AQA GCSE English Literature Exams - 20th and 23rd May 2013 *OFFICAL THREAD*

old, likes to gossip, lonely, an outcast, etc.

Has candy come up before?

I think the of mice and men question will be about Crooks and how people portrayed black people at the time linking to racial prejudice. What does everyone think the woman in black question will be about?

Is it possible that the barn could come up for OMAM?

Any revision for it?

Please can someone mark this- Of Mice and Men

a) How is Curley represented in this passage? (From “at that moment a young man” to “shifted his feet nervously”)?

b) How does Steinbeck use Curley in the rest of the novella to convey attitudes towards the weak at the time it was set?

Curley enters as a ‘young man’. This can be clearly contrasted with the elderly Candy and it is clear that Curley in his youth has potential for damage. He also “wore high heeled boots” where the terms ‘high’ and ‘boots’ provide an impression of his high status within the ranch. He does not seem as humble as Slim who wore a ‘crushed Stetson hat’ which suggests that Curley is not afraid to flaunt his possessions. Steinbeck may have intended to contrast Curley with the boss who was a “nice fella” unlike Curley and this is representative of how some people became “mean” at working at the ranch for too long.

He also “wore a work glove” in his hand. Since this is an example of how Curley tried to distinguish him from others, it also indicates that he was a good worker which is surprising since he is the bosses son, the reader would have expected him to be indolent. This is an example of the harsh times of the Great Depression where people were forced to work. His eyes “passed over the new men” which is similar to that of a bird scanning for its prey. However, when “he glanced coldly” the juxtaposition of the two words provides the impression that automatically, he dislikes the new ranch members. Steinbeck may be portraying the lack of trust the ranch members had with each other but could also symbolize the predatory nature of the world where people would not rely upon support others. However, it is evident that Steinbeck is foreshadowing the confrontation between Lennie and Curley and has effectively managed to represent the savage nature of Curley who would soon become an impediment for George and Lennie achieving their dream.

Curley is described as a “mean little guy” which not only represents the predatory nature of society where Curley due to his height, has to prove himself worthy. However, in the fight scene, Curley who exclaims “no son-of-a-b**** is going to laugh at me” takes advantage of Lennie’s mental, “kid” disability and attacks him. Lennie is described as a “terrier” and the use of this anthropomorphism indicates how he is vulnerable and subject to Curley’s torture. However, Curley is afraid of Slim, despite being the boss’s son, since all he can do is “glare” at Candy despite having the strength and body advantage. Steinbeck may have portrayed this as being a situation where the strong attack the weak, and the weak attack those who are weaker. However, as Candy was under Slim’s protection, he could only attack Lennie. This can be linked to the Great Depression which was a time of survival of the fittest since the itinerant worker had to fight to secure a job.

Curley’s wife is depicted as a possession of Curley’s. For instance, she is never named in the novel and is described as being “brittle.” This adjective is used to describe something that looks strong but in fact, it is weak on the inside. This is representative of Curley’s wife who is also subject to Curley’s “glova fulla Vaseline.” Here, it seems that she is a possession of Curley and Steinbeck may have criticized this social attitude via Slim, who does not call her a “tart” or a “looloo” but rather, greets her with “hello beautiful.” Slim is someone who overlooks social restriction- in this case her gender- and shows respect to Curley’s wife.

The reader may at first believe she was pathetic in marrying Curley but later we being to sympathise wither her. For instance, Curley’s wife is lonesome and solitary but we learn the true value of women was to be mere sex objects that were worth “two an-a half! Whilst a bottle of whisky was worth just a tiny bit less- “two bits.” This clearly shows the role of women in society was to be objects for men or to stay at home, the contrast between “two bits” and “two an’ a half” is apparent as it seems that women were not worth more than alcohol. Steinbeck has presented this using a dialogue but this also shows that brothels were seen as normal and not strange. This is also symbolism behind Curley’s wife who wore “a red dress” which foreshadows their ultimate fate and the abandoning of the American Dream, Women here are represented like Eve from the Garden of Eden where death and destruction follows as a result and although red can symbolize passion, it is a warning that she will be involved with Curley’s wife’s fate.

so i think we need a revision break

Who watched suits???

[video="youtube;85z53bAebsI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85z53bAebsI[/video]

the subjects i will e doing are not as varied as yours
im going to do : maths, FM,AFM, bio,chem,physics
ive already got an A in AS maths... so you could say 5 .. but i will finish the A-level next year hehe

the best guy that i know of did 8... he went to cambridge to do maths.. he got 5A* and 2 A's

im gob smacked lol

ryan

I'm doing Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls tomorrow. Does anybody have any ideas what the questions might be on?

I'm doing Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls tomorrow. Does anybody have any ideas what the questions might be on?