Of Mice and Men - Symbols

Symbols are images that stand for a larger idea or concept. In a narrative, a recurring image may become symbolic because of ideas that the text encourages us to associate with that image. Symbols point to the broader implications of circumstances and events, so recognising and analysing symbols can help you to understand a texts major themes.
Activity Students should create an annotated collage depicting the use of symbols in the text and indicating what they are meant to represent. An annotated collage will include images (photographs, hand drawn, internet, magazines etc) to represent the symbols with explanations and evidence to support your analysis. The poster might include, for example: Rabbits Although no real rabbits appear in the narrative, comment on their significance and what they represent. Lennies Puppy Lennie kills the puppy accidentally, as he has killed many mice before, by virtue of his failure to recognise his own strength. What is the importance of the puppy and the puppys subsequent death? Candys Dog Once a fine sheepdog, useful on the ranch, Candys mutt is now debilitated by age. What does Candys dog represent? Comment on the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived his or her purpose. Refer to at least five symbols and use evidence from the text to support your ideas. So that you can experiment with using metalanguage, also complete the following paragraph and include it on your collage. The image of Candys dog is a recurring image that acquires symbolic meaning in Of Mice and Men. The dog gains additional meaning and associations because the dog represents... Once a fine sheepdog that performed a functional role on the ranch, the dog... The symbolism attached to the dog is that Candy fears...

For the teacher:

In the world Of Mice and Men describes, Candys dog represents the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived his or her purpose. Once a fine sheepdog, useful on the ranch, Candys mutt is now debilitated by age. Candys sentimental attachment to the animalhis plea that Carlson let the dog live for no other reason than that Candy raised it from a puppymeans nothing at all on the ranch. Although Carlson promises to kill the dog painlessly, his insistence that the old animal must die supports a cruel natural law that the strong will dispose of the weak. Candy internalizes this lesson, for he fears that he himself is nearing an age when he will no longer be useful at the ranch, and therefore no longer welcome.