Katherine Freeman

Lesson Topic: Curleys Wife in Of Mice and Men

Class: 11KF

Room: 312

Reference to Subject
Documentation:
Date: 21/11/14 Period/Time: 8:45-9:55 Engage, through language, with
their peers and with fictional and
real-life characters and situations, to
explore their own emotions and
develop creative potential.
Learning Intentions - pupils will be able to:
Analyse the characterisation of a character in a text
Discuss personal opinions about a fictional text with peers
Write from the perspective of a fictional character

Introduction:

Development:

Skills & capabilities to be

developed:

Analysing critically their own

and other texts
Working with others

Success Criteria:

Characterisation chart,
jigsaw
Silent discussion
Writing activity

Review: Pupils will be given 5 minutes to read over the sections 1-3 and jot 8:45-8:55
down key events in the story. They will then have 2 minutes to share with a
partner and fill in anything they missed. A volunteer or two will be asked to
share their summaries with the class.
Close reading of text: I will do a read aloud of the scene where we first hear 8:55-9:40
of Curleys wife. Pupils will respond to question on characterisation chart.
Discussion: Whose perspective do we get? What are our expectations of
this character before we meet her? (5)
Close reading of text: I will do a read aloud of the scene where we first see
Curleys wife. Pupils will respond to the question on the chart. We will
watch a YouTube clip from the film of this scene. Discussion: How would
you describe her personality? How much of that comes from your prior
expectations? Is she a sympathetic character? (10)
Jigsaw Part 1: The pupils will be split into three groups, and each assigned a
section for the chart. The groups will have 10 minutes to read the section,
discuss, and respond to the question. They will be told they must be
prepared to share their thoughts with others. (10)
Jigsaw Part 2: The students will be put into groups of 3, with one person
from each of the previous groups. Pupils will have 5 minutes to share their
answers and fill in charts. (5)

Katherine Freeman

Conclusion

Silent discussion: Pupils will be put into new groups of 4. Each will be given
a sheet for the silent discussion with one of the following questions. They
will have 2 minutes to respond in writing. The papers will then be passed
clockwise and the process repeated, until it returns to the original writer.
(10)
1. Why do you think Curleys wife married Curley? Is she happy with
the marriage? Why or why not?
2. Describe the friendship between Curley and his wife. How does
this compare to the friendship between George and Lennie?
3. Do you think the attitudes of the men on the ranch still exist today?
Why or why not?
4. Do you think Steinbeck agreed with the views of the men on the
ranch, or was he trying to say something else about the role of
women?
Debrief: Each pupil will read the responses on the sheet and then share
them with their group. (5)
Writing activity: Pupils will be asked to write a monologue from Curleys
wifes perspective. First, they must give her a name (a list of popular
womens names from the 1930s will be provided). They must explore her
perspective and develop her character beyond what we see in the text.

Resources:

Student copies of Of Mice and Men

YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NkjZHwrtQpM
Characterisation charts
Silent discussion pages
Student workbooks
List of popular womens names in 1930s:
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/nam
es1930s.html

Homework
Purpose:
Task:

9:40-9:55

Due in by: 2/12/14

Reading
Read section 4 of Of Mice and Men

Katherine Freeman

Name:
The Characterisation of Curleys Wife

What are our first impressions of this character? Who do

they come from?
1. We first
learn of
Curleys wife
(p. 49-50)
How does she act? How do George and Lennie respond to
her?
2. We first
meet Curleys
wife
(p. 53-54)

3. Curley
searches for
his wife
(p. 59-60)

4. Whit talks to

How does Curley regard his wife? What kind of

relationship do you think they have?

What does Whit think about Curleys wife? How does

George respond?

Katherine Freeman
George about
Curleys wife
(p. 77-78)
What are Curleys suspicions? How do the other men feel?
5. Curley
searches for
his wife again
(p. 80-82)

Silent Discussion
1. Why do you think Curleys wife married Curley? Is she happy with the
marriage? Why or why not?
2. Describe the friendship between Curley and his wife. How does this
compare to the friendship between George and Lennie?
3. Do you think the attitudes of the men on the ranch still exist today? Why
or why not?
4. Do you think Steinbeck agreed with the views of the men on the ranch,
or was he trying to say something else about the role of women?

Katherine Freeman