"The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line....

"The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line....

1. His closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand."

   • Closed Fist - shows the hidden aggression
     • Lost agression
     • Here Curley has really lost the fight.
   • Lost - Makes Lennie seem even bigger
     • Links to Curley boxing - he has lost something for once!
     • Lost his honour - often frowned upon
   • Big hand - Simple language
     • Compared to the use of techniques before
       • Shows Lennie's simplicity
   • Use of word hand - gentle reminder that Lennie is human and childlike.
     • Keeps going the theme of hands throughout

2. Links to previous quote

   • Lennie takes little time to lose his temper
     • Like a goat
     • Adds to our sense of Lennie's disabilities

3. Limpness and weakness

   • Opposite of Curley's initial behaviour
     • Juxtopostion

4. Simile here

   • Fish links to the bear before
     • Bears hunt fish
       • 'Huge Paws"
     • Fish out of water, Curly is out of his depth

5. Curley has been caught - on a line.

   • Links to menial work done on ranches
   • Curley is trapped
   • Defenceless