OfMiceandMen

StudyGuide

CHAPTER 1

Vocabulary

Bindle –apack

Brusquely–gruffly

Contemplated – thoughtabout

Debris–leftovers,garbage

Dejectedly–sadly

Imperiously–likeadictator,arrogantly

Junctures–joints

Lumbered–movedheavily

Morosely –glumly, gloomily

Mottled–spotted

Quivered – shook, trembled

Recumbent–reclining,drooping

Resignedly–inasurrenderingmanner

Skittering–movingrapidly

1.Thebeginningofthenovelbeginswitharichdescriptionofthephysical setting.Citeexamplesofthreeusesofdescriptivelanguage.Explaintheeffectonthemoodofthenovelbybeginningthenarrativewiththisdescription.WhatisSteinbecktryingtosuggestabouttheareabytheSalinasRiver?

2.OfMiceandMenissetduringtheGreatDepression;Duringthethisera,hobostraveledacrosstheUnitedStates, andin the evening,thehoboswouldsettleincampsthatwerereferredtoas“HoboJungles.” To “jungle-up” is to camp in an areathat other men hadused orare using forthe evening.Compareandcontrastthetwomenwhocomeintotheclearingbytheriver.WhydoyouthinkSteinbeckintroducesthemenbydescribingtheirphysicalfeatures,highlightingthefactthatoneissmallandoneishuge?Whatcanthereaderinferaboutthetwomenbasedontheirdescriptions?

3.SteinbeckusesanimalimagerytodescribeLennie,thelargerman.Citetwoexamplesofthistypeofimagethatisusedinthefirstfewpagesofthechapter.

4.WhydoesGeorgetellLennienottodrinkthewater?Whymightthis seemlikeanunusualinstructionstogiveamanwhohasspent partofhisadultlifetravelingthecountry?

5.GeorgegivesLennieinstructionsaboutthewater,andwhenheexplainsaboutthetypeofwaterthatissafeto drink, he doesso“hopelessly.” (Pg. 3) What canwe infer aboutwhyGeorge might feel hopelesswhenheistalkingtoLennie?

6.WhenLennieandGeorgesitbytherivertorest,whatdotheytalkabout?WhatcanbelearnaboutLenniefromtheirconversation?WantcanwelearnaboutGeorge?

7.Readthe following line from the novel andexplain the allusion,“watchin ‘ that blackboard.“Youremember settin’inthatgutteronHowardstreetandwatchin’ that blackboard?(Pg.5)

8.WhatdoesLenniehaveinhispocket?Whydoeshewanttokeepit?

9.Describe George’s planforgetting he jobat the ranch. What do we learnaboutLennie from this plan? AsGeorge andLennie arewaitingto gothecamp.George states,“God, you’realotoftrouble.Icouldget along soeasyandsonice ifIdidn’thave youon mhtail.I couldliveso easy andmaybe have a girl.”(Pg. 7) Explain what thisstatement illustratesabout George’s feelings towardLennie?What doesthereaderlearnaboutGeorgeandhisdreams?

10.HowdoesLennie’sdesire fora touching sensation get him in trouble in Weed?

11.EventhoughLennie’smentalitykeeps him from fully understanding the workdaroundhim, he isvery sensitive to George’s feelings. Describe an incident that showsLennie’compassionfor George.

12.AfterGeorgeeruptsinangerabouttheresponsibilityoftakingcareofLennie,LennieofferstorunawayandleaveGeorgealone.WhydoyouthinkGeorgedoesnottakeLennieuponhisoffer?

13.WhydoesLennielikeGeorgetotellthestoryoftheranch,eventhoughhealreadyknowsitbyheart?WhydoesGeorgesoreadilyagreetotellthestory,eventhoughhehas justgottenangrywithLennieafewminutesbefore?

14.Explain the idiom,“liveoff the fatta the lan.”(Pg.14)

15.WhydoesGeorgetellLennietorememberthespotwheretheyarecamping?Whatmightthisconversationforeshadow?

16.WhatliterarytermdoesSteinbeckuseinthelastsentenceofthechapter?

17.BytheendofChapter1therearetwothemesormotifsthatareeasilyidentified.Usingspecificexamples,describethesethemes.

