Language Literary Techniques Objective To identify the use

Language & Literary Techniques

Objective: To identify the use of language and literary techniques in the novel and To understand how they convey information and grab the reader’s attention

Language & Technique Explore the techniques Steinbeck uses in the novel’s opening pages. Can you identify some of these techniques? How effective are they at grabbing the reader’s attention?

Language & Technique Read the opening of the novella again, then look at the handout that lists the techniques Steinbeck uses to grab our attention as readers.

Language & Technique With the list of techniques in mind, look at the opening of the novel again. How effective are the techniques Steinbeck uses? Why? Explain your opinions…

Language & Technique On the handout, number and rank the techniques used by Steinbeck. • Place what you consider to be the most effective at the top and the least effective at the bottom.

Language & Technique Steinbeck creates very interesting and vivid characters through his descriptions. He conveys a lot of information to the reader through his use of language and technique.

Characterisation Read the description of the main characters on page 19. How does Steinbeck strike an immediate contrast between the two characters? Find words within each description that are direct ‘opposites’ to each other.

Dialogue Compare the ways in which the two characters talk. How does Lennie’s grammar and sentence construction differ from George’s? What is particularly characteristic of George’s speech, especially when he ‘gets mad’?

Imagery Find an example of imagery in the extract? (metaphors and similes) How do they give us a clearer picture of the two men and their environment?

Description Many of Steinbeck’s technical skills as a writer can be seen in the passage describing the bunkhouse (page 38). What can you say about his variety of syntax (sentence construction) in terms of length, openings and punctuation? What can you say about his use of adverbial phrases to heighten the description?

Activity: George often uses the specific colloquial language of the itinerant worker. Copy down these examples from the extract and explain in your own words what they mean: ‘Work up a stake’ ‘Poundin’ their tail ‘Get the jack’ ‘Blow their stake’

Plenary:

Prep: