How is the ending effective? Close reading of the ending


Lennie's death

G + L's relationship

*pathetic fallacy 'The shadow in the valley was bluer' it's getting colder and darker, just like the scene is>>> and George's life is
'darkening slopes'>>>>> sunset>>>>> end of Lennie's life/the sunset of his existence

*The wind disturbs the pool >>> just as this event will permanently disturb George's world.

* "Lennie removes his hat dutifully"
Lennie seems loyal

Lennie is obedient, he's like a child. "Lennie giggled like a child"

George is the adult, paternal + fraternal >> pathos as we know that George should be a friend, not a parent.

*George makes Lennie feel secure and safe

*Recurring reference to shaking/trembling//George's voice and George's hand

*"Skull and spine were joined"
clinical description, body language - alerts the reader to what is going to happen>>>> build up of tension and pathos

*Sound and onomatopoeia 'shot', 'crashing', 'voices'...
Voices represent a very real threat ,...and the reader is reminded of Carlson who didn't want 'no damn stranger to shoot my dog'.
>>> pathos because Lennie is worth than a dog. And he isn't at the end of his life...so the fact that this cruel society equated Lennie with Carlson's dog>>>> thought-provoking and disturbing. Lennie should be protected.

*'Crash of the shot rolled up the hill and down again' .>>>>Momentous event, >>> emptiness of the world and the emptiness of George's heart.



Ironic - George's hands are 'strong'>>> because he is devastated to have to kill Lennie.

"Go on" >>> double meaning, heightens tension, go on, get it over it with and go on tell the story of the dream.

*The dream, 'Of the fatta the land'
Bedtime story - the ultimate bedtime story


*Foreshadowing

SLIM:

*Slim seems to represent hope at the end of the novel. He protects George and consoles George ... this is powerful and beautiful. Add to the pathos, it confirms for us the finality of what has happened. There is no more George and Lennie.

There's something telling in the way they walk off together - visual image that reminds us of George and Lennie who were always together.

"A guy gotta sometimes."
 "You hadda, George, I swear you hadda"

The reader is likely to be as unsettled and disturbed by Slim's verdict that this is normal.

We are left with a choice at the end of novel: Will we be like Slim and George or like Curley?
Curley for the first time is not aggressive>> "softly"

There are big clues here as to the message of the novel.
>>>> There is no possible utopia?
>>>> Sometimes you will have to make enormous painful and costly sacrifices. Sometimes to love someone will entail great suffering
>>>>> We need to protect the vulnerable, care for the Lennies and Curley's wives of this world.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Macbeth: Grade 9 context analysis

Aiming for a Grade 8-9.... then you need to have a detailed understanding of how contextual factors influence the play.  Social and historical context  A Scottish King had just taken the throne....leading to an atmosphere of FEAR and INSECURITY  Macbeth was written in the early years of the reign of James I of England (James VI of Scotland), probably in 1604-5.  After nearly fifty years of rule, Queen Elizabeth I had died leaving no direct heirs and the throne was passed to her cousin James.  There had been fears of uprising at the queen’s death – after an earlier heirless death, that of Edward VI in 1553, a faction at Court had sought to secure its own power by placing Lady Jane Grey on the throne instead of Edward’s sister, Mary.  The situation was even more dangerous on Elizabeth’s death in 1603, f or Scotland was a traditional enemy of England and the fear of a popular revolt against the King of Scotland becoming King of England was very ...
Read more

Freedom and confinement in Never Let Me Go

If we were honest, though, particularly near the beginning, most of us would have admitted missing the guardians. […] But this was one thing we'd been told over and over: that after Hailsham there'd be no more guardians, so we'd have to look after each other. (10.7) The woods were at the top of the hill that rose behind Hailsham House. All we could see really was a dark fringe of trees, but I certainly wasn't the only one of my age to feel their presence day and night. (5.4) Of course, in practice, especially during the first months, we rarely stepped beyond the confines of the Cottages. We didn't even walk about the surrounding countryside or wander into the nearby village. I don't think we were afraid exactly. (10.9) But I do like the feeling of getting into my little car, knowing for the next couple of hours I'll have only the roads, the big grey sky and my daydreams for company. (18.5) I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like som...
Read more

Sign of Four Juicy Examples - Learn for the Exam!

Key moments/examples to refer to in the ‘Novel as a Whole’ part of the Exam   Circular nature of opening and ending     Opening:  “Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel-piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. ”    “ wrist all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks”   Ending  :  "For me," said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." And he stretched his long white hand up for it.   Watson:  The Foil   Chapter 1’s introduction of Holmes and Watson as two contrasting characters. Watson acts as a foil for Holmes.    "But consider!" I said, earnestly. "Count the cost!    "My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. B...
Read more