WJEC Literature Question Bank - 1

Title of text: Of Mice and Men

To be used in Unit no: Unit 1

Tier of question: Foundation Tier

Question: What do you think of the way Lennie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what you say and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. (10)

Tier of question: Higher Tier

Question: Look closely at the way Lennie speaks and behaves here. What does it reveal about his character? (10)

Edition: New Longman Literature

ISBN: 9780582461468

Page numbers: 29-31

Point student might make / Evidence they might give
Lennie’s physical actions are described like an animal or a child.
Lennie’s actions suggest he is nervous of George’s temper.
Lennie’s actions suggest he is trying to appear less of a burden to George. / crawled slowly and cautiously
Lennie’s physical closeness to George suggests an emotional attachment. / close to George
Lennie manipulates his speech until he has achieved what he wants. He is impatient. / ‘George,’ very softly. No answer. ‘George!’
Lennie does not understand why George finds him frustrating, really believing it is that he wanted ketchup. / ‘I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.’
Appears to be showing concern for George, but is possibly simply appealing to him to return himself to favour. / ‘I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you.’
Lennie’s physical positioning suggest subservience to George. / Lennie still knelt.
Lennie staring away suggests he is unhappy / wishes to be treated better.
He is looking in the direction where the mouse was thrown, emphasising the significance of animals and soft things to Lennie. He is hurt by its confiscation by George. / He looked off into the darkness across the river.
Lennie seeks reassurance from George, looking for confirmation that he is wanted. / ‘George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’
Lennie’s expectations for a life on his own again reference animal habits. They are also naïve and childlike. He doesn’t understand the real world. / ‘I’d find a cave.’
Lennie uses logic to imply that he really would leave George. He has thought about this and appears serious. / ‘I’d find things George. I don’t need no nice food with ketchup.’
Lennie’s focus for a life on his own revolves around the ability to play with animals, undisturbed, confirming his simple nature and naivety. / ‘An’ if I foun’ a mouse, I could keep it.’
Lennie is aware that George has mistreated him and plays upon this, appearing to emotionally blackmail George into an apology. / ‘Nobody’d hurt me.’
When George apologetically asks ‘I been mean,’ Lennie does not answer, again threatening to leave him. Lennie knows that George needs him for company and plays upon this. / ‘I can go away any time.’
When George offer to find Lennie a puppy, Lennie ignores him. He appears sharper than he is given credit for, however the words ‘bait’ and ‘sensed’ suggest that these tactics are more animalistic instinct rather than intelligence. / ‘Lennie avoided the bait. He had sensed his advantage.’
Lennie continues to appeal to George’s softer side and good nature. His questions sound more like those of a son or husband than those of a friend, confirming the closeness of their bond and its value to Lennie. / ‘If you don’t want me, you only jus’ got to say so, an’ I’ll go off in those hills right there.’

WJEC Literature Question Bank - 2

Title of text: Of Mice and Men

To be used in Unit no: Unit 1

Tier of question: Foundation Tier

Question: What are your thoughts and feelings about Curley in this extract? Explain why you feel this way and support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. (10)

Tier of question: Higher Tier

Question: How does Steinbeck present the character of Curley in this extract? (10)

Edition: New Longman Literature

ISBN: 9780582461468

Page numbers: 46-48

Point student might make / Evidence they might give
The initial description of Curley is straightforward and ordinary.
Development: this could suggest that, like Curley, some people without special talents or features are born into fortune. / A thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair.
Curley’s clothing suggests that he does not have to work as hard as the other men, although the one glove suggests he does have to do some manual labour. / He wore a work glove on his left hand and, like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots.
Curley makes it known that he is the bosses son, making his authority clear to the new workers from the outset. / ‘Seen my old man?’
He inspects George and Lennie in a judgemental manner. / ‘His eyes passed over the new men.’
Curley’s natural tendency is to be unfriendly without cause or reason. / ‘He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie.’
Curley’s body language throughout the extract conveys a sense of aggression. / His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.
The way he looks at George and Lennie suggests that he is spoiling for a fight. / His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.
Despite his size, Curley tries to physically intimidate the men. / Curley stepped gingerly close to him.
Curley’s dialogue consists largely of short demanding questions or instructions in order to convey a sense of power. / ‘You the new guys the old man was waitin’ for?’
Curley refers to Lennie’s size – a possible confirmation that men’s height is overly important to him. Referring to Lennie as ‘the big guy’ implies that he characterises people by their height. / ‘Let the big guy talk.’
‘An you won’t let the bug guy talk, is that it?’
Curley’s body language becomes overtly aggressive when George questions his demands. / Curley lashed his body around.
Curley’s language is blasphemous, exaggerating his lack of manners. / ‘By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you getting’ into it for?’
He is critical and questioning over the bond between Lennie and George, implying that there is something untoward about them travelling together. / ‘Oh, so it’s that way.’
The eye contact Curley makes with the men is always described in an intimidating manner. / Curley stared levelly at him.
Curley’s treatment of George and Lennie is patronising and superior. / ‘Well next time you answer when you’re spoke to.’
Curley’s body language as he exits remains aggressive, as if he is preparing himself for his next confrontation. / ‘his elbows were still bent out a little.’

