Of Mice and Men - Chapter 5

Of Mice and Men – Chapter Five (38-slide editable PowerPoint and 5 worksheets)

This comprehensive and fully editable PowerPoint resource explores Chapter Five of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men in depth. It focuses on the build-up to the novel’s tragic climax, analysing Steinbeck’s use of setting, language, characterisation, and symbolism. It helps Year 9 students develop analytical skills while deepening their understanding of key themes such as fate, loneliness, innocence and the death of dreams.

Lessons include:

In the Barn: Exploring Steinbeck’s description, atmosphere, and use of foreshadowing in the opening scene

Lennie and the Puppy: Understanding Lennie’s innocence and lack of control

Curley’s Wife – Good Girl or Bad Girl?: Analysing Steinbeck’s presentation of Curley’s wife and how reader sympathy shifts in this chapter

Shattered Dreams: Symbolism and language analysis of Curley’s wife’s death scene

The Death of Dreams: Exploring how this moment destroys hope for George, Lennie, and Candy

In the Hot Seat: A role-play task encouraging empathy and understanding of each character’s thoughts and motivations