First, we’ll do a little writing based on your poem. On your blog, respond to the following prompt:

Take a look at the poem you’re presenting on Friday.  Try and give a more or less literal summary of the poem.  What are the parts that you don’t understand? What are the parts that you think are interesting uses of words or imagery?  What do you like best about your poem?  (200 words)

Then, we’ll spend a little time working on memorizing.  We’ll spend the time we need  to make our poems seem as natural as possible.

Next, we’ll see a short presentation on literary terms: irony, foreshadowing, and conflict.

Finally, we’ll answer questions about Chapter 4 in OMM and hopefully get a headstart on Chapter 5 in class.

HW: Read Chapter 5 and be ready to present your poem on Friday

that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.”

–Chp.1 Of Mice and Men

First, I’ll do a little presentation on literary terms in Of Mice and Men. We’ll look at characterization and theme.

Then, groups will choose either George or Lenny and they’ll go through the methods of characterization and quote from chapter 1 a short sample that show that method and what it says about the character. Handout

Next, we’ll read a bit from chapter 2 and talk a bit about the new characters. I’ll then ask you to respond in a short writing assignment to the following prompt:

Take the discussion between George and the Boss.  What happens? What theme do you think Steinbeck is working with here and what is he saying?

Put your answer here.

Finally, we’ll take some time to work in memorizing pairs and work together to get the poems memorized.

HW: Read chapter 2 (pgs. 16-37).  Keep memorizing.  Remember, we see each other for a full A-day Monday.

Let’s start with a scavenger hunt to introduce Of Mice and Men–our next book. Each group should record their answers here.

1) What was the price of a coat during the 1930s when the book was set and published (1937)?

2) The book takes places in Salinas, California.  What towns are near Salinas? What’s the nearest big city?

3) Explain what a bindlestiff is and what their lives were like  in the 20s and 30s.

4) John Steinbeck was a controversial writer. Explain why he was famous and why he was controvesial.

5) Where does the title Of Mice and Men come from and what does it mean?

6) Give me a few of the lyrics of a popular song written within a few years of 1937.

7) How were mentally disabled people treated during the 1930s? Give your source and be as specific as possible.

Eight) Find and name a famous painting (and the painter) that was painted in 1937.

9) Something happened to one of Steinbeck’s early drafts of Of Mice and Men. What happened?

10) How did people dress in 1937?  Find 2 pictures: 1 of well-off people and another of working class people.

Resources: Life Magazine photo archive, American Memory, National Steinbeck society, Prices: Then and Now, Surviving the Dust Bowl.

After we do that and share our answers, we’ll start reading Of Mice and Men’s first chapter.

Finally, I want to spend some time memorizing our poems.  We’ll get buddy’s to help each other and try to get up to 14 lines by the end of the day.

HW:  Read chapter 1 (pgs. 1-16) and have 14 lines memorized.

So, we’ll see the last bit of OMM first.

Next, I’ll ask you to write a bit:

1. Write 3 questions that Of Mice and Men makes you wonder about. Questions can be anything from “What’s a bindlestiff?” to “Why did it have to end this way?”
2. How does the movie end differently (in a subtle way) from the movie?  Why?
3. Why doesn’t Steinbeck let this end happily? How would it be different if it did?
4. Go through each of the characters (George, Lennie, Curley, Curley’s wife, Candy, Crooks, Slim, etc.).  What do they want out of life and what prevents them from being happy?
5. Why do you think this story gets taught so often in public schools? What is the appeal?

Next, I’ll give back your Moral Decision papers and ask you to correct mistakes and especially look for examples of showing that you could insert into your stories.

Finally, I hope to get started with persuasion.

HW: Please read about the debate: Is Spanking an Acceptable Form of Discipline? Read about both sides and write 200 words about what you noticed about different methods of arguing.

Image Credit: Opposing Views

We start with some questions about Chapter 3 and a discussion.

Then, I’ll present a bit about metaphors, similes, and personification.

Next, I’ll ask you to create your own metaphor/similes. Finish the following sentences. See these bad metaphors for inspiration.

1. My sister is so smart, she’ like ________________.
2. The movie ____________ is so boring it was like _________________.
3. ______________ is so attractive she/he _____________________.
4. I can’t believe my dog! He’s so dumb he is like a _______________.
5. My ___________ class was so fascinating that it was like ____________.
6. My __________ teacher is so mean he is like _______________________.

Then, it’s time for a metaphor, etc. hunt through chapter 3. The first team that finds 8 metaphors gets a prize!

Now, it’s time for the Moral Decision Making Paper! We’ll go through it and go hunting for decisions in OMM.

If we have time, we’ll read a bit from Chapter 4. Or…take a look at the 60 minutes piece: Was it Murder?

HW:  Read Chapter 4. Be ready for the quiz. Start thinking up ideas for your own moral decisions and OMM decisions.