CHAPTER 2

Vocabulary

Abruptly-suddenly

Apprehensive–anxious,uneasy,fearful

Archly–mischievously,slyly

Bridled–drewbackscornfullyorangrily;tookoffense

Complacently–inaself-satisfiedway,contentedly

Contorted–twisted

Derogatory–deliberatelyoffensive,negative

Dousing–soaking

Flounced–movedimpatiently

Gravity–seriousness

Grizzled-streakedwithgray

Intently–firmly,focused

Laden–burdened

Liniment–soothingbalm

Mollified–soothed

Ominously–threateningly,inawaythatbodesevil

Plaintively–mournfully,pleadingly

Precede–gobefore

Pugnacious–warlike,inclinedtofight,combative

Scoff– tomock

Scowled–frownedangrily

Scrappy–quarrelsome

Skeptically–doubtfully

Slough –tocast off

Vials– bottles

  1. Inthisnewchapterofthenovel,Steinbeckagainbeginswithadescriptionofthesetting.Explainhowthedescriptionthatbeginsthischapterisdifferentthatthedescriptionatthebeginningofthefirstchapter.WhatdoesthisdescriptiontellusaboutGeorgeandLennie’slife?
  2. WhenGeorgeandLennieareshowntheirquarters,theoldman tellsthemthatthebossisangryatthem. Why?
  3. TheoldmantellsGeorgeandLennieaboutablacksmithwhousedto workattheranchandsuddenlyquit.Quotewhat the oldman sayswas the reason for his departure.Whatdoes the oldman’s story seemtosuggestaboutthemenwhoworkontheseranches?
  4. Howdoestheoldmandescribetheboss?
  5. WhenthebossistalkingtoGeorgeabouttheirwork,GeorgespeaksforhimselfandLennie.Whatdoeshis boss suspect is going on betweenGeorge andLennie? What is George’s response?
  6. WhydoesGeorgenotletLenniespeaktotheboss?
  7. Explain the irony in Lennie’s last name.
  8. Who is Curley, andwhat does it mean when Candysays he is “handy”?
  9. WhatkindofpersondoesCurleyseetobe?Usespecificreferencestothetexttojustifyyourresponse.
  10. DescribetheinteractionbetweenGeorge,Curley,andLennie.WhydoyouthinkCurleyacts thewayhedoes?HowdoesGeorgefellaboutCurley?
  11. Why wouldthe old man feel safe that he has“drawn a derogatory statement from George”?(Pg.27)
  12. What doesthereader learn about Curley’swife? Whymight thisbe important to the story?
  13. WhatdoesGeorge warnLennieabout?Why?Wheredoeshetellhimtogo?
  14. AfterCurley’swife comestothebarn lookingforCurley, whydoes George get angryatLennie?
  15. Explaintheforeshadowinginthefollowinglinesfromthenovel:

Lenniecries outsuddenly-“Idon’t likethisplace, George.This ain’tnogoodplace.Iwanna getouta here.” (Pg.32)

  1. Describeslimbyusingspecificreferencesfromthenovel.WhatdothedescriptionsofSlimindicateabouthischaracter?
  2. What happens to Slim’sdogand her puppies?Whatdoes this tell usabout survival as a migrantworker?

CHAPTER 3

Vocabulary

Bemused–preoccupied,slightlydazed,deepinthought

Derision–scorn,disapproval

Hoosegow– jail

Raptly–intently

Reprehensible–blameworthy

Reverently–worshipfully

Scuttled–movedveryquickly

Subdued–dominated,forceddown

Subsided–slowed,then stopped

Wryly–dryly,ironical

1. WhydidGeorgeatonetimeplayjokesonLennie?Whydidhestop?WhatdowelearnabouttheinterdependenceofGeorgeandLennie?

2.HowdoesSlimcompareLennietoothermen?

3.Why does George reveal to Slim whathappened to them in the Weed?What is Slim’sresponse?

4.WhatdoGeorge andLennietalk about whenLennie comes into thehouse? Howare Lennie’s actionssimilartotheeventsthathappenedearlierwhenLennieandGeorgewerecomingtocamp?

5.Whydoyouthinkthe authorspendssomuchofthenarrationtalkingaboutwhatakindpersonLennieis?

6.Why does Carlson want to shootCandy’s dog?

7.What are Candy’s reasons for not wantingto shoot the dog? Howdoes that seem, given the conditionsofmigrantcampsatthistime?

8.WhatdoSlimandWhitdiscoverinapulpmagazine?Howisthisimportantforthegroupofmen?

9.Whydoestheimageof silenceplayanimportantroleatthis pointinthenovel?Whoisliterallybeingsilenced?Whoismetaphoricallybeingsilenced,andwhatroledoeseachmanplayin thesilence?

10.Explain George andLennie’swork ethic. Whatinformation in the textis usedto illustrate their workethic?Explain the idiom “gonnaroll up a stake.” (Pg.50)

11.Explainthefollowingpassageanditsfunctioninthestory:

“She’sgonnamakea mess.They’sgonna be abadmessabout her. She’s a jail baitallset onthetrigger. ThatCurley gothis work cutout for him.Ranch with a bunch of guys onitain’tno placefor a girl, speciallylikeher.” (Pg.51)

12.WhenCurleycomesintothebunkhouse,forwhomishelooking?Whenhediscoversthat Slimisnot there, whatdoes he assume?Whatdowe learn about Curley’s relationshipwithhiswife,basedonthisevent?

