Of Mice and Men

Chapter 1
1. Why do George and Lennie stay at the stream instead of going to the farm?
George and Lennie stay at the stream instead of going to the farm because George liked looking up into the night sky.

2. Describe the physical and personality differences between George and Lennie. The physical and personality differences between George and Lennie are quite contrasting. George is a small guy with street smarts so to speak. Lennie on the other hand is a physically large man whose mind is slow. 3. Why does Lennie carry a dead mouse? What does it do for him? Lennie carried a dead mouse because he wanted to pet it with his thumb as they walked. For him, it was his way of dreaming of one day living in his own farmhouse with George and raising rabbits. 4. Why did George and Lennie have to leave Weed? George and Lennie had to leave Weed because Lennie, liking soft things, grabbed a girls dress and wouldnt let go. He was accused of trying to rape her. 5. What sort of things could George do if he were not tied down with Lennie? Is this true? If George was not tied down with Lennie, he claims he could get a job no problem, buy whatever he wanted, stay in a cat house all night, eat any place he wanted, and he could get a gallon of whisky and sit in a poolroom playing cards. I think this is over exaggerated, however some of it is true because things would be easier. 6. What repetitious story does Lennie ask George to tell? He asks George to tell him the story of how one day they will both live together in their own farmhouse and raise different colored rabbits. 7. Why does George tell Lennie to come back to the stream in case of trouble? George tells Lennie to come back to the stream in case of trouble so that they will be able to meet up again.

8. Explain how George and Lennie are opposites. George and Lennie are opposites because Lennie is not intelligent at all whereas George has to guide Lennie and help him a lot. Both George and Lennie are physically different as well. George is short and small, but Lennie is muscular and tall. 9. Describe the personal bond between these two men. George and Lennies personal bond is pretty strong because they both share the same dream and want for their future. 10. How is Lennie like an animal in Chapter One? Lennie is like a small animal because he needs to be guided. Without someone telling him what to do or where to go, he is basically has no purpose. 11. How is Lennie also like a small child in Chapter One? Lennie is also similar to a small child because of the way he thinks. His attention span is very short and he only can be entertained for so long. 12. Write a definition for irony. Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. 13. George and Lennie are like a family in Chapter 1; explain their roles in this family. The roles of George and Lennie in comparison to a family would portray that of a father and son, George being the father to Lennie. Georges role is to help guide Lennie and teach him how to be successful. Lennies role is to follow and obey what George says.

Chapter 2
1. What is George upset about regarding sleeping accommodations? What are the implications of this? George is upset about the possibility of lice in their bunks regarding the sleeping accommodations. The implication of this is that he finds a yellow can that positively kills lice, roaches, and other scourges. He questions the old man until he is satisfied. 2. Why is the boss suspicious of George regarding Lennie? The boss is suspicious of George because he thinks that he has been taking Lennies pay away from him and taking advantage of him because of his mental state. 3. Who is Candy and what does he do on the farm? Candy is an old ranch worker who lost one of his arms in a farm accident. He is pretty much useless on the farm and has an ancient dog that no one wants around. 4. Why is Curly antagonist towards Lennie? Curly is antagonist towards Lennie because Curly is the guy that has it all. He has a beautiful wife, a great job, and is the bosss son. When he sees that Lennie is larger and more muscular, he tries to put him in his place not realizing that Lennie is no threat to him at all. 5. Describe Curleys wife. Curlys wife is given the impression of a tramp. She dresses fancy and is strikingly beautiful. She represents temptation in which all of the males on the farm experience. 6. What role does Slim play on this farm, bunkhouse? Slim plays the role of a skilled mule driver on the farm. He is really the only character who is at peace with himself and the other characters look to him for advice. 7. Who says, Les get onta here. Its mean here. Why is this ironic? This quote is ironic because Lennie and George have no other place to go or stay. Even if they wanted to leave, they have a slim chance of finding another job. 8. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim for? Lennie wants George to ask Slim for one of his dogs, specifically a brown and white one.

9. How are Curleys visits to the bunkhouse ominous? George senses trouble with Curley because he thinks that he is out to get Lennie. Everyone knows that Curley is capable of getting them fired so they need to be careful of how they react to him even though he may make them upset. 10. This chapter makes clear why George wanted to stay at the river instead of coming to the farm the night before. What would the boss discover? The boss would discover that the bus driver kicked them out of the bus and made them walk to the ranch. 11. Explain how Curley aint givin nobdy a chance in regard to picking fights. Curly is the bosss son and will not let anyone be more superior than he is. If you pick a fight with Curly, you will not win.

Chapter 3
1. What does Slim think of Lennie as a worker? Slim thinks of Lennie as a very good worker. He told George that God awmighty I never seen such a strong guy. 2. What horrendous joke did George play on Lennie that almost cost Lennie his life? The joke that George played on Lennie that almost cost him his life, was at Sacramento River. George told Lennie to jump in and Lennie almost drowned because he couldnt swim. 3. Why is the result of the joke ironic? The result of the joke was ironic because, Lennie was thanking George for pulling him out of the river when George was the one that told him to jump in. 4. What does Carlson want to do with Candys dog? Why? Carlson wanted Candy to shoot his old dog because Carlson was annoyed of the way the dog smelled. Carlson also was arguing that the dog was not useful anymore and that the dog should be put out of his misery. 5. How are Candy and his dog similar to one another? Candy and his dog are similar to one another because they are both very old and not really good for anything anymore. 6. What is Curley suspicious of when he comes to the bunkhouse looking for his wife? Curley is suspicious of his wife cheating on him with one of the farm workers. He then questions where Slim is and runs off to find out where he is. 7. Who overhears George telling Lennie about their plans for a ranch of their own? What does this person want to eventually do? Candy overhears George telling Lennie about their plans for a ranch of their own. He offers to give his life savings to help them make the dream come true. 8. Is the above person included in George and Lennies plans? Why do they include him? Candy is included in George and Lennies plans because they could really use the extra money in order to accomplish this plan sooner.

