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Language Arts Blog

"This is my 9th grade English Blog.

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Here we post all the pieces we do, including all the novel activities done.

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There are activities on the elements of writing and book summaries.

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Please look forward to reading the pieces I have done."

Dora Almeida

Of Mice and Men - Literary Terms

Foreshadow
“’Course you did. Well, look. Lennie-if you jus’ happen to et in trouble like you always done before, I want you o come right here an’ hide in the brush.” (15)

Foreshadowed that Lennie would get in trouble, and that he would need to go there to the brush to hide

When Lennie looks with curiosity at Curley’s wife it foreshadows that something would happen between those two. When George tells Lennie to stay away from her it foreshadows that he would get in trouble because of her.

Irony
When George killer Lennie it was irony because people didn’t expect George to actually kill his friend. It was irony because something that the characters never expected to happen happened.

It was an example of irony when Crooks let Lennie in to his room. This was it because Crooks didn’t talk to anyone and there he was talking to Candy and Lennie.

Alliteration:
Of Mice and Men

Symbolism:
George and Lennie’s farm is an example of symbolism.
Candy’s dog is an example of symbolism.

Animal Imagery:
“As strong as a bull.”
“Pet it like a mouse.”

Tone
When George is angry at Lennie at he expresses all his feeling for having to take of Lennie instead of being able to do what he wanted.
The tone he uses with Lennie expresses angriness, desperation, and reality of the problem.

Then when he when he sees what he did, he changes his tone to one of guilt, and regret. He felt sorry for his loss of control, and they way he talked to Lennie.

Point of View
The story has the third person or Omniscient Point of view. The narrator tells the story from an outsider’s point of view, describing what the characters say and feel, however not describing their thoughts from inside their minds.
If this story was told from another’s point of view it would probably have being from the first person point of view or the familiar point of view. It would’ve probably being told from George’s side of the story, alternating a few times with Lennie’s point of view.



Setting
It is important because it describes where the story takes place, but it also creates a connection with the history of the place. It describes the events that were taking place at that time and how people were being affected by it. It shows how the main characters had to interact due to certain conflicts, but also how other people in general were affected by it.

Diction
In this novel the author chose to use the language that was used at that certain time period, but also how people with the characters social status used to talk. The characters worked in farmers so they made words shorter, and had a simpler language.
An example is this: “You gonna be sick like you was last night.” (Pg 3)

Theme
The theme of the story talks about Decisions, Actions, and Consequences. The basic meaning of this is that for every choice you make, you‘ll have to take action, or be involved in some, which might lead to certain consequences. In this story, George chose to run away with Lennie in order to try having a better life. He chose to believe that things would improve. However, things weren’t exactly how he hoped and Lennie ended up killing Curley’s wife. This action forced George to kill Lennie. This was just another consequence for the wrong action, led by the wrong choice.

Of Mice and Men - Irony

Verbal Ironies -
Verbal irony occurs when an author or character says one thing but means something else.
Eg: When it is a dark, gloomy, rainy day, and someone says "what a nice day"

Situational Ironies -
Situational irony is an inconsistency between what the audience or reader expects and what actually happens.
Eg: When you have stayed up all night cramming for a test the next day, and the test is actually next week.

Dramatic Ironies -
Dramatic irony occurs when an audience or reader knows something that a characters does not know.
Eg: On a TV talk show, a guest thinks she is there to have a makeover, but the audience knows that she will soon be confronted by her cheating boyfriend.

Of Mice and Men Ironies

"She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak in the dark and get outta the country. All the time somethi' like that - all the time. I wish Icould put you in a cage with about a million mice an' let you have fun.' His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie's anguished face, and the he looked ashamedly at the flames." (Pg 11)

This is a verbal irony becasue George doesn't want Lennie to get hurt, he siad becasue he was angry. They got in trouble becaseu Lennie wanted to pet the girl, but when George says he would like to put Lennie in a cage with a million mice he doesn't mean it. Becasue he knows that if he did it he would just be hurting LEnnie and causing him to be scared of mice. George didn't mean to say it.

