Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-4-sound

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel.md) › [English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men.md) › Sound

# Sound

English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 5.1.4

## Steinbeck's Description of Sound

As well as lots of visual description, Steinbeck also includes detailed descriptions of sound. This is a technique which is sometimes called auditory description.

### Background sounds

![Background sounds](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a0512f0d-9b3b-42cf-9ac1-07859265d5a1/horse-shoe.jpg)

- Sometimes Steinbeck describes the various background sounds.
- This adds an extra dimension to the setting descriptions, helping the reader to clearly imagine the scene: “There was a clang of horseshoe on iron stake outside and a little cheer of voices.” (Section 3).

### Silence

![Silence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/714dffb8-290c-4231-9862-2ade812f71aa/silence.png)

- During tense moments, Steinbeck makes repeated references to silence.
- This creates an awkward and suspenseful atmosphere because we associate silence with awkwardness and tension: “The silence came into the room. And the silence lasted.” (Section 3).

### Creating panic

![Creating panic](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/2a20a48c-f120-40fc-a982-1e6fffe13a5c/urgency-time.jpg)

- During the final scene of the novel, Steinbeck describes the sound of the men closing in on George and Lennie.
- As the sounds get louder, the sense of urgency and panic grows: “And the shouts of men sounded again, this time much closer than before.” (Section 6).

## Test yourself on Sound

- What does sound add to the setting descriptions?
- What does Steinbeck make repeated references to in tense moments?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/57ac05f4-9509-43b5-93ff-d98d2bf43cbc/section/7606a1be-ba95-4222-8608-82d1f47f5dae/session)

- Previous topic: [5.1.3 Light](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-3-light.md)
- Next topic: [5.1.5 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-5-symbolism.md)

## English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men contents

### 1 Context & Overview
- 1.1 Context & Overview
  - [1.1.1 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-1-the-great-depression.md)
  - [1.1.2 Racism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-2-racism.md)
  - [1.1.3 The American Dream](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-3-the-american-dream.md)
  - [1.1.4 Of Mice & Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-1-4-of-mice-and-men.md)
- 1.2 John Steinbeck
  - [1.2.1 John Steinbeck's Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-1-john-steinbecks-life.md)
  - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Context & Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-context-and-overview.md)

### 2 Plot
- 2.1 Section 1 - Analysis
  - [2.1.1 Section 1 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-1-section-1-plot.md)
  - [2.1.2 Section 1 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-1-2-section-1-overview.md)
- 2.2 Section 2 - Analysis
  - [2.2.1 Section 2 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-1-section-2-plot.md)
  - [2.2.2 Section 2 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-2-2-section-2-overview.md)
- 2.3 Section 3 - Analysis
  - [2.3.1 Section 3 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-1-section-3-plot.md)
  - [2.3.2 Section 3 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-2-section-3-overview.md)
  - [2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-3-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-1-3.md)
- 2.4 Section 4 - Analysis
  - [2.4.1 Section 4 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-1-section-4-plot.md)
  - [2.4.2 Section 4 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-4-2-section-4-overview.md)
- 2.5 Section 5 - Analysis
  - [2.5.1 Section 5 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-1-section-5-plot.md)
  - [2.5.2 Section 5 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-5-2-section-5-overview.md)
- 2.6 Section 6 - Analysis
  - [2.6.1 Section 6 - Plot](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-1-section-6-plot.md)
  - [2.6.2 Section 6 - Overview](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-2-section-6-overview.md)
  - [2.6.3 End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/2-6-3-end-of-topic-test-sections-4-6.md)

### 3 Key Characters
- 3.1 Main Characters
  - [3.1.1 George](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-1-george.md)
  - [3.1.2 Lennie - Strength](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-2-lennie-strength.md)
  - [3.1.3 Lennie - Innocence & Dependence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-3-lennie-innocence-and-dependence.md)
  - [3.1.4 Slim](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-4-slim.md)
  - [3.1.5 Curley](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-5-curley.md)
  - [3.1.6 Curley's Wife - Flirtatious](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-6-curleys-wife-flirtatious.md)
  - [3.1.7 Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-7-curleys-wife-lonely-and-heartbroken.md)
  - [3.1.8 Crooks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-8-crooks.md)
  - [3.1.9 Candy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-9-candy.md)
  - [3.1.10 End of Topic Test - George & Lennie](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-10-end-of-topic-test-george-and-lennie.md)
  - [3.1.11 End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-1-11-end-of-topic-test-slim-curley-and-curleys-wife.md)
- 3.2 Minor Characters
  - [3.2.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-1-minor-characters.md)
  - [3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/3-2-2-end-of-topic-test-crooks-candy-and-others.md)

### 4 Themes
- 4.1 Key Themes
  - [4.1.1 Hopes, Dreams & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-1-hopes-dreams-and-reality.md)
  - [4.1.2 Racial Prejudice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-2-racial-prejudice.md)
  - [4.1.3 Loneliness & Companionship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-3-loneliness-and-companionship.md)
  - [4.1.4 The Weak & Strong](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-4-the-weak-and-strong.md)
  - [4.1.5 Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-5-women.md)
  - [4.1.6 End of Topic Test - Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/4-1-6-end-of-topic-test-key-themes.md)

### 5 Authorial Method
- 5.1 Writing Techniques
  - [5.1.1 Dialogue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-1-dialogue.md)
  - [5.1.2 Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-2-imagery.md)
  - [5.1.3 Light](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-3-light.md)
  - [5.1.4 Sound](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-4-sound.md)
  - [5.1.5 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-5-symbolism.md)
  - [5.1.6 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-6-structure.md)
  - [5.1.7 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/5-1-7-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md)

### 6 Recap: Main Quotes
- 6.1 Quotes per Section
  - [6.1.1 Section 1 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-1-section-1-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.2 Section 2 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-2-section-2-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.3 Section 3 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-3-section-3-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.4 Section 4 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-4-section-4-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.5 Section 5 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-5-section-5-quotations.md)
  - [6.1.6 Section 6 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-1-6-section-6-quotations.md)
- 6.2 Text Structure - Quotes
  - [6.2.1 Imagery - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-1-imagery-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.2 Light - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-2-light-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.3 Sound - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-3-sound-quotations.md)
  - [6.2.4 Symbolism - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/english-literature/edexcel/i-of-mice-and-men/6-2-4-symbolism-quotations.md)