Power, Justice, and Culpability: Of Mice and Men and The Central Park Five

Lesson 8
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ELA

Unit 3

9th Grade

Lesson 8 of 30

Objective


Analyze how Steinbeck develops characters and explain what characters' actions and beliefs can reveal about human nature.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  pp. 38 – 65

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What does the idea of owning a farm represent to George, Lennie, and Candy? What does this suggest about human nature more broadly? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking. 

Criteria for Success

  • Identifies that owning a farm represents a future where they are: self-reliant; have companionship; can follow their passions; can settle down (not have to travel constantly looking for work).
  • Identifies the positive impact of simply having a dream on the men.
  • Identifies that dreams can be a source of comfort and motivation for people.
  • Provides at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What does George's story on page 40 reveal about his character? What does it suggest about power and human nature more generally? Provide evidence from this page and carefully explain your thinking. 

  • Consider the story of Candy's dog. What does the dog represent to Candy? Why does he say, "I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog" (61)? Provide evidence from this page and carefully explain your thinking.

  • What does Slim's social position on the ranch reveal about power and human nature more generally? Provide evidence from pages 39–54 and carefully explain your thinking.

Vocabulary


Text-based

reprehensible

adj.

deserving of blame and harsh criticism; disgraceful

bemused

adj.

1. puzzled or confused 2. lost in thought

Notes


Today's text includes a derogatory term for a Japanese person (57) and a disabled person (45). Today's reading also includes the n-word.

Homework


  • Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  pp. 66 – 76

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What is the setting of this scene?

  • Why is Lennie in the barn?

  • Where are all the other men?

  • Why does Crooks live alone?

  • What does Crooks tell Lennie?

  • How does Lennie respond?

Annotation Focus

Annotate lines of text that reveal aspects of Crooks' character and his character's motivations.

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Standards


  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.4
RL.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.1
W.9-10.9
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Lesson 7

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Lesson 9

Lesson Map

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