Essay+Example

=Literary Essay: Example= //Below you will find an example of a previous student's literary essay about the novel "Of Mice and Men." This essay would score between a 4 and 5 on the rubric we use (see the Maple Leaf Rubric Page for more details), but follows that pattern of a literary essay nearly perfectly. Compare the essay and the outline to review the structure or pattern of a literary essay before you write your own essay!//

=Outline:= //Background Information:// A brief summary of the tragic friendship between Lennie and George. //Hook:// Foreshadowing is a critical part of making this friendship, and the plot of the book, make sense! //Thesis Statement:// Steinbeck uses the device of foreshadowing to:
 * Introduction:**
 * 1) gain the readers’ attention
 * 2) connect the events of the story and
 * 3) provide insight into the actions of the characters.

//Topic Sentence:// Foreshadowing warns the readers of upcoming events //Point//: This creates suspense //Evidence//: “If you just happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here and hide in the bush till I come for you” (15). //Explantion//: This is a conversation between Lennie and George right at the beginning of the book. It foreshadows Lennie getting into trouble and this setting being returned too later in the book. //Connection//: This passage hints to the reader that there will be trouble in the future. The reader continues reading in order to discover what will go wrong. //Conclusion/Transition Sentence:// By foreshadowing later events in the story, Steinbeck also connects them to each other.
 * Body Paragraph 1:**

//Topic Sentence:// the use of foreshadowing helps connect the events of the story together. //Point//: It is easier to understand the different events because they are connected to each other. //Evidence//: “Why did you have to go and die. You ain’t so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard.” (90). //Explantion//: Lennie is sad because he did not intend to kill the puppy. //Connection//: One can see that the destruction is accidental and one can understand a little better the death of Curley’s wife. //Transition Sentence:// By understanding the events of the story, we also understand the characters.
 * Body Paragraph 2:**

//Topic Sentence:// Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to provide insight into the actions of the characters. //Point//: Foreshadowing allows the reader to better understand why George shoots Lennie. //Evidence//: “…raising Carlson’s luger to the back of Lennie’s head George shoots him” (105). //Explantion//: George shoots Lennie to keep him from being lynched or put into a mental institution //Connection//: Although this action seems inexplicable the audience is prepared for the situation because of its earlier experience with Candy’s dog. //Transition Sentence:// Understanding the characters is necessary if we are going to understand the theme's of this book.
 * Body Paragraph 3:**

//Thesis//: Steinbeck uses the device of foreshadowing to: //Connection//: Without foreshadowing, it would be difficult for the audience to understand what George is thinking when he kills Lennie. Without foreshadowing, this book would not make sense!
 * Conclusion:**
 * 1) gain the readers’ attention
 * 2) connect the events of the story and
 * 3) provide insight into the actions of the characters.

=**Of Mice and Men Literary Essay Example**=

In the novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck introduces two unlikely friends who battle the depression of the 1930’s while working on a ranch in California. George and Lennie live desperate lives while trying to attain their dream. Unfortunately, the dream unravels in this tragic tale. Steinbeck uses the device of foreshadowing to gain the readers’ attention, connect the events of the story and provide insight into the actions of the characters.

In order to gain the readers’ attention John Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to warn of upcoming events and create suspense. At the beginning of the novel the readers witness a conversation between George and Lennie where George explains, “If you just happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here and hide in the bush till I come for you” (15). This line piques the audience’s curiosity. One wonders what trouble Lennie has been in before and one is curious about what trouble he might get into next. The reader is immediately interested in reading the story to find the answers to these two questions.

Furthermore, the use of foreshadowing helps connect the events of the story together. When the audience is first introduced to Lennie, George is reprimanding him for carrying around a dead mouse. Lennie has a deep fixation with stroking soft things. This obsession often results in the death of the soft object. The destruction of the mouse leads to the destruction of the puppy and ultimately to the destruction of Curley’s wife. Each of these events is connected as the first act of destruction foreshadows the next. Before the murder of Curley’s wife the audience witnesses Lennie’s experience with the puppy, “Why did you have to go and die. You ain’t so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard.” (90). One can see that the destruction is accidental and one can understand a little better the death of Curley’s wife.

Most importantly in this novel, Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to provide insight into the actions of the characters. The audience is deeply saddened when Carlson shoots Candy’s companion in order to put the old dog out of its misery. Although the event is disturbing one can learn the reasons why killing the dog is merciful. This event is parallel to the final tragedy of George and Lennie. After murdering Curley’s wife, Lennie is in the unfortunate position of either being lynched or ending up in a mental institution. Both options are unbearable. George is faced with the excruciating decision of putting Lennie out of his misery or allowing society to deal with him. Ultimately, learning from Candy’s mistakes he chooses to be responsible for Lennie and, “…raising Carlson’s luger to the back of Lennie’s head George shoots him” (105). Although this action seems inexplicable the audience is prepared for the situation because of its earlier experience with Candy’s dog.

In this tragic tale of two friends, John Steinbeck skillfully tells the story of George and Lennie. With his use of foreshadowing the audience is captivated and interested in reading the story. The plot of the story is connected through the use of this device. Ultimately, because the audience experiences the loss of Candy’s dog earlier in the story it can more readily accept the tragic end of Lennie.

=How do I include "Quotations?"= //Download and check out this file here to review the three main ways you can integrate quotations into your writing smoothly! //