"An' she stopped givi' 'em to ya. You always killed 'em." "They was so little.' he said, apologetically. "I'd pet 'em, and pretty soon they bit my figers and I pinched their heads a little and they was dead." (Pg 10)

"Lennie said, 'Oh! That's nice,' and he stroked harder." "And then she cried angriliy, 'You stop it now, you'll mess it all up.' She jerjed her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on. 'Let go,' she cried. 'You let go!"

"Don't you go yellin' , ' he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck." (Pg 91)

This is situational irony, because something we didn't expect happened. We knew Lennie killed mice becasue he just wanted to pet them, and they would get angry or scared and he killed them by accident. We just never expected Lennnie to end up killing and actual person, the same way. He just wanted to pet Curley's wife, she wanted him to stop. She tried screaming, and he killied her by accident.

"Lennie turned his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabilans." "George began. he reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Lunger; he snapped oo the safety, and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lennie's back." (Pg 105)

This is dramatic irony, becaseu the reader knows that George is gonna kill Lennie, but Lennie odesn't know. He is facing the other ways while GEorge is getting all his courage to shhot him. This all takes place without Lennie knowing.

Of Mice and Men - Symbolism

Symbols :

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts

Symbolism in Writing

In literature symbolism is used to present something that has a meaning beyond what is said or seen. It creates other levels of thinking and understanding. Symbols can use or help present the theme or conflict of the story. These symbols don't always have to be symbolic, and their meanings might change as the story goes. Like for example a garden can just be a garden, until you find out that the whole world has been turned into buildings. Sometimes it takes a while to understand the meaning of the symbol. However, with time and maturity, the different significances will come easier.

Symbolism - Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck used many different symbols in his novel. Some of these symbol we understand right at the beginning of the story while others we only understand at the end of the novel. These symbol create different paths to follow the story, and many of them influence the final conflicts.

Some of these Symbol are George and Lennie's farm, Lennie's puppy, Lennie's mouse, Candy's dog and the opening by the river.

George and Lennie's farm symbolizes their dream. A dream that leads us and the characters through the story. It is their motivation, a goal that prevents them from giving up on life. It is important to have in this world. A path that shows you the dreams you can only achieve with hope.

Lennie's puppy symbolizes how easily dreams can be destroyed. It symbolizes all the hope the characters had and how with just a few mistakes everything was shattered. The puppy at the beginning showed that there was maybe a possibility for the better, but with its death the symbol showed how things just ended.

Lennie's mouse symbolizes the innocence of living things. It symbolizes how even the worst things are good deep inside, and how their action can change things. The mouse symbolizes the harmless, and the ones that mean no danger. This is why it is so important in the story, it creates a connection with Lennie.

Candy's dog symbolizes aging and death. It symbolizes the passage of time and how everything becomes old. It also symbolizes the death that one day will come, either by choice or by fate. It makes us see how everything will one day have no use and that even if they did everything they could to make the world better, death would still arrive. It is just how life should be, time passes, years go by, and everything ages.

The opening by the river or the brush, symbolizes security and an escape. It symbolizes that there should always be a place where people can run to for their different reasons. In the story, the brush was a place where George could encounter Lennie if things went bad. When things actually went bad it was where both Lennie and George went, each with a different reason. Lennie went there with the hope that George would find him. George however, ran there to find his friend before others and kill him.

Of Mice and Men - Animal Imagery

Authors often use animal imagery to create a picture in the reader's mind. They use certain animals or animal to human metaphors to describe how a setting, or character is. Animal Imagery can be used to describe how somethings is physically or mentally.
In the book of Mice and Men animal imagery is often used to describe Lennie. Some examples are:

Page Quotation Effect

Pg 1 "...so crisp that a lizard..."
This creates a peaceful, calm setting. It introduces the reader to where the story takes place, and how this affects the characters. It creates an image in the reader's mind, showing him where the characters are.

