Of Mice and Men
George and Lennie travel together during the Great Depression, but unlike most ranch workers, these two men share a close friendship. What is one major characteristic of their relationship?
What is loyalty/friendship/dependence?
In “Marigolds,” the flowers represent beauty and hope in the middle of poverty and hardship. What literary element does this symbolism primarily help develop?
What is theme?
In “Marigolds,” Lizabeth changes from a child who does not fully understand poverty to someone who recognizes the complexity of the adults around her. What type of character development is this?
What is dynamic character development?
When an author chooses a particular word because of the feeling or association it creates, that feeling is called this.
What is connotation?
“Of Mice and Men” and “Volar” both include characters who dream about a better future. What literary idea connects them?
What is hope/the pursuit of a better life?
Lennie repeatedly gets into trouble because he does not fully understand the consequences of his actions. What does this characterization help the reader understand about Lennie's role in the story?
What is that Lennie's innocence and lack of understanding create conflict?
In “St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” the girls are expected to change their behavior and language to fit the culture around them. What larger idea does this conflict explore?
What is identity, belonging, assimilation, or the tension between individuality and conformity?
In “Of Mice and Men,” George's actions toward Lennie reveal that George feels responsible for him. What can readers infer about George's character?
What is that George is loyal, protective, compassionate, or responsible?
A reader encounters an unfamiliar word in a passage. The sentences surrounding the word provide clues to its meaning. What strategy is the reader using?
What are context clues?
“Highest Duty” and “Bessie Coleman” both feature individuals who face difficult circumstances. What common idea can readers develop by comparing the two?
What is perseverance, responsibility, courage, or overcoming adversity?
George and Lennie's dream of owning their own farm gives them something to look forward to. What larger theme does this dream represent?
What is hope, freedom, independence, or the pursuit of the American Dream?
“Volar” focuses on a family imagining a different future. How does the idea of flight function symbolically in the story?
What is freedom, escape, opportunity, or hope for a better life?
A character wants to belong to a group but must give up part of their identity to do so. This conflict is especially important in which StudySync story?
What is “St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves”?
In a story, an author repeatedly uses descriptions of darkness, coldness, or isolation. What can readers analyze about these repeated details?
What is their contribution to mood, tone, characterization, or theme?
“Angela's Ashes” and “Marigolds” both depict poverty. Why might two authors portray similar circumstances differently?
What is that authors' perspectives, experiences, purposes, and choices influence how events are presented?
Steinbeck repeatedly describes the natural setting around the ranch. How does the contrast between the peaceful natural world and the violence of the characters' lives affect the story?
What is it creates contrast and emphasizes the tragedy/conflict of the characters' lives?
“Bessie Coleman” presents the life of a woman who overcame racial and gender barriers to become a pioneering pilot. Which central idea is best supported by her story?
What is perseverance in overcoming discrimination and obstacles?
Both Bessie Coleman and the speaker in “Braving the Wilderness” demonstrate courage in the face of opposition. What universal theme can connect the two texts?
What is the importance of remaining determined or authentic despite obstacles or opposition?
An author places two characters, settings, or ideas next to each other so readers notice their differences. What technique is being used?
What is juxtaposition/contrast?
Compare “St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” with “Braving the Wilderness.” Both address the pressure to fit into a group. What important difference exists between the texts?
What is that St. Lucy's explores cultural assimilation/identity through fiction, while “Braving the Wilderness” presents an argument about belonging and individuality?
George's decision at the end of the novel can be viewed as both an act of friendship and a tragic consequence of the world in which George and Lennie live. What evidence from the novel supports this interpretation?
What is evidence showing George's concern for Lennie combined with the consequences Lennie faces after the shooting of Curley's wife?
“Braving the Wilderness” argues that people sometimes need courage to stand by their beliefs even when they feel alone. Which rhetorical strategy is most important to developing this idea?
What is the use of personal experience/examples to establish and support the author's argument?
Compare “Marigolds” and “Volar.” Both use an image or symbol connected to something beautiful or hopeful. Explain how each symbol contributes to the text's theme.
What is an explanation connecting the marigolds to hope/beauty and flight to freedom/opportunity?
A nonfiction author uses a quotation from a person with firsthand knowledge to strengthen an argument. What does this evidence primarily contribute?
What is credibility and support for the author's claim?
Which pair of texts would provide the strongest comparison for the idea that society can create barriers that individuals must overcome, and why?
Answers may include “Bessie Coleman” and “Highest Duty,” with evidence explaining the barriers and responses of the individuals.