Of Mice and Men

What this unit covers

The resources follow the novel from several angles. The mind map called Of Mice and Men is a good overview: it branches into context, characters, the Great Depression, the American Dream, women and racism. Other maps zoom in on single characters such as Lennie, George, Slim, Crooks, Candy, Curley and Curley's wife, quoting the text as they go.

Where to start

1. Begin with the context maps, such as Of Mice and Men Context, so the setting makes sense.
2. Read the notes Of Mice and Men: Chapters 1 - 6 or the Of Mice and Men Summary Sheet to fix the plot.
3. Move to the character maps, then Of Mice and Men Themes, which links dreams and loneliness to individual characters.
4. Finish with essay practice, for example the notes on the importance of the theme of dreams.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz on the same topic. There are quizzes on Crooks, Slim, Candy, Curley, Curley's wife and George, plus Of Mice and Men quotes and a literary elements quiz. Wrong answers show you which branch of the map to reread.

Flashcard decks such as Of Mice and Men important quotes and OMAM Quotations help you learn short quotations you can use in answers. Some of the resources mention GCSE English Literature, GCSE English and Intermediate 2 English, so check them against your own course.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Novels, within Literature. Teachers can pick maps and notes to share with a class, or use the quizzes as quick checks.

When you're ready, open a map that matches the character you find hardest and see what you can recall.