Pg 2 "dragging his feet the way Lennie is big, walks like a animal a bear drags his paw"
This quote makes the reader "see" Lennie. With the use of this metaphor we know that Lennie walks like an animal, and not like a human.

Pg 3 "snorting into the water like a horse"
This use of imagery shows that Lennie is uncivilized, with no manners. He doesn't act like a person and drinks like a horse would. This also shows that he doesn't care about how others see him as.

Pg 3 "dabbled his big paw"
Lennie has huge hands, that look more like an animal's paw than a human's hand. This shows how far Lennie is from having the appearance of a normal person.

Pg 5 "It's only a mouse, George"
This image of the mouse shows how harmless creatures can be. They don't make a difference in the world. Lennie tries to show George that nothing bad will happen if he keeps the mouse. Certain things don't chnage anything.

Pg 9 "Like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master"
This shows that Lennie is very stubborn. However, even though he is like that he still obeys. He ends up obeying George even if its not something he would like to do.

Pg 10 " Carp rose to the surface, gulped air, and sank mysteriously"
This creates a transition in the story. It shows the passage of time, and the silence it creates. It also creates the atmosphere of thought the characters are in.

Pg 11 "pet it like a mouse"
This creates a contrast between what Lennie looks like and what he actually is. He is just like a innocent child, who does not mean any harm to others. The fact that he said he just wanted to pet the woman's dress like a mouse shows that he did it without the knowledge that it was a bad thing.

Pg 12 "Shoot you for a coyote"
This creates a wild picture of Lennie. A picture that descriubes how savage he is, and how close to an animal he is. He is just like a human beast, with the feelings of a child.

Pg 24 "Strong as a bull"
This like all other animal imagery demonstrates how stong Lennie is. It uses a metaphor to create a contrast of a bull to Lennie.

These are some examples of animal imagery. In this book they are mainly used to describe Lennie.

Of Mice and Men - Summary Ch 5 and Ch 6

1) What things does Lennie do or say that show he is mentally retarded? List at least three specific acts or incidents.

Lennie catches the girl's dress at Wedd. He also can' t remember the things George tells him, like where they were going to. Then at last he kills Curley's wife because he didn't want to stop petting her hair, and she strated to scream.

2) a. Is George's treatment of Lennie fair? Explain.

I think George's treatment of Lennie is fair, becaus it is the only way Lennie understands what he is supposed to do. It is hard live with people who a mentally disabled, and if you sometimes don't treat them harshly they won't understand.

b. Is George's treatment of Lennie understandable? Explain.

Yes, becasue in the world they live in people rarely have a second chance. If Lennie and George really wanted to achieve their dream, George would need to make Lennie understand how things should be.

c. Could he have helped him more? How?

I don't think he could've helped Lennie more. George had already gone through a lot becasue of Lennie, and he didn't want to spend the rest of his life runnig away. He wanted to stay in one place, to finally get what he always wanted, and the only way to do it would be if Lennie comprehended what he was supposed to do.

3) How do these characters treat Lennie and why? Give one incident for each that shows his/her treatment of Lennie.

a. Candy - He treats Lennie like a father. He feels like he has to protect their dream, and that he has to help Goorge take care of him. He knows that the proper way people should talk to Lennie is like a small child.

b. Curley's wife - She treats him with curiosity. She knows that Lennie is like a small child, and she knows it is easy to expoit him. She uses this to her advantage, however this is the reason why she ended up dead.

c. Crooks - He treats Lennie somehow normal, becasue he knows how it is to be different. However he feels sorry for Lennie the same way he feels about himself. He just can't see how being the way he is, Lennie eneded up happy and not discriminated like himself. This is why Crooks tries to make Lennie feel what he felt.

4) Why does Lennie kill the puppy and later the girl?

