Literary Essay: Of Mice and Men

What is a Literary Essay?

• A discussion and analysis of the main ideas/characters in the novel

• You must use quotes to support your ideas “…”

• DO NOT describe what happens

• You need to understand the main characters and the main themes of the novel

Point Evidence Explain (PEE)

Point = make a point about a character or theme in relation to the question.

Evidence = back up what you say with proof from the text. Find a quotation and write it down in speech marks.

Explain = show how your quotation justifies your point. Pick out individual words from the quote which are particularly effective at demonstrating your point.

Point

Give an answer, explaining the part of the aspect of the character you are describing and your idea (make sure it is relevant to the question)

Sentence starters:

In my opinion/ I think that …/ Firstly/ At the beginning of the novel/ However, the character changes when… / Not only … /Despite the fact that …/ Despite the lack of … / While …

Expressions: 

due to/ especially as/ which (eventually) leads to/ which means that/ not only …. but it is also/ a central issue or character is/ Certainly, this is a main theme in the novel/Certainly, this character is central to the plot because …

Evidence

Try to integrate the quotation – remember it can also be only one word! Use a comma before the quotation and remember to use quotation marks!

e.g.   This is shown in the quote, “…”

  This is suggested with the quote, “…”

  This is implied with the quote, “…”

  When Steinbeck writes, “…”

Explain

This is the difficult part – analysing the quotation and making it relevant to the original question. Begin with a basic analysis:

In this quotation…

From this quotation…

The description of … gives an impression/idea about …

This quotation suggests/shows/reveals the/how/why …

We can infer from this quotation just how ….

This line reveals the …

Considering the context, this could link to ...

However, perhaps this indicates ...

Additionally this could be interpreted as ...

This writer uses the word which is important because …

This implies .../ This suggests .../ This shows .../This reveals

However, on the other hand it might suggest that …

Alternatively, this could be interpreted as a sign of …

Essay Structure

1.A brief description (the person reading your essay has read the book!) of the
character in the novel and answer the question

2.Answer the question about the character on his/her own, independent of the other
characters or themes

3.Answer the question in relation to other characters

4.Answer the question related to the themes/messages of the novel

5.Conclusion

Is George is coward?

1.Introduction (4/5 sentences)  a summary of the role of this character in
the novel and a clear focus on the question and your answer

2.In what way is George a coward or not on an individual level? (Use PEE)

3.In what way is George a coward or not in relation to other characters? (Use
PEE)

4.In what way is George a coward or not within the wider context of the novel
related to the themes/messages illustrated? (Use PEE)

5.Conclusion