Preview

of mice and men tension chapter 3

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2032 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
of mice and men tension chapter 3
How Does Steinbeck Create Tension in Chapter Three in Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck creates tension by making the atmosphere before Curley’s dog gets shot very awkward. He does this by writing about how small noises draw everyone’s attention in the room to it: “He rippled the edge of the deck nervously, and the little snapping noise drew the eyes of all men in the room, so that he stopped doing it.” This quote gives a sense of tension, since tiny things like rippling cards can drew everyone’s attention. This makes it seem like a very quiet atmosphere. While everyone’s attention is drawn to the small sounds, Candy just stares at the ceiling and eventually rolls over. This makes the reader feel that all Candy can think about is his dog being shot, and this also brings a tense feel. Tension is also created by Steinbeck using the word ‘silence’ to describe the atmosphere of the room leading up to the dog being shot. The characters do not want the silence present, meaning the shot will be heard by Candy. This will increase the awkward atmosphere in the room because no one is quite sure as to how Candy can be comforted. Slim tries to break the silence in the room by telling Candy that he can have one of his puppies. Slim tells Candy that he “can have any of them pups he wants.” However, Candy refuses to acknowledge his offer, strengthening the already tense atmosphere in the bunkhouse.
How Does Steinbeck Create Tension in Chapter Three in Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck creates tension by making the atmosphere before Curley’s dog gets shot very awkward. He does this by writing about how small noises draw everyone’s attention in the room to it: “He rippled the edge of the deck nervously, and the little snapping noise drew the eyes of all men in the room, so that he stopped doing it.” This quote gives a sense of tension, since tiny things like rippling cards can drew everyone’s attention. This makes it seem like a very quiet atmosphere. While everyone’s attention is drawn to the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Steinbeck uses similes to show that Curley was aggressive, by comparing him to a terrier, a small violent dog used to attack larger…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    INTRODUCTION: In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’, Steinbeck has used many different language features in order to create such a complex and sophisticated character whom I will be investigating - Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is a pivotal character. She has been presented as a villain in the early stages of the book and her character seems to unravel as we read on. As a reader, we comprehend the factors which had influenced her actions and how living in a misogynistic society has affected the way she behaves - alternating the way we feel about this character and instead sympathy begins to develop, demolishing all the negativity that was created towards her in the first half of the novella. In this essay I will be exploring the language techniques that Steinbeck uses in order to create both sympathy and dislike for Curley’s wife.…

    • 2273 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife to represent how many women in the 1930s were classed below men, and how this prejudice allowed their lives to be defined by the men around them. In this passage, Steinbeck has manipulated Curley’s wife’s appearance in order to reinforce our pre judged feelings towards her, based on gossip and rumours told by Candy.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This section of the novel is about the fight between Curley and Lennie; it is dramatic because it is unfair on the both of them, Lennie because he didn’t do anything wrong and Curley because Lennie is a lot stronger. Steinbeck creates the drama by using things like imagery for example when he says “flopping like a fish”. The tension between the characters in this section makes the fight inevitable (it is definitely going to happen).…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another character in Of Mice and Men that presents loneliness is Crooks. Although he is only mentioned few times, there is a scene where he and Lennie have a conversation in the…

    • 740 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the first scene, Candy is with all of the guys and the guys began planning to kill Candy’s dog. Steinbeck’s description of the relationship between Candy and his dog emphasizes how much Candy loves and cares for his dog. Candy’s reaction to the guys shows the initial fear he has, “Candy looked about unhappily. “No,” he said softly. “No I couldn't do that. I had ‘im too long” (45). His fear of not having his dog sets in during this moment. As the scene goes on more reactions like this come from Candy as he talks with Slim about his dog, “Candy looked helplessly at him.” (45) Candy is afraid of being alone and not having the companion he has had for many years. Slowly and reluctantly, Candy allows the guys to kill his dog. The pain that Candy displays after the gun goes off illustrates his true emotion. “For a moment he continued to stare at the ceiling. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (49). This moment shows Candy’s pain and weakness because he is…

