Of Mice and Men - June 13 - Literature Q21 a+B

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Section B: Exploring Cultures – Q21 – John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men PART A: In this passage, how does Steinbeck present Slim? Refer closely to the passage in your answer. Steinbeck presents Slim in this passage as being the unofficial ‘Boss’ and ‘Prince of the ranch’. This implies that he is infallible and everything that he says is the law. Steinbeck states during the novel that Slim is a ‘jerkline skinner’, this means that he is in control of a team of horses. We know this from the passage when it says, he is ‘capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders’. This provokes the thought that it would be amazing to see Slim in action, with the experience being mind-blowing. As well as having immense skill, Slim also has authority over the other ranch workers. This authority is completely different to the kind that is displayed by Curley. Curley displays arrogance and a tone of superiority when giving orders whereas Slim respects others and as a result the other workers respect him and want to work for him. This shows that Slim is a better leader than Curley as with respect comes trust and with trust comes authority. The other ranch workers look up to him as if he is God on earth. This is shown in the passage when the ranch workers reference God and his movement only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen. Slims power is also enforced in the passage in the statement ‘there was a gravity in his manner… yet so quiet and profound’. This shows that his very presence is enough to put a man in awe. You would think that a man of such calibre would strong and powerful. Slim is both of these things just not in the physical way. He can control people but isn’t immensely strong. He has an ‘ageless…hatchet face’ with his exact age being undiscovered. His hands are ‘large and lean’ yet ‘delicate in their action’ this suggest a

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