13.DescribetheconversationGeorgeandLenniehaveafterthemengoinsearchofafightbetweenCurleyandSlim.

14.What doyou supposeLennie’sstatement mightsuggest,allegorically,when hesays,”…live on the fattathe lan’…an’ rabbits,”especially in light ofthe way Georgegoes on to describe it? (Pgs.57,58)

15.Lennie,sensitivebynature,showsaviolentstreakwhileGeorgetellsthestoryoftheirfutureranch.WhatdoesLenniesay,specifically,thatshowsthisviolence?Howdoes hisstatementaddtotheviolentnatureofthenovel?

16.WhatdoestalkingaboutthedreamdoforLennieandGeorge?WhyisCandyinterestedinthestoryabout George andLennie’sdream?

17.Howarethethemeofsurvivalandthepowerstrugglebetweentheweakandthestronghighlightedonpage60?

18.AfterGeorge,Lennie, andCandymakeapactnottotellanyoneabouttheirdream,Candy makesthefollowing statement:”I ought to of shot that dog myself,George.Ishouldn’t ought to oflet no strangershoot mydog.”(Pg.61)Explain the parallelism between the relationshipCandy hadwithhisdog andtheoneGeorgehaswithLennie.Howmightthisstatementbeanexampleof foreshadowing?

19.DescribethenatureoftheargumentbetweenCurleyandSlim.

20.Howdotheothermengetinvolvedintheargument?WhydoesCurleyreactthewayhe does?

21.WhydoesCurleypickonLennie?

22.WhydoyouthinkGeorgeencouragesLennietofightbackwhenCurleyhitshim?

23.ThroughoutthefighttherearemanyanimalsreferencesreferringtoeitherLennieorCurley.Findseveralexamplesinthetext,andthenexplainhowtheanimalreferencesconnecttowhatthereaderalreadyknowsaboutthecharacters.HowdothedescriptionsofCurleychangethroughoutthefight?

24.WhathappensasaresultofLennie’stakingcareofhimself?HowdoesLennierespond?Why?

CHAPTER 4

Vocabulary

Aloof–distant

Averted–turnedaway

Crestfallen–depressed,dejected

Disarming–endearing

Fawning–flattering, doting,attemptingtoplease

Indignation–angerat somethingunjust

Mauled–roughhandled

Sullenly–morosely,gloomily

Wisps–smallbunches

1.Atthispointinthe novel,thereaderhasbeenintroducedtothemaincharactersintheplot.Howwouldyoudescribethecharacters?

2.Someofthecharacternamesarenicknames,giventodescribeacharacteristic,suchasSlim(thin)andCrooks(crookedspine).Othernames,however,seemtosymbolizedeepermeanings.WhydoyouthinkSteinbeckchosethefollowingnamesforhischaracters?Useexamplesfromthenoveltoarticulateyouropinion.

3.Why is Curley’swifenameless?

4.Steinbeckspendsagreat dealoftime describingCrooks’livingquarters atthebeginningofthissection.Whatdoesthereadergainthroughthisdescription?WhatdowelearnaboutCrooks?

5.WhatisCrooksdoingtohisbackduringthis chapter?

6.WhatinitiallybringsLennietoCrooks’room?HowdoesCrooksreacttothevisitor?

7.AtfirstCrooksisunfriendlytoLennie,butthe heinvitesLennistosit.Whydoeshechange?

8.Crooksis alsoverylonely,buthowishisloneliness differentfromthe others’?

9.WhydoesLenniebecomeupsetwithCrooks?

10.WhydoesCrooksmakeLenniebelievethatGeorgewillnotcomebackforhim?

11.HowdoesCrooksexplaintoLenniewhyheupsethim?

12.HowdoesCrooks respondto LenniewhenLenniedescribesGeorge’sdream about the rabbits?Whydoyouthinkherespondsinthisway?

13.WhocometovisitLennie,Candy,andCrooks?Whatistherealreasonbehindthevisit?

14.CharacterizedCurley’swife as she is presentedin the novel.Howisthe readersupposed to feel abouther?

15.Howistheideaofpowerandpowerlessnessdevelopedatthebeginningandinthefinalsectionofthischapter?

16.CitethevisualimageofCrooksthatSteinbeckcreatesasCrooksismentallyandemotionallydefeatedby Curley’swife.

17.Howdoesthischapterend?ExplainthecircularnatureofthechapterandwhatitimpliesaboutCrooks.

