Use the Mark Scheme to get an A* on Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

[@ja390mesjameswaldock3]

Turns out that using all of this stuff plus the stuff you gave for an inspector calls got me an A, was expecting a B for that exam but it is by far the best grade i got in any of the exams. Ty for that.

[@tomchapman2889]

Wow, that cameraman is superb

[@benmorgan1078]

You sir are a genius

[@rob4136]

You’re a great teacher, I’ve learnt a lot watching this video, 😊

[@y0Neza]

Can you do one for AQA?

[@jacobc1233]

In relation to the 'Reversed Easter Story' theory, I think it is showing how Steinbeck has lost hope and faith in God due to the hardships suffered in the time. His family suffered from the depression as well as Steinbeck turning to an agnostic view point from his Protestant-Catholic upbringing.This supports the idea of him turning away from God due to lack of hope.

[@abigailakerman1611]

this is sick sir

[@ja390mesjameswaldock3]

If you evaluated to say that like George who saved Lenny from suffering and torture, giving up his hope of heaven, Lenny gives up his own hope of heaven to free man from sin- temptation. Could you use that with any one of the characters?

[@virginijusandrijauskas3012]

If I have two interpretations of a quotation, for example like you said in the video that the quote could mean two things - God is good or God is bad, should you put both interpretations in your answer, or should you just stick to one and only write about it?

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

***** Put both, then evaluate which one you think is best

[@virginijusandrijauskas3012]

dominic salles thank you. you are a great teacher

[@ja390mesjameswaldock3]

Could you use this with every question for of mice and men because even though the ideas will be no doubt useful in getting an A* im not quite sure what question i would use them with.

[@mrjacobburke]

Hello sir, how would you fit in the title and the origin of it (to a mouse) in your answer, I feel scared I would ramble on about it!

[@hamzaq23]

Can these skills be used for AQA

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Hamza Qureshi Yes. You should also Google an AQA mark scheme, to see what the differences might be

[@hamzaq23]

dominic salles another I would like to say, this may be a silly question but is it actually necessary to read through the novel and memorise what happens in each act or is it more effective just to find relative quotes with some explaination

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Hamza Qureshi Your second idea is more effective

[@hamzaq23]

dominic salles thank you. I just want to say that what your doing is amazing, taking your time to make these videos to help people across the country, you really are a great man

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Hamza Qureshi +Jasin PK Thanks, hope the videos help. If you let the adverts run I get paid about 1 cent - you'll make me rich eventually.

[@khromburst6671]

Great video. I'm ot understanding it fully though - Do we say what a reader back in the 1930's would feel and then how a reader now feel? e.g. what would we say about the racism against crooks and how do we use this context to answer the question of how is it powerful?

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

kHromBurst Great question. A 1930s reader.

[@Josephlegoman23]

So the death of Curley's Wife being symbolic of the death of temptation is the opposite of the occurrences in Eden?

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

+Josephlegoman23 Yes. I haven't thought through the implications of this. Perhaps this suggests a vengeful God, who has still not forgiven original sin so that the innocent, like Lennie, cannot escape it, and ultimately are condemned to sin, and therefore go to hell. Or a secular interpretation might suggest that we blame the individual who prompts our desires, rather than ourselves for having them - so the men condemn Curley's wife as a 'tart', when actually it is their desire to use women as sex objects which is to blame.

[@Josephlegoman23]

Thank you very much - that has most definitely got to exceed A*!!!

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Hopefully. I actually think that many students are capable of going beyond A*, but it is a shame that in schools we pretty much teach students only to get A*, and only then in the last 3 months of year 11. That's one of the reasons I make these videos.

[@Josephlegoman23]

+Mr Salles Teaches English Yes, I agree I believe we should start it much earlier so we can understand more of the novel rather than just rush it for an exam. I hope you don't mind me asking - do you have a video on Curley's name or maybe something about him because I've practically done all of the characters now and he's the only one I'm having trouble with, thank you :).

[@jamjar5196]

Does this apply to AQA?

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Jam Jar Google the mark scheme and see!

[@jamjar5196]

Well apparently for inspector calls for example, we're not meant to talk about social & historical context; yet we have to include the writers intentions and his influences. How do i do this? Btw, the videos you did on inspector calls helped so much, thanks.

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Jam Jar No, what it means is that historical and social context is not tested, it is not an assessment objective. However, it is very relevant to his intentions, so bring it in where it illuminates those. Glad the channel is helping.

[@jamjar5196]

Thanks a lot. :)

[@ReemieBubz]

I'm sitting the exam tomorrow for Edexcel for Of Mice and Men and An Inspector Calls, will these videos still help me get an A* even though I'm not doing AQA/OCR

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

reem e should do, but google your exam mark scheme. It will take 20 seconds to find, ten minutes to read

[@bigman7842]

if you are finding the video boring skip to the last 5 mins it is very helpful

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Bexton Glad you made it that far Bexton!

[@bigman7842]

the book of an inspector calls with all of the quotes in the back would this be the book tat we get in the AQA exam?

[@MrSallesTeachesEnglish]

Bexton If your school uses that one, yes.