WJEC Literature Question Bank - 3

Title of text: Of Mice and Men

To be used in Unit no: Unit 1

Tier of question: Foundation Tier

Question: What do you think of Curley’s wife in this extract? Think about how she speaks and behaves and what other characters say about her. Support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. (10)

Tier of question: Higher Tier

Question: Look closely at how Curley’s wife is presented in this extract. What does it reveal about her character? (10)

Edition: New Longman Literature

ISBN: 9780582461468

Page numbers: 53-54

Point student might make / Evidence they might give
Curley’s wife is described as a ‘girl,’ both suggesting that she is young and innocent/naïve. / ‘A girl was standing there’
She takes an interest in the other men and is not afraid to invade male-dominated spaces. / ‘looking in’
The description of her focuses mainly on her physical appearance. She is attractive and takes a lot of care over her looks. Exaggerated description of her makeup may suggest she is possible shallow or has is filling gaps in her life with her attention to her appearance. / ‘She has full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up.’
Some of the language used to describe her suggests fragility. / ‘red ostrich feathers’
‘brittle quality’
She has imperfections which cannot be overcome. / ‘her voice had a nasal, brittle quality’
She makes her relationship and loyalty to Curley prevalent, although her presence may suggest otherwise. This could be considered a warning to the men as she knows what Curley is capable of. / ‘I’m lookin’ for Curley.’
‘Sometimes Curley’s in here.’
Her reaction to not finding Curley seems forced – as if she is not really surprised or disappointed. She wasn’t really looking for him, just using this as an excuse to talk to the men. / ‘Oh!’
Her body language is suggestive, as if she wants to be admired by the men. She uses her physicality to attract attention from others. / She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.
She smiled archly and twisted her body.
She is aware of the comings and goings on the ranch, suggesting that she is constantly observing others. She has no other preoccupations. / ‘You’re the new fellas that just come, ain’t ya?’
Although she appears to present herself to the men, she demonstrates resentment when Lennie stares at her. Her body language suggests nervousness, of perhaps that she is toying with the men. / She bridled a little.
She looked at her fingernails.
Her tone of voice is playful and knowing – she and the men both know that she isn’t really looking for Curley, although she continues the pretence. / ‘If he ain’t, I guess I better look some place else,’ she said playfully.
She comes close to openly flirting with the men. Her suggestion that ‘nobody can’t blame a person for looking’ could be taken innocently or suggestively. / ‘Nobody can’t blame a person for looking’
She knows the established ranchers bye name and is friendly with them, suggesting that she is often talking to the men. This could imply loneliness or flirtation. / ‘Hi, Slim.’
She responds to any compliments with mention of Curley, as if reminding the men and possibly herself that she is spoken for. She makes excuses for her presence, perhaps indicating embarrassment. / ‘Hi Good-lookin’.’
‘I’m tryin’ to find Curley, Slim.’
She becomes anxious when she realises that Curley will know she is out on the ranch. This could imply she is frightened of him and his reaction. / She was suddenly apprehensive. ‘
She appears rushed when she leaves, presumably hurrying back to Curley. / ‘Bye boys,’ she called into the bunkhouse, and she hurried away.

WJEC Literature Question Bank - 4

Title of text: Of Mice and Men

To be used in Unit no: Unit 1

Tier of question: Foundation Tier

Question: What do you think of the way George speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what you say and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. (10)

Tier of question: Higher Tier

Question: Look closely at the way George speaks and behaves here. What does it reveal about his character? (10)

Edition: New Longman Literature

ISBN: 9780582461468

Page numbers: 65-66

Point student might make / Evidence they might give
George is guarded when people broach the subject of him and Lennie travelling together. / ‘What’s funny about it?’
George’s aggressive tone at the mention of Lennie reveals an honest protection over him. / George demanded defensively.
George emphasises that Lennie is not ‘crazy.’ He is aware of the implications for people with mental disabilities and does not want Lennie to be labelled in that way. / ‘He ain’t no cuckoo,’ said George.
While protective, George reveals his frustrations about Lennie and is honest to the point of offence. / ‘He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy.’
George quickly changes the subject – he is not yet comfortable revealing too much to Slim. He feels safer talking about his own shortcoming, suggesting selflessness when it comes to Lennie. / ‘I ain’t so bright neither.’
George is frustrated by his lifestyle. He is preoccupied with his dream and the gaining of independence. His repetition of ‘I,’ I’d’ and ‘my own’ emphasises this. / ‘If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work’
George resents the landowners. His phrasing implies that he feels their wealth is simply handed to them by luck or nature. / ‘getting what comes up outta the ground.’
George realises he has been talking for some time. He stops, perhaps feeling worried he has revealed too much. However, his desire for intelligent conversation and confidence in another pushes him on. / George fell silent. He wanted to talk.
George appears to consider whether he can trust Slim before continuing to explain about his relationship with Lennie. / It ain’t so funny me an’ him goin’ aroun’ together,’ George said at last.
George speaks in a casual and straight-forward manner about how he and Lennie came to be close, as if to play down its significance to him. However the phrase ‘used to each other’ hints that they both like it. / ‘When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.’
George tells Slim about how he has mistreated Lennie in the past. He begins by trying to play it down. / ‘Funny,’ said George. ‘Used to have a hell of a lot of fun with ‘im. Used to play jokes on ‘im ‘cause he was too dumb to take care of himself.’
George explains how the realisation of Lennie’s gullibility and lack of responsibility soon appeared serious. / ‘If I tol’ him to walk over a cliff, over he’d go. That wasn’t so much damn fun after a while.’
He is brutally honest about how badly he treated Lennie. He is not afraid of judgement from Slim. / ‘I’ve beat the hell outta him… but he never lifted a finger against me.’
George shows that he is guilty and ashamed for the incident at the river. He now feels responsible for Lennie. / George’s voice was taking on the tone of a confession.
George recognises the absolute trust Lennie puts in him, and has come to value it enough to change his ways. / ‘I turns to Lennie and says, Jump in.” … An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out. Clean forgot I told him to jump in. Well, I ain’t done nothing like that no more.’

WJEC Literature Question Bank - 5