CHAPTER 5

Vocabulary

Consoled–comforted

Contorted–twisted,misshapen

Mules–slipperswithoutaheel

Sniveled–whimpered

Writhed–squirmed,twisted

1.DespitethedescriptivesettingofthebarnandthequietSundayafternoon,thenextchapterbeginswithanaccident.ExplainwhathappenedandwhyLennieissoworried.

2.DescribeLennie’sirrationalangerwhen he does not understandabout the puppy’s death.

3.WhojoinsLennieinthebarn?Why?HowdoesLenniereact?

4.HowistheconversationbetweenLennieandCurley’s wifeliketheconversationbetweenLennieandCrooks?

5.HowdoesCurley’swife showthat she is not as contemptible as she seems?

6.When Curley’swife is tryingtoconsoleLennie, shestates:“Youcan get anotherone easy. The wholecountry is fulla mutts.”(Pg.87) Howmight that statement beappliedto more than just animals?

7.Whydoes Curley’s wife come angryatLennie?

8.Throughout the book, the readerlearns about LennieandGeorge’s dream. What does the reader learnaboutCurley’swife’sdream?Howdoes herdream influenceher life?

9.Howdoes Curley’s wifefeelabouthim?

10.Howdoes the reader know that Curley’swife does not understandLennie’smentalchallenges?

11.What is Lennie’sexplanationfor whyhe likes rabbits? How doesCurley’swiferespond?

12.WhydoesLenniepanic,andwhathappensaresultofhispanic?Howdoesthissimilartoaneventearlierinthestory?

13.Whatsimilaritycanbefoundinthedeathofthepuppy,inthebeginningofthechapterandinthedeath of Curley’swife?

14.Explainthefollowingimagefromthebook:“Andthe meannessandtheplanningsandthediscontentandtheacheforattentionwereallgonefromherface.Shewasveryprettyandsimple,andherface wassweetandyoung.”(Pg.92-93)

15.HowdoCurley’swife andLennie’sdreamsboth seem to diewith the accidental death?

16.When Steinbeck describes the momentsafter Curley’swife’s death, he uses personification.Cite anexampleofpersonificationandexplaintheimpactofitsuseinthissectionofthenovel.

17.WhodiscoversCurley’sbody? What is the reaction?

18.What decisiondoesGeorge make about the girl’sdeath? What doesCandy want to do andwhy?

19.More that the girl’sdeath andLennie’spossiblearres,whatdoesCandy worry about?What isGeorge’sreaction?

20.HowdoesCandyaddressthebodyofthegirlafterhetalkstoGeorgeandlearnsthattheirdreamofthefarmisnolongerareality?Whydohouthinkhereactsthisway?

21.HowdoesGeorgekeepthemenfromfindingLennierightaway?HowdoweknowthatthisisnotwhereLenniewouldhavegone?

22.Whatdo themensuppose happenedto Carlson’s gun? Whyisthishardto believe?

CHAPTER 6

Vocabulary

Belligerently–aggressively,angrily

Haunches–backlegs

Lanced–pierced

Mottled-spotted;speckled

Scudded–drivenswiftlybythewind

1.Howisthebeginningofthisscenesimilartothebeginningofthenovel?WhywouldSteinbeckbeginthischapterinthesamewaythathebeganthefirst?

2.ExplaintheimageoftheheronawaitingitspreyanditsconnectiontoLennieandhiscircumstances.

3.As Lennieis waitingforGeorge, he remembers a “littlefat oldwoman.She worethickbull’s-eyeglassesandshe wore a hugeginghamapron with pockets,andshe wasstarchedandclean.” (Pg.100-101) Who isthewoman?

4.HowcanweexplainthehallucinationsthatLenniehasasheiswaitingforGeorge?

5.HowdoesGeorgeknowwheretofindLennie?

6.WhydoesGeorgegothroughthemotionsofpretendingtobeangryatLennie?

7.ExplainwhetheryoubelievethatLennierealizesthathehasdonesomethingwrong.

8.Explain the symbolism in George’s final tellingofthe farmstory.

9.WhyisGeorgecalmalmostwithoutemotion,whenhetalkswithLennie?

10.During George’s retellingofthe ranch story, the pointis made thaton the ranch they will have eachothertolookafter.Whyisthispointmentionedsooften?

11.Earlierinthenovel,whatforeshadowsthefinaleventsbetweenLennieandGeorge?

12.WhydoyouthinkGeorgeshootsLennie?

13.Whydoyouthink GeorgeliestothemenabouttheeventsthatleduptoLennie’sdeath?

14.WhorealizeswhatreallyhappenedbetweenLennieandGeorge?

15.Explainthesignificanceofthefinalstatementinthenovel.