Power, Justice, and Culpability: Of Mice and Men and The Central Park Five

Lesson 10
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ELA

Unit 3

9th Grade

Lesson 10 of 30

Objective


Analyze the character of Curley's wife through the lenses of sexism, loneliness, and power.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Does Steinbeck's letter to Claire Luce change your perspective on Curley's wife and her actions? Explain your position and pull out evidence from both texts to support your answer.

Criteria for Success

  • Takes a clearly articulated position: does not change/changes/partially changes
  • Identifies that Steinbeck's letter helps explain some of her character motivations
  • Makes connections between the letter and events in the text (Curley's wife's loneliness and trying to talk to the men; flirting with the men; becoming cruel when she feels scared)

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How do the men in the barn see Curley's wife? How does this impact the way that they treat her? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • How does Curley's wife treat the men when they tell her to leave? What does this reveal about her character and power dynamics more generally? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer, and use the word contemptuous in your response. 

Vocabulary


Text-based

contemptuous

adj.

expressing hatred, disrespect, or scorn

Notes


The reading today contains the N-word.

Homework


  • Book: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  pp. 85 – 98

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What happens with Lennie and the puppy?

  • What does Curley's wife want to talk to Lennie about?

  • What secret does she tell him?

  • What happens when she invites Lennie to touch her hair?

  • Why doesn't Lennie let go?

Annotation Focus

Annotate for examples of foreshadowing in this chapter and words/phrases that develop the mood.

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Standards


  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.1
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10
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Lesson 9

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Lesson 11

Lesson Map

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