He killed them by accident. He just wanted to pet them, however he was petting them way to hard. The dog tried to bite him to get away, and the girl tried to scream. He, angry and also scared killed them by accident.

5) Do you think Lennie had to be shot? What were some other alternatives? What would have happened to Lennie ig George hadn't shot him?

I think Lennie's death was the only way to end all the conflicts in the story. Lennie did many things by accident, but those accident forced him and George to keep running away from their dream. He was walking along the line of what was acceptable and what was not. However with the girl's death he crossed the line, demolishing all hopes for one day having a better life. George could not let this mistake pass by without doing anything, and if he did he would just push his dream farther away. He would have to either run away again and leave everything behind or let someone else kill his friend.

6) how is the killing of Lennie similar to the killing of Candy's dog? Why do you think George killef Lennie himself instead of letting the men do it?

The killing was similar because both death were needed. Candy's dog was too old and useless, and Lennie had killed Curley's wife. If they weren't killed the would just create more suffering. george didn't let someone else kill Lennie becasue he didn't want what happened to Candy's dog to happen to his friend. He didn't want to let a stranger kill his friend. He wanted to make Lennie's death as peaceful as possible.

Of Mice and Men - Summary Ch 3 and Ch 4

1) Why doesn't Candy want to kill his dog?

Because it is his friend. He took care of the dog since it was a puppy, and he doesn't want to be left alone. Candy is also scared thar people wiol just do the same things to him when he becomes useless.

2) Are Candy's feelings understandable?

Have you ever felt very attached to an old or sick animal that had to be put to sleep? Explain your feelings.

Yes, I think candy's feelings are understandable based on my own past experiences. When I was smaller I was very attached to one of my grandmother's dog. He was very old and was suffering too much, so my grandma decided that it was better to kill him. I felt devastated and somehow scared. I was just seeing a old dog be killed becasue he was useless, and somehow that felt wrong. I wouldn't like to be killed when i became old, so why were they doing it to the dog.

3) Why does Candy say later on that he should have shot his dog himself and not let a stranger do it?

I think it was becasue the dog was hif friend, and he let his friend's last image before death be of a stranger. The same thing happened to me, but it was a bit different. Before death my grandfather told all his children not to bring his grandchildren to the funeral. The day he was burried my mom did not let me go, and I obeyed. However, I later found out that all my cousin had gone and that my brother and I were the only ones who did not see him one last time. I felt really sad that instead of going there and seeing him one last time I chose to let everyone else do it for themselves and me.

4)Why did Curley pick on Lennie?

He picked on Lennie becasue he was jealous, of Lennie's size and strengh. He hates men that are bigger than him, so he treats them badly.

5)Describe Curley's main problem in your opinion?

I think it somehow is revenge. Curley a short not so stong man, grew up in a big farm with big stong men. This probably was very hard for him, seeing so many people biiger than him. Maybe the other workers even made fun of him, making him so angry that he picks on them whenever he can.

6)Why didn't Lennie fight back at first when Curley hit him?

The reason was that Lennie is a very innocent man. He doesn't wnat to hurt anyone, and wheneve he does it is by accident. He is too nice, and does not know that his strengh could destory many.

7) What happened to Curley as a result of picking Lennie?

Lennie was told by George to hurt him, and becasue of that Curley's hand was crushed.

8) How does Crooks react to Lennie's appearance at the door of his room? He was surprised, but also angly. He didn't know who Lennie was, and what were his intention there. But he was also angy since he thought Lennie was just there to make fun of him.

9)Crooks says people at the ranch don't like him because:
He is black. This is why he tries to stay away from teh,, and them from him.

10)Crooks invites Lennie to stay and talk to him becasue:

He sees Lennie's innocent smile. He sees that Lennie meant no harm, and that he was just the person Crooks needed. Someone Crooks could open up with, and talk about he thought and felt. He also wanted Lennie to suffer a bit with the world's reality, and maybe wake up.

