Of Mice and Men Lens Analysis Reading Activity and Essay

This assignment provides students with different analysis lenses to use while reading Of Mice and Men. The different analytical lenses help students to develop a deeper understanding of the text and its underlying themes by offering diverse and nuanced perspectives.

This product includes:

-an activity sheet depicting the essay assignment and requirements

-a slideshow providing descriptions of every lens and how they apply to the story

-a quote tracker chart for students to fill out while they are reading the novella

-a chart for the teacher to track which student is using which lens

-a cohort discussion activity for students to meet with other students who have chosen the same lens.

Below are the lens analysis choices students have in this activity:

Symbolism and Imagery Lens:

• Helps students identify and interpret symbols and imagery in the text, enhancing their ability to uncover hidden meanings and thematic connections.

Existentialist Lens:

• Promotes critical thinking about the characters' existential dilemmas and the larger questions of meaning and choice, fostering philosophical exploration.

Marxist Lens:

• Encourages students to examine the economic and class aspects of the text, offering insights into power dynamics and social structures.

Sociological Lens:

• Helps students analyze the societal and cultural elements at play, allowing them to explore issues like discrimination, social norms, and relationships in the text.

Environmental Lens:

• Encourages students to consider the natural and environmental elements in the text, offering insights into how the setting and environment contribute to the story's meaning.

Feminist Lens:

• Promotes an examination of gender roles, stereotypes, and inequalities in the text, enabling students to explore the representation of female characters and gender dynamics.

Race Lens:

• Encourages a focus on racial dynamics, discrimination, and cultural issues in the text, fostering a deeper understanding of how race influences characters' experiences.

Historical Lens:

• Enhances students' ability to understand how the text reflects the historical period in which it was written or set.