Homework - Section A (question a) (Of Mice and Men) 27/3/12 - Due in 29/3/12

Hello gang,

Here is your homework; neglect it at your peril!

Answer the following question:

How does the language in the extract influence your view of the relationship between George and Lennie?

Write 2x P.E.A paragraphs, each one double blocked.  For each quotation, you need both language and word level analysis.  The start of each P.E.A needs to be an umbrella point.

Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The

shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as

quietly as little gray sculptured stones. And then from the direction of the state

highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits

hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air and

pounded down river. For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men

emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.

They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one

stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats

with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight

blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark

of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was

defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him

walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and

wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the

way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung

loosely.

The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over

him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and

snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung

himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long

gulps, snorting into the water like a horse. The small man stepped nervously

beside him.

“Lennie!” he said sharply. “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.”

Lennie continued to snort into the pool. The small man leaned over and shook

him by the shoulder. “Lennie. You gonna be sick like you was last night.”

Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the

bank and his hat dripped down on his blue coat and ran down his back. “That’s

good,” he said. “You drink some, George. You take a good big drink.” He

smiled happily.

George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank. “I ain’t sure it’s

good water,” he said. “Looks kinda scummy.”

Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water

arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came

back again. Lennie watched them go. “Look, George. Look what I done.”

George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops.

“Tastes all right,” he admitted. “Don’t really seem to be running, though. You

never oughta drink water when it ain’t running, Lennie,” he said hopelessly.

“You’d drink out of a gutter if you was thirsty.” He threw a scoop of water into

his face and rubbed it about with his hand, under his chin and around the back

of his neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew

up his knees and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated

George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them,

looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat

down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s hat was.