolation. companionship to stave off his devastating isolation.

A final note: Your follow-up discussion after the quote should be at least as long as A final note: Your follow-up discussion after the quote should be at least as long as the quote itself. Also, do not indent the follow-up paragraph. the quote itself. Also, do not indent the follow-up paragraph.


One last requirement:One last requirement:• Format your first page according to MLA style (all double-Format your first page according to MLA style (all double-

spaced):spaced):Your last name 1Your last name 1

Your first and last name Your first and last name Mr. JohnstonMr. Johnston Communications 9 HonorsCommunications 9 Honors 4 June 20134 June 2013

TITLE IS CENTEREDTITLE IS CENTERED

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