A prequel to 'Of Mice and Men' - Drawn together.

Drawn together Dawn had barely passed when the playful sounds of laughing and splashing filled the air by a small river in Auburn. The sun streaked heavily through the crispy remains of the last leaves in autumn. It was just cold enough to see your breath floating away in front of you like a tiny silver cloud. The sudden sound of a loud shout encouraged many resting birds to fling them selves noisily from the huge birch trees; causing a shower of autumn leaves to rain upon two fifteen year old boys. "Hey, hey George, I caught one George, I got one of these here lil' fish!" "That's great Lennie, just put um' in the bag." "Okay George I will, I'll put um' right in the bag, and we can take um' home to your ma' and my aunt Clara." With that the tall, broad fifteen year old boy plunged himself towards the sunken river bank, where an old brown shoulder bag lay; half empty with glistening autumn salmon flopping every few seconds as they slowly dried up. On the other side of the river there was another boy of about the same age. He was much smaller than Lennie but average for his age. He had dark features and was sprawled slovenly across a blue and red woollen rug with an aimed slingshot in his dirty hands; ready to shoot a small pebble at the other boy, Lennie. He slowly pulled back the elastic trigger and followed Lennie with one eye closed. He let the elastic go and watched

  • Word count: 1040
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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HOW DOES STEINBECK PRESENT RACE IN THE PEARL?

THE PEARL HOW DOES STEINBECK PRESENT RACE IN THE PEARL? The story centres on Kino, a pearl diver, his wife Juana and their son Coyotito. Although the family live in poverty they also live peacefully. Whilst out gathering pearls one day Kino finds a huge pearl. Kino tries to sell the pearl but the pearl buyers try to cheat him. Kino is attacked and has to flee. They are being followed by trackers who want to steal the pearl. Kino kills the trackers but in the fight Coyotito is killed. Kino and Juana return to their village and throw the pearl back in to the sea. Steinbeck spent time working with immigrant Mexican workers on farms and in factories. He understood them and their concerns. Steinbeck wanted to highlight the plight and conditions of these Mexican workers. Steinbeck uses Kino and Juana as symbolic of the community in which they live. In 1940 Steinbeck made a research trip to the Gulf of California, he visited a town called La Paz. It was here that Steinbeck first heard the tale of a boy and a giant pearl. This tale was the inspiration for The Pearl. There is a strong moral theme running through the pearl that one should be content with one's life and with greed comes misfortune. Kino seeks wealth and status through the pearl; it changes him from a happy contented man in to a killer and wife beater. It is human nature to dream of a better life, this

  • Word count: 2523
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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'Of Mice and Men' - The killing of candy's old dog foreshadowed Lennie's death. Describe the two killings, pointing out any similarities and differences between the two.

Declan Maguire 'Of Mice and Men' The killing of candy's old dog foreshadowed Lennie's death. Describe the two killings, pointing out any similarities and differences between the two. Two of the main events in the novel 'of mice and men', are the killing of Candy's dog and the killing of Lennie. Candy's dog was often talked about by the other ranch hands. All the other men in the bunk house would complain about the dogs smell. There was only one person who loved and valued the dog, Carlson considered the dog a nuisance and often would say it irritated him for example, "he stinks to bet hell!" This suggests that he wanted rid of the dog and in a further conversation with Carlson Reveals that he has no emotional feelings for the dog. Carlson proceeds to describe to candy how he will kill the dog, "shoot him right in the back of the head" this shows the brutality in how he wants to kill the dog, Carlson does not realise how much what he is saying was hurting candy. Carlson can not understand the love the candy has for his dog. Candy does not put up much of a fight and the dog is lead away by Carlson. Tension is created in the bunk house before the dog is shot. The men are all waiting in silence for the moment that the gun shoot will end the life of the dog and fully start the beginning of candy's grievance! The shot of the gun is described as "the little snapping noise" this

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  • Word count: 684
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Stranger on a Train - Alfred Hitchcock