Of Mice and Men - Summary Ch 1 and Ch 2

Chapter Summary (1 & 2)

1) Describe the following characters b using at least one important fact about their personality or appearance.

George - small, quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features. Arrogant, caring, experienced, aggressive, weary, and altruistic.

Lennie - huge, shapeless face, wide sloping shoulders. Needs to be taken care of, likes to take care, with no knowledge of his own power. Childlike, innocent, good worker, with disabilities.

Curley - short, short tempered, hates the fact that other people can be bigger than him. Takes advantage of people, only cares about himself.

Slim - master craftsmen, majesty, power, ruler of the ranch, strong, powerful, leader. People respect him, he has great authority, and full understanding of matters.

Carlson - strong, big-stomached.

2) Why does Lennie like mice, puppies and rabbits?

He likes to pet them, to take care of them. Its hard to believe such a big guy could have such a personality, but Lennie is different. He likes taking care of them, as if he was their father. The only problem is that he ends up hurting them.

3)
a) When did George meet Lennie?
They met while they were bot working in Weed. Lennie's aunt asked George to take care of him.

b) From his actions how do you think George feels about Lennie?
I think he sees Lennie as a little brother he has to take care of. A brother that needs to hear things more than once. One that loves pets. He can sometimes be annoying but he is still George's "younger brother".

c) Why do you think George takes care of Lennie?
George takes care of Lennie because they are the only thing each other have. Only together can they achieve their dreams. They are together because they don't want to be alone.

4) Describe the dream George and Lennie share?

They have a dream of one day buying a piece of land where they could grow their own crops. They would like to have their own house, and also many animals such as cows, pigs, and rabbits. They would life out of the fat of the land, which means live out of what they grew and produced. This dream was what made them keep moving forward.

5) What did Lennie do in Weed that got him in trouble?

In Weeds Lennie toucheda girl's dress, with just the intention of petting it like a mouse. However, no one understood it, since Lennie was such a big guy. This forced George and Lennie to run away and find somewhere else to work.

Of Mice and Men - Character Pictures

George Milton

Curley and his Wife

Crooks the Stable Buck

Of Mice and Men Synopsis

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Synopsis:
Of Mice and Men is the story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two friends that go to work in a farm in order to achieve their dream. The story takes place around the 1930s in the old California. There laborers work day and night on the farms carrying grains from one place to another. Men never settle into one place and most live alone, a difference that separates most from George and Lennie.
The story begins with George and Lennie going to their new farm. On the road we are introduced to the main characters and their past experiences. The readers discover that Lennie has a mental problem and can't understand nor remember things properly. He is a very innocent man with the brain of small kid. This is the reason why they were on the road. Lennie, with no bad intentions grabbed a woman's dress, only meaning to pet it like a mouse. However no one saw the real truth, since Lennie is a huge, strong man, who many are scared of. This caused him to run away from the farm and find another job at a farm. George as always, had to go with him, in order to prevent Lannie from being caught. George is a short man, who takes care of his friend like an older brother. Even though George says he's tired of taking care of Lennie, he doesn't want to be alone. The world they live in is very harsh, and the only thing they have is each other.

The introduction also brings the knowledge of their dream. This dream is a symbol, a place with a deeper meaning. Its their goal, a path that keeps them going. Both man are working hard in order to one day have a better life. This dream connects Lennie and George to other characters.

Later at the farm we meet the other characters. Candy the old man who has been in the farm for many yeras. Curley the Boss' son, who is extermely jealous of big guys. Curley's wife, who flirts with all men in the farm. Slim the prince of the ranch, a man with great authority and power. Carlson, who thinks life can always be easier when you just do things. Then there's Crooks the old stable buck, who because of his skin color suffered a lot of discrimination. These characters are the first introduced to us and the most important ones.

At the farm a few conflicts happen that make us understand the deeper meaning of the conflict. Conflicts that explain the character's reasons for life and the reason they are there. Conflicts that establish relationships and enemies. This is just the beggining to what is to come.