Name ______Period ______

Of Mice and Men: Chapter 1 Reading and Study Guide

I. Allusions and Historical References: You should be able to identify the following

places and understand them when they appear in the novel.

A. Soledad:

B. Salinas River:

C. Weed

II. Literary Terms: You should be able to define each term and apply it to the novel.

A. imply:

B. infer:

C. exposition:

D. setting:

--What is the setting of the novel?

E. point of view:

--From what point of view is the story told?

IV. Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

A. Where did the bus drop off the two men?

B. How does the author describe George?

C. How does the author describe Lennie?

D. What does Lennie take out of his pocket that gets him in trouble with

George?

E. Where are George and Lennie going?

F. Where were George and Lennie before?

G. What directions does George give to Lennie?

H. Why did George and Lennie leave the last place where they worked?

I. What does George imply happened with the girl in Weed?

J. What dream do George and Lennie share?

K. Where does George tell Lennie to go if he gets into trouble?


Of Mice and Men: Chapter 2 Reading and Study Guide

I. Vocabulary: You should be able to define the following words and understand

them when they appear in the novel.

A. swamper:

B. tick:

C. stable buck:

D. skinner:

II. Literary Terms: You should be able to define each term and apply it to the novel.

A. dialect:

B. irony:

--What is an example of irony in this chapter?

III. Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

A. According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?

B. What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?

C. Describe the stable buck.

D. Describe the relationship between the stable buck and the boss.

E. Describe the fight between the stable buck and Smitty.

F. What is Lennie's last name?

G. What does the boss think George is doing to Lennie? Why does he think this?

H. What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?

I. Who is Curley?

J. What does the swamper tell George about Curley's left hand?

K. Describe Curley's wife.

L. Why does she come into the bunkhouse?

M. Describe Slim. What is his job on the ranch? What are some of his character

traits?

N. What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?

O. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?

IV. Constructive Response: Answer the following question using examples and quotations

from the book to support your answer.

Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse.


Of Mice and Men: Chapter 3 Reading and Study Guide

I. Allusions and Historical References: Make sure you can define each term and explain

its importance in the novel.

A. luger:

II. Literary Terms: Make sure you can define each term and apply it to the novel.

A. Theme:

--What is the theme of this novel?

B. Imagery:

C. Foreshadowing:

D. Conflict:

1. external:

2. internal:

III. Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

A. What does Slim say he would have done to the dog if he hadn't given it to Lennie?

B. Why do George and Lennie travel together?

C. What can the reader infer about Lennie's childhood and his family life?

D. Why did George stop playing jokes on Lennie?

E. What does George tell Slim about Weed?

F. Which reasons does Carlson give for shooting Candy's dog?

G. Who is Curley looking for?

H. What does Curley think Slim is doing?

I. What is Slim really doing in the barn?

J. Who has been listening to George and Lennie's conversation about the ranch?

K. Why does George tell Candy to keep their plan a secret?

L. When Curley sees Lennie smiling, what does he assume?

M. What happens between Curley and Lennie?

IV. Constructive Response: Respond to the following prompt using examples and quotations from the novel to support your answer.

There are some similarities between Candy's relationship with his dog and George's

relationship with Lennie. What are those similarities?


Of Mice and Men: Chapter 4 Reading and Study Guide

I. Literary Terms: You should be able to define and term and apply it to the novel.

A. verbal irony:

--Provide and example of verbal irony in the novel.

B. symbolism:

II. Questions:

A. How does Crooks react to Lennie when he comes to visit?

B. For what reason did Lennie come to the barn?

C. Where is George

D. What do we learn about Crooks' family?

E. What does Lennie tell Crooks, even though he probably should not have?

F. What is Crooks' opinion of George and Lennie's desire to buy land?

G. Who visits Crooks, Candy, and Lennie?

H. What do we learn about Curley's wife?

I. Before Curley's wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie?

J. What does Curley's wife say to Crooks?

K. What is the last thing Crooks says to Candy?

III. Constructive Response: Respond to the following prompt using examples and

quotations from the novel to support your answer.

How is the theme of loneliness developed in this chapter? Think about he characters

Lennie, Crooks, Candy, and Curley's wife.


Of Mice and Men: Chapters 5 and 6 Reading and Study Guide

I. Literary Terms

A. climax:

B. resolution:

II. Questions: Answer each of the following in complete sentences.

A. What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself?

B. Who visits Lennie in the barn?

C. According to Curley's wife, why didn't she get into show business?

D. What can the reader infer is the reason Curley's wife married Curley?

E. What does Lennie do to Curley's wife?

F. Who finds Curley's wife?

G. What favor does George ask of Candy?

H. What does Carlson think happened to his Luger?

I. Where is Lennie hiding?

J. In what state is Lennie while he's hiding?

K. What story does George tell Lennie when he finds him?

L. Provide two examples of foreshadowing that occur in the novel.

III. Constructive Response: Answer the following prompt using examples and

quotations from the novel to support your answer.

Is George justified in killing Lennie?