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Original poster

Set texts at school

110 replies

MillyR · 08/09/2011 21:31

Sorry that this is a bit of a thread about a thread, but in education there is a thread discussing Of Mice and Men still being a set text at GCSE. Nobody has mentioned in that thread that it is a book about a man killing a woman. As Steinbeck wrote:

She is 'not a person, she's a symbol. She has no function, except to be a foil ? and a danger to Lennie.'

This is in addition to 'Atonement' and "To Kill A Mocking Bird' both being set texts. In both of these a woman makes false accusations about who is the rapist. So in all three books a woman is harmed but we are pushed towards sympathising with a male character.

I am just wondering if this has a bit of an impact. When I was at school we did 'The Color Purple' and it had a major impact on me. I know these books must be looked at critically in schools, but criticising the books doesn't really cancel out the impact of the stories. Of Mice and Men is particularly sentimental and melodramatic so designed to move the reader to care about the killer.

Did anybody study these books at school, or teach them?

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 08/09/2011 22:17

think I agree with you millyr but not sure what would be worse - the current texts or something by Alice sebold

you were lucky to do color purple at school though

WillieWaggledagger · 08/09/2011 22:12

just to clarify I think the lack of engagement with such a topic is he probelm that should be tackled

WillieWaggledagger · 08/09/2011 22:11

at dp's school they teach (or at least used to, not sure now) angela carter's the magic toyshop at A level, which I htinink is pretty enlightened of them. the problem is it's a boys' school (though with some girlsin the sixth form) and they hve had lots of complaints because the boys can't ;'engage' with it apparently

Greythorne · 08/09/2011 22:05

I read Of mice and men 25 years ago at school and to be honest, I had completely forgotten the female character who is killed by Lenny. I remember vividly the interplay between the brothers, the depiction of Lenny's SN, his brither's defence of him and ultimate killing of him. But the woman made no impact on me whatsoever.
Which goes to show how unimportant she is, what a non-character.
And suddenly your post strikes a real cord with me, 25 years later.

LeninGrad · 08/09/2011 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MillyR · 08/09/2011 22:00

I suppose I just think it would be more appropriate to study a book about the aftermath of rape which doesn't involve a false accusation. But perhaps such a book is widely studied in schools and I'm just unaware of it.

OP posts:
bushymcbush · 08/09/2011 21:56

When I teach Of Mice and Men, I always encourage discussion about Curley's Wife and her lack of identity / freedom / voice. I personally think it's a very interesting theme in the novel, alongside the racial and class prejudices.

Admittedly, the teenagers I teach do find it difficult to see things from CW's point of view, and occasionally one will come out with that gem: "she deserved it" Hmm

MitchiestInge · 08/09/2011 21:54

well it is about mayella's abuse as well though isn't it? that was sort of the point, I thought, that it was easier to condemn an innocent man to death than to tell the truth about her father?

Original poster
MillyR · 08/09/2011 21:50

It is still a book about the impact of false accusations rather than the impact of being raped though.

OP posts:
ecclesvet · 08/09/2011 21:37

To Kill A Mockingbird is far from black and white (pun intended) about the false accusation. It's pretty clear that she is forced into the accusation by threats from her abusive father.