Example Higher English Essay
‘Of Mice and Men’
Before We Start
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The Question:
‘Choose
a novel or short story in which there is an obvious climax or turning point. Show how the author arrives
at the turning point and then discuss the consequences of it for the final
outcome of the story. You may wish to mention techniques such as
characterisation, structure, description or any other appropriate feature.’
[Intro]
The turning point of the
novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck is when Lennie
accidentally kills Curley’s wife. The novel is set in America
at the time of the depression. Two migrant workers, George and Lennie join a ranch
to work. Like the other misfits they meet in the novel, they work for low wages
while dreaming of a better life. After this turning point their dreams are over
and George shoots Lennie out of pity before he can be lynched.
[Curley’s wife]
Curley’s
wife is lonely and not tolerated by the farm workers, who visit prostitutes
rather than having real relationships with women. Her name is not given in the
book, showing that people do not really know her. Like Crooks, who is a victim
of racism, she is isolated. She seeks out Lennie for friendship, but due to his
strength she dies. Therefore the book shows us that people who have a low
position in society lead a lonely and short life. The death of Curley’s wife
is the beginning of the end
for Lennie and his dream of owning a ranch with George.
[The turning point / description]
The author’s use of description is vital to the turning point:
She jerked her head sideways and Lennie’s
fingers closed on her hair and hung on … She struggled violently under
his hands … And then she was still, for Lennie had broke her neck.
It
is as though Lennie has no control over his own fingers – they are acting
independently of him. Her death happens very quickly, suggesting that life is
cheap in the world of the novel.
[The opening chapter /
the character of Lennie ]
At
the start, the reader is given the impression that Lennie’s strength and low
intelligence will lead to tragedy. The writer’s use of word choice helps
portray Lennie as an overgrown child at the start of the novel:
Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled
his fingers so that the water arose in little splashes … ‘Look
George, look what I done.’
The fact
that ripples in the water amuse Lennie and are seen by him as an achievement
helps convey his immaturity to the reader. The use of the word
‘paw’ suggests that he is more like an animal than a man. He clearly
loves animals and collects pet mice, but always ends up killing them with his
great strength. This also shows his dependency on George, who is almost like a
parent.
[Animal imagery]
Animals
are used in the novel in several ways. When he and George fantasise about
having their own farm, he looks forward to keeping rabbits, showing his kind
and gentle nature. Lennie is not the only farm worker who feels close to
animals. The death of Candy’s dog makes him join Lennie and
George’s scheme. The title ‘Of Mice and Men’ alludes the
Robert Burns poem. Like the mouse in the poem, after the death of
Curley’s wife, the men’s plan comes to nothing. After the turning
point, the men’s ‘best laid schemes’ come to nothing.
[The fight with Curley]
The
aspirations of ordinary people is the main theme of the novel and is shown in the scene
where Curley attacks Lennie and has his hand crushed:
Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. ‘What the hell you laughin’ at?’
Curley
decides to pick a fight with Lennie as he hates people who are bigger than him.
Curley is also compared to an animal
– as though he is little better than a savage – but small -
dog. He uses violence to make up for the fact none of the other workers respect
him. He is a sad character like Crooks and Candy. This incident prepares us for
the death of Curley’s wife in chapter five.
[The outcome]
The outcome of the turning point is that George is forced to kill Lennie before the
other farm workers get hold of him. The reader is left with a feeling of
sadness because George is a friend to Lennie to the end, and does what he has
to do. I felt pity for the poor farm workers who have no control over their
lives.
[Conclusion]
In the tragic world of the novel ‘Of Mice And Men’ Steinbeck
uses description and characterisation to prepare us for the turning point
in the novel and its pessimistic ending. He uses the story of George and Lennie
to make the reader think about the hopes and dreams of ordinary people at the
bottom of society.
Commentary
I discuss a turning point in this essay. The climax of ‘Of
Mice and Men’ would probably be when George shoots Lennie.
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Topic sentence, addressing the question.
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Plot summary – a few sentences to give the beginning, middle
and end of the story.
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Here I explain the importance of this turning point and what it
means to the theme of the novel. Whatever question I answer on the day, I will
mention characters, theme and three different points of the story.
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I haven’t mentioned the question yet in the paragraph, so this
sentence is to reassure the marker that this discussion of Curley’s wife
is relevant to the essay.
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For this essay, I’ll write about the turning point of the
novel; then the start; followed by Lennie’s fight with Curley; then a
summary of the climax.
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In this paragraph, I talk about the start of the book, the character
of Lennie and the main theme of the novel – in this essay, I argue that
it is: ‘the aspirations of ordinary people’
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This paragraph covers several different points in the novel. This
shows the marker I am thinking about the novel as a whole, although most of
this essay concentrates on three points in the story. I can use a paragraph
about animal imagery in an essay about character or an essay about theme.
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I mention theme in every prose essay. The marker will be interested
in what you think the theme is; and it s likely you will get a theme question
every year.
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This carries on from the discussion of the novel’s title and
animal imagery.
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I don’t use any quotes or analysis in this paragraph as I have
covered two points of the book in detail. I sum up the outcome of the turning
point and use this to bring the essay to a close.
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The most straightforward way of introducing your conclusion is
simply to mention the full title of the novel again. I use the phrase
‘tragic world’ as this makes my summing up slightly more stylish.
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