Stranger on a Train Alfred Hitchcock The very first scene when Bruno meets Guy, Bruno is depicted as a baddy by having shadows of blinds cast across his face. These symbolised the bars of a prison. There also is a close up shot of his shoes, which shows them as being very expensive and posh. In Medcafe, when Guy meets his wife Miriam to have the meeting with the counsellor, it is based in a very sinister environment in a music shop. This is when Miriam cheats on Guy and says that she is going to stay married to him. When Bruno visits Guy on the evening of the murder outside Guys house, they both end up standing and talking to each other behind a barred gate from the cameras point of view. It is at this point when Guy calls Bruno crazy. Bruno begins to invade Guys life after murdering Miriam, as he wants Guy to kill his father. Bruno has a close up shot done of his hands when his mother is acting as though she is his servant and this shows that Bruno has no respect for his mother, but more than his father. This is shown when Bruno says that his mothers painting looks just like his father. Bruno's mother's painting is very strange and sinister, and could symbolise that Bruno's mother has a twisted mind too. While Bruno is at his house we also see him dressed in an expensive silk dressing gown, which symbolises his wealth. He also has a personalised tie and very

  • Word count: 832
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Killing of Candy’s Old Dog For Foreshadowed Lennie’s death. Describe the two killings and point out any similarities.

Fasal Akbar 8002 The Killing of Candy's Old Dog For Foreshadowed Lennie's death. Describe The Two Killings, Pointing out any Similarities and differences. George is a small man but has strong features and Lennie is a giant but has a mind of a child. They are the main characters and are two more migrant workers who travel together from place to place because of Lennie's stupidity and ability to get attracted to trouble. The main reason for this is he loves to feel soft things, which leads him to trouble and eventually to his death. They have a dream of owning land and settling down, so did millions of other Americans but only a few succeeded. John Steinbeck tried to draw attention to the social situation. At the time of 1920's and 1930's there was 12-15 million out of work, which led to depression. This book was published in 1937 and situated in America. The title Mice and Men came from Robert Burns poem, which means wrecked by fate. Lennie's death at the end of the novel and the previous killings of candy's old dog are similar in many ways. Candy's old sheep dog is suffering all the time and is stiff with rheumatism, he has no teeth and isn't any good to himself or anyone else. Carlson persuades Candy to let him shoot the dog with his lugar and says he will shoot him at the back of his head so he won't feel it at all. Whit and Slim tried to change the subject but

  • Word count: 1347
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Weed Times

The Weed Times Price: 2 cents Date: 2/2/1922 Contents: . Rapist on the run. More details page.2 2. Old John's Farm burnt down. Police suspect his worker. More details in pages 4-6 3. Economic crisis continues. More details in pages 3-4 LENNIE SMALL IS IN "BIG" TROUBLE "Ranch worker attempts to rape young Sally" Our peaceful town of Weed was shaken from the fact that a ranch worker named Lennie Small attempted to rape young Sally just outside her fathers ranch. The 25-year-old ranch worker unlike his surname is big in size, has a round face and is retarded. He attempted to rape the young weak Sally whom had just visited her father at his ranch to give him his lunch. When she delivered her fathers lunch she went and sat peacefully at the ranch gate. There stood Lennie who attacked her and attempted to rape her. He ripped her 1-week-old red dress, which her mother gave her just before her death. He carried on holding it while young Sally screamed. Then George another worker of the same ranch, who is rather thin, ran to the scene of the crime and waked Lennie with a fence post. You can say that that was Lennie's only kryptonite. After this young Sally fainted and both George and Lennie disappeared. The victim young Sally What did Uncle Sam say? Uncle Sam was an eyewitness. He claims of seeing the crime being committed while he was at his

  • Word count: 419
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Of Mice and Men - Curly’s Version of the Fight

