Exploring Naturalism in Of Mice and Men: GCSE Literature

Engage your GCSE Literature students with a thought-provoking 2 to 3-hour mini-SOW on Naturalism in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. This lesson blends literature, philosophy, and cross-curricular connections to deepen students’ understanding of Steinbeck’s Naturalist approach.

Key Features:

• Foundations of Naturalism: Introduces the key philosophical ideas of Naturalism, including its emphasis on determinism, survival, and the impact of environment on human behaviour.
• Darwinian Connections: Links Steinbeck’s Naturalism to Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, encouraging students to draw parallels between their Biology learning and Steinbeck’s portrayal of humanity as part of the natural continuum.
• Close Textual Analysis: Includes in-depth analysis of quotes and extracts to help students explore how Steinbeck uses language to convey Naturalist themes.
• Model Analysis: A model paragraph provides an exemplar for writing about Naturalism, supporting students in crafting responses.
• Independent Writing Task: Students will write their own analysis of how Naturalism is presented through a character (e.g., Curley, Lennie, Crooks) or a theme.
• Biblical Connections: A final task draws on the fall from Eden in Genesis and links it to Steinbeck’s depiction of the natural world in the novella’s opening scene, promoting intertextual thinking.

This resource is a well-present powerpoint presentation, along with a file of quotes, extracts, and a model paragraph to print out

Tried and tested with GCSE Literature students.