Chapter 1



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OF MICE AND MEN QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Chapter 1 (p. 1-16)

1. What is the setting as the novel begins? How is this connected to Steinbeck?

2. What sort of relationship do George and Lennie have? Give a specific example from the book to show this.

3. What hobby does Lennie have? Why won’t George let Lennie do this?

4. What does George complain about to Lennie (p. 7)? Does he really mean it? Why?

5. What is George and Lennie’s dream?

6. What is George’s plan in case Lennie gets in trouble? What literary device might this be an example of?

7. Why did George and Lennie have to leave Weed? What does this say about Lennie?

Chapter 2 (p. 17-37)

1. Who is Candy? What is his job at the farm?

2. Why is George reluctant to tell his new boss the truth about his relationship to Lennie? What does this imply about society at that time?

3. Give evidence that the boss is suspicious of George. (p. 22) Why is he suspicious?

4. Describe Curly (p. 25-26) Why is Curly always on the defensive?

5. What does Candy say about Curly’s wife? (p. 27-28)

6. What does George see as a potential problem? (p. 32) Give a quote from George as evidence.

7. What is Lennie's reaction to the ranch? (p. 32) Give a specific quote as evidence. What literary device is this an example of?

8. Describe Slim. (p. 33-34) How is he different from the others? How does he feel about George and Lennie’s relationship?

9. What does Carlson think of Candy’s dog? What does Carlson propose?

10. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim? Do you think this is a good or bad idea? Why?

Chapter 3 (p. 38-65)

1. What happened at the river (p. 40) and what did George learn from it?

2. What game is George frequently playing? (Pages 40, 51) How is this symbolic?

This relates to the theme: ____________________________________

3. What does Lennie do that puts his puppy in danger? (pp. 42-43) What does this show about Lennie?

4. "Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim's opinions were the law." (p. 45) Explain the context of this quote.

5. How is Candy like his dog?

6. Give 5 details of George and Lennie’s dream. (p. 57-58) What do you think their dream represents? (Think course themes!)

7. Why might Candy want to join Lennie and George as they pursue their dream? (p. 59) Do you think George will allow this? Make a prediction and offer evidence.

8. How does Candy feel about his dog being shot? Offer a quote as evidence. (p. 61)

9. Why does Curly get angry at Lennie? Pick out the simile on page 63.

10. What does Slim say to Curly about his injury? (p. 64)

11. What is Lennie’s main concern after the fight with Curly?

• Constructed response: Choose an example from each chapter (1,2, and 3) that shows the theme of Isolation and Loneliness:

Chapter 4

1. What is Crooks’ bunk like? What does it show you about him?

2. Why doesn’t Crooks want Lennie to come into his room at first?

3. Why does Lennie enter Crooks' room when other farm hands would not?

4. What do you learn about Crooks’ past?

5. What does Crooks say that scares Lennie? Why do you think he does this? Why does he back off?

6. "A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody." (p. 72) Who says this, and what theme does this quote relate to?

7. How does Crooks initially react to hearing about their dream of owning a farm? How does his reaction change? Give two quotes as evidence. (74-76)

8. Why does Curley’s wife come to Crooks’ room? What does she wish she was doing with her life?

9. "I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny." (p. 81) Explain the context and significance of this quote.

9. What does Crooks tells Candy at the end of the chapter about tending to the farm? (p. 83)

• Defining words and phrases in the vernacular:

Because the novel takes place mostly on a migrant work farm during the Great Depression, much of the language used is written in the vernacular, the language of the common people. The vernacular may include slang terms from the time period or phrases in dialect, a regional variation of a language. Make an educated guess what the following terms mean:

• “buckin barley” (This is what George and Lennie do at the farm)–

• “swampin” (This is Candy’s job)—

• “skinner” (This is Slim’s job)—

• “stablebuck” (This is Crooks’ job)—

• “tart”& “jailbait” (This is how Candy’s wife is described)—

• “stake” (This is what George and Lennie are trying to save)—

• “cat house” (This is where many of the men spend their evenings)—

Chapter 5

1. Pick an excerpt from Curly’s wife that exemplifies her and the theme of Isolation and Loneliness. (p. 86) How come Curly’s wife’s never gets a name? What do you think Steinbeck is suggesting about women at that time?

2. What happened to the puppy? What foreshadowed this event?

3. What happens to Curly’s wife? What previous 2 events foreshadowed this?

4. How does Lennie react? What does this reveal about Lennie?

5. "Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew." (94) What does Candy know?

6. What is George’s plan? Why?

7. What has now happened to the dream of the farm? To which theme can this be connected?

8. "He - would have went south. We come from the north so he would of went south." (p. 97) Why does George say this to Slim?

9. What does Carlson say has been stolen? What do you think really happened?

Chapter 6

1. How has the story come “full circle” in the opening scene of Chapter 6?

2. Where has Lennie gone? Why?

3. What does Lennie begin to imagine? (p. 100-101) What does this represent?

4. How does George act when he first sees Lennie after the murder?

5. Who says the following quote? What is the significance of the quote?

“You an’me. Everbody gonna be nice to you . Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody or steal from them.”

6. What does George do to Lennie? Why?

7. What previous event in the book is a direct parallel to what happens to Lennie?

8. How does George lie about what happened to Lennie? Why?

9. What does Carlson say at the end of the novel? What does this say about the attitude of men during this time period?

10. Big Question: Was George justified in what he did? Explain your answer using evidence from the text.

Themes: Give an example of each theme from the book.

Loneliness

People need others to share their dreams with

Survival of the Fittest vs. Social Justice

During the Great Depression, it was every man for himself. But some would argue that society has a responsibility to help the less fortunate, or at the very least show compassion for them.

The myth of the American Dream

Although America promises the dream (a house, a job, money, fame, etc.) it is only attainable by few.

Hope and Despair

Throughout the novel, circumstances such as cruelty, poverty, and loneliness cause great despair. But friendship and dreams provide hope in difficult times.

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