OF MICE AND MEN Curly's version of the fight "So, what happened to your han'?" asked the girl sitting next to Curly. It had been a week since the incident involving Lennie. George was still getting used to the idea of living without him. It was hard, as he had been looking after Lennie, since they were children. George regretted what he did, but he knew it was for the best. The boss had hired two new hands, yet neither matched the working capacity of Lennie. Jimmy Montel was a small, well-built guy, with a good head on his shoulders. Fredrick Hammond on the other hand was rather average guy, with two tough arms. "This, well... I... I... I got it caught in a machine, 'bout a week ago," replied Curly uncomfortably, eyes fixed on his crushed hand. It was a warm summers night and Carlson, Fredrick, Slim, George and Curly were at a tavern in Soledad. The tavern was lit brightly and it was swarming with men. "You're pretty lucky, that's what you are," replied the girl, " most guys, I know, get their entire han' cut off. In fact, I ain't never met a guy, who's han' was spared from a machine before." Curly was suddenly uneasy. He wasn't sure whether Rose knew it was all a lie or whether she was just curious. Thinking hard, yet quickly, it struck him, he could use the story of the fight to his advantage and impress this girl. She stuck him like the type who he would get along

  • Word count: 797
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck.

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck Chapter 1 - George and Lennie The physical descriptions with which we begin, express the difference in intelligence and character. The slackness of Lennie's gait (walk) arm movements etc. reflects the sloppiness of his mind. The succession of comparisons with animals (bear, horse and paw) shows that he lacks full human intelligence. In some ways the relationship between George and Lennie is that of a parent child relationship. George looks out for the cleanliness of the water that Lennie drinks, takes care of his work cards. Lennie forgets what he has been told, imitates George and transparently tries to mislead him. The first significant thing we learn is that Lennie likes cuddly animals like rabbits and mice, he does not no his own strength and is lying about having killed a mouse he was stroking. Pg. 31 - 35: Notes Lennie is offered bait in the form of a puppy, but he refuses it and tries to make George guilty, he seems to try and gain an advantage over him. Again George plays the father figure by telling him the story of how they are going to live on a ranch and "live off the fatta the lan". George tells Lennie how they are going to look after each other and be friends, mutual friends, unlike the "ranch hands" who go from ranch to ranch looking for work. Lennie by now knows the story that George is telling him and to him, it is like

  • Word count: 3112
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Wealth Changes People

Aliyah Gaskins November 8th, 2004 Wealth Changes People In the novel 'The Pearl' the author, John Steinbeck has clearly stated a message. He taught us the life lesson, that being wealthy isn't everything through a character he created named Kino. Steinbeck had placed the setting in a poor village in La Paz and described Kino's relationship of their close-knit family. When the pearl was found, the plan was to sell it and use the money to pay for Coyotito's medical bills also to send him to school for an education. This extraordinary idea was demolished by the actions of Kino's greediness for money. As the novel progressed the events only became more serious. He did not only hurt the people around him that love him, but himself. "In Kino's ears the Song of the Family was as fierce as a cry. He was immune and terrible and his song had become a battle cry." Kino turned down pearl buyers, hit his wife, murdered a man, ran away from home and shot his baby. Kino became avaricious. When the pearl buyers had not offered Kino the amount of money he expected, "Kino's face grew dark and dangerous." Maybe he thought they were trying to cheat him. Perhaps, Kino was just being a 'pigheaded fool.' Logically, anyone as poor as Kino would have taken such a great deal of money but he wanted more. "All of the time Juana had been trying to rescue something of the old

  • Word count: 657
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Dance of the Demons.

Dance of the Demons It was a horrendously dark stormy night, while my friends and I were flying a helicopter through the thick, dense woods back to our base. Suddenly we were caught by flashes of thunder and lightning which broke the helicopters wing and resulted in a crash landing injuring us all. There were three of us and we were all well trained commandos from the U.S Army. We were on a mission to Scotland as part of our training. My name is Tony Price and I worked as a detective in the army. My companions were George Milan and Mark Hill, George was a thirty year old archeologist, six feet in height, red tormented haired, blue sinister eyes and he was the cleverest among us. Mark was just the opposite. He was a well experienced recruitment officer in the army, five feet in height, with smooth black shining hair and kind eyes. He was also the most fearless, boldest and bravest person between us. Upon my awakening, my first sighting was a grave stone with blood and scratch marks smeared all over it, which horrified me. I stood up slowly and painfully because I was badly bruised. I was shocked by the state of my body as I had never been this bloody before. It looked like there would not be any kind of treatment for miles around and the whole place looked abandoned. I felt extremely scared, my heart pumped faster and the hairs stood up with fear on the back of my neck. I

  • Word count: 1411
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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