    • 1610 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    He describes it in such detail because he wants to describe the setting in a way that appeals to the reader. Opinions may vary, but when I read the first page I automatically thought of a place abundant in greenery and animals. Maybe even a forest with a running river. But then later on in the book he describes the setting in a very opposite manner.…

    • 2912 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice and Men Essay

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To begin with, the bunk house represents almost everyone in the bunk house discrimination, sexist, racist, and loneliness. To begin with, Crook, Candy, Candy’s dog is one perfect example of racist and loneliness. For example, Crook is black and back then people were racist against black people so Crook was lonely and didn’t trust people also Candy and Candy’s dog , Candy regrets not killing the dog himself and he and his dog are so old they are now useless, while Carlson wanted to kill the dog for being old and useless. Next, Curley’s wife is another one in the bunkhouse. In fact, while reading people may ask why doesn’t she have a name instead of Curley’s wife? Curley’s wife always seeks attention in the end while seeking attention cause her death by Lennie. Then, Lennie, George, Curley, AND Slim are all about size and who gets power. Yet, George and Curley are short while Slim and Lennie are tall normally the tallest gets power but George takes charge of Lennie, while Curley thinking that he is in charge because he is the bosses son when Lennie crushes his hand making Curley’s crushed hand a symbol of loss in power. Finally, the bunkhouse is filled of many people of different sizes, shape, race, and gender almost like Steinbeck’s own little world full of people and the bunk house is the significance of it this symbol.…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice and Men, by Steinbeck. “I feel like an outsider, and I always will feel like one. I’ve always felt that I wasn’t a member of any particular group.” (Anne Rice). This quote imparts to Lennie and Candy because they’re both different and handicapped. Lennie and Candy are nice people who are powerless, dreamers, and social outcasts.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice and Men Essay

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men shows us the importance of friendship and dreams, especially in difficult times. Explain how the author has created a range of characters to develop his story”.…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice And Men Allegory

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Of Mice and Men feels like an allegory, with each character possessing a specific trait that represents something or some group in society. So, is the book just a heavy-handed lecture about how nasty people are to each other. Are all of these wrongs (racism, sexism, discrimination) treated as equally evil? Or are the characters real, individual people, rather than being merely types/symbols? This is not in your own words...what’s up with that???…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of Mice and Men by john Steinbeck is a work of fiction. In this story George wants the American dream, but Lennie is mentally challenged, so he is faced with a difficult decision to make. The author uses characterization which helps readers understand being frightened is usually the result of being dishonest. For example, Candy tells George that he found Curley’s wife dead in the burn, suspecting that Lennie was the culprit. George convinces Candy to pretend to find Curley’s wife at the same time the other men do. This characterization is a good example of the quotation because George pretends not to know of Lennie’s action. His conscience begins to haunt him. The author also uses conflict. For example, George meets up with Lennie at their hiding place by the river. Lennie begins to confess to George what he has done wrong- murdered Curley’s wife. Lennie is mentally challenged which caused them all this trouble. This conflict is a good example of the quotation because George always pretended and lied to Lennie that they will have the American dream but deep down inside he knew what the truth was. At the end George had to kill Lennie because his lies came back and haunt him.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explains a story about two migrant workers who travel together during The Great Depression. The Great Depression was a period of loneliness for everyone. Of Mice and Men presents the theme of loneliness in the story.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The wind was whistling as the sun had disappeared behind the noble mountains leaving a dark atmosphere of death in the cold, lonely, air. The distressing burial of the by-gone Lennie left a dull fog of depression that seeped through the ranch leaving dismal and unanswered questions. The configuration of the looming trees ganged upon George leaving him feeling guilt ridden.…

    • 946 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thesis of mice and men

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In "Of Mice and Men," John Steinbeck utilizes his prevailing themes of friendship and loneliness, through his deep characterization and interconnection between George and Lenny, in order to illustrate glamorized desire of "the American dream."…

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays