Treatment of minority characters in 'Of Mice and Men'

This two week scheme focuses on reading and understanding Chapter 4 and 5 of, ‘Of Mice and Men’. Students are going to be thinking in particular about the treatment of minority characters in the novel. Treatment of black people, disabled and elderly people is explored as well as the treatment of animals in the novel.

Students are encouraged in this scheme to explore Steinbeck’s intentions and decide how far the reader is supposed to sympathise with these complicated characters. The scheme ends with students creating a social activism campaign, fighting for the rights of one of the minority characters on the ranch.

The scheme was originally created for a high ability year 9 class but can be easily adapted.