English 8 - Assignment Sheet #1 Mrs.Kastl
OF MICE AND MEN BY John Steinbeck
The following assignments are carefully designed to lead you through our first novel, Of Mice and Men. Do all questions for each chapter and file them in the homework section of your binder. Label each homework assignment with the date and assignment number. Take reading notes as instructed, in your class notes section.
Of Mice and Men is a classic story which focuses the reader on some essential questions which are basic to the human condition. The central image is the earthy paradise, visible in nearly every Steinbeck novel. For Americans, this has meant an agrarian economy of small farms, worked by their owners for their own benefit. It is part of the American Dream. What is the American Dream and how does this novel reflect this goal? Of Mice and Men is a vision of Eden, land of peace, harmony, prosperity; it includes individual independence and group fellowship, meaningful relationships, companionship and responsibility. But like most of Steinbeck's characters never reach this Dream. As Crooks said, "Nobody never gets to heaven." Living in the Salinas
Valley is hard and sometimes hostile for its inhabitants.
For George and Lennie, being who they are and where they are, the outcome may be inevitable, and we may see a personal tragedy in this tale. Steinbeck, however, meant the story to be a parable of the human condition, as the final title indicates. Steinbeck came nearest to an adequate statement of his theme when he said in a letter that Of Mice and Men is "a study of the dreams and pleasures of everyone in the world." Man's longing for the land, a favorite Steinbeck theme, is expressed in this novel by the ranch-hand’s desire for a few acres of his own, so that "he can be his own boss." Steinbeck says of Lennie that he represents "the inarticulate and powerful yearning of all men," making it plain that this novel was meant to express the inevitable defeat and futility of all men's plans.
As a drama or novel, Of Mice and Men is economical in words, is tightly knit and is carefully constructed. It is very much like a Greek tragedy in its dramatic economy; every word is meaningful in relation to the whole; few characters are used; and prophetic speeches, symbolic properties, and foreshadowing episodes point to the inevitable end.
Chapter 1.
Why do you think Steinbeck begins this novel with a lengthy description of the
landscape?
What do we learn from how Lennie is characterized?
What evidence is there for the relationship between Lennie and George?
What evidence suggests that Lennie might be violent?
Chapter 2.
Explain the hierarchy in the bunkhouse? Who is at the lowest level? At the highest?
How does the highest achieve his status? How do you know?
What is there about Candy's manner that suggests he avoids causing anyone
displeasure?
According to the swamper, why could Curley pose a threat to George and Lennie?
Why does George lie to the boss? What were the lies?
How do George and Lennie feel after Curley's wife leaves?
Chapter 3.
How does George react to Slim's compliment about being bright?
Why is Candy's old dog a problem? How is the old dog like Candy?
Who wants to shoot the dog?
Explain George's philosophy about women.
How does it explain the attitude Steinbeck depicts toward Curley's wife?
Who wants to share in George and Lennie's dream and why?
What conflicts do we recognize in this novel? Identify and make a list.
Physical? Psychological? Societal?
Chapter 4.
Why do you think Crooks defends his territory so strongly?
Why does Crooks force Lennie to imagine life without George?
How are Lennie and Crooks alike?
How are Crooks and Candy alike?
How is Curley's wife like Crooks?
Why does Crooks pretend not to want to live on the ranch with Candy, George and
Lennie?
Why does Candy want to get rid of Curley's wife from the bunkhouse?
Chapters 5 & 6.
What word does Curley's wife misuse?
Why does Curley's wife come to talk to Lennie? What mistake does Curley's wife
make ?
Why do you think that Curley's wife does not have a name?
How does her death affect the other characters?
Notice the setting of the first chapter and compare it to the setting as describe in
the last chapter. What does this full circle suggest?
Describe George's efforts to make Lennie's death easier. Why was this necessary?