9. Explain how the fight between Curley and Lennie occurs. Who wins? What does Curley agree to? Curley thought that Lennie was mocking and laughing at him although he was not. Curley had wanted to pick a fight with him for quite some time and he saw this as the perfect opportunity. Lennie smashed Curleys hand and won the fight. Curley agrees to say it that his hand got caught in a machine to avoid embarrassment and getting in trouble. 10. Lennie is like a dog in the fight scene; explain. Lennie is like a dog in the fight scene because the author emphasized the size of Lennie more clearly. Instead of using the words Lennies hands, the author uses paws. Lennie demolishes Curleys hand as if Curley is a helpless puppy. 11. After the fight, what is Lennie worried about? Lennies only fear after the fight is that he will not be able to tend the rabbits on their farm. 12. Slim is almost like a God-figure in this chapter. How does this occur? Slim is highly respected by many of the other characters. In this chapter, Candy is hesitant to put his dog down. Only after Slim agrees that Candy should put his dog out of its misery does the old man let Carlson shoot it. 13. There is a strong parallel between Candy and his old dog and George and Lennie. Explain. Both Lennie and the old dog are considered useless to other people. But, both George and Candy appreciate them and see something that the others do not.

Chapter 4
1. Why did Lennie visit Crooks in Crooks room? Lennie was previously tending his puppy but was looking for some company so he visited Crooks room. 2. What social condition causes Crooks to want Lennie to leave his room? Crooks wants Lennie to leave his room because he says that if a black man is not allowed in the white quarters, then white men are not allowed in his. 3. Why is Crooks able to open up to Lennie about his feelings and dreams while he is unable to do so with other people? Crooks is able to open up to Lennie because he has never had anyone that he is able to confide in. 4. What evidence can be found in Chapter 4 that indicates that Lennie is able to remember some of the things that others tell him? While Lennie is talking to Crooks, he recalls a few things that George had told him. He also is able to tell Crooks their dream. 5. Crooks is another lonesome man. What is the cause of this loneliness? The cause of Crooks loneliness is that he has no one to talk to. Because of his skin color, he is treated inferior to the others. 6. Describe how Curleys wife is able to defeat an argument first Crooks and then Candy. She is able to defeat their arguments by laughing them off and changing the subject. They are too distracted by her to even realize her deferring the conversation. 7. What dream did Curleys wife have? How does she explain the loss of her dream? Her dream was to become a Hollywood actress. She says that marrying Curley caused her to lose her dream. 8. Why is Crooks the only hand at the farm who has more possessions than he can carry? Crooks is the only stable hand at the farm who has the more possessions that he can carry because he has been there the longer than any of the others.

9. Why does Crooks withdraw his offer to join George, Candy, and Lennie on their farm? Crooks withdraws his offer shortly after Curleys wife comes in and belittles their dream like he did at first. 10. What has Crooks seen of the habits of laborers like George and Lennie that makes him believe that their dream cannot be? Crooks claims that he has seen countless men go on about the same piece of land, but nothing ever comes of it. A little piece of land, Crooks says, is as hard to find as heaven. 11. What information does Candy give Crooks that impresses Crooks with the possibility of the dream about the farm? Candy tells Crooks that they already have the land picked out and nearly all the money that they will need to buy it. 12. What characteristic of mankind does Steinbeck seem to be establishing in Chapter four? Steinbeck once again confirms the characteristic of loneliness in mankind. Many of the characters admit to suffered from loneliness and admit this to complete strangers.

Chapter 5
1. How did Lennie happen to kill his puppy? Lennie killed his puppy by accidentally petting it too hard and breaking its neck. 2. What earlier events in the story relate to the death of the puppy creating a foreshadowing of more death to come? A few earlier events in the story that relate to the death of the puppy creating a foreshadowing of more death to come include the death of the mouse and the death of Candys old dog. 3. Define foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is the organization and presentation of events in a story so that the reader is prepared to some degree for what occurs later on in the story. 4. Why would Curleys wife want to talk with Lennie? Curleys wife, being the provocative and flirtatious lady that she is, probably came into the barn to talk with Lennie for company. 5. How do the other men at the farm spend their Sunday afternoon? The men at the farm spend their Sunday afternoon playing a horseshoe tournament outside. 6. What does Curleys wife tell Lennie about the seriousness of Lennies killing the puppy? She simply comforts him and tells Lennie that he can talk to her. 7. Why doesnt Lennie let go of her hair when Curleys wife tells him to do so? Lennie doesnt let go of her hair because it is so soft and he is not sure how to react to her screaming. 8. How has the reader been prepared for this event in two previous instances? The reader was prepared for this when we were given the story of what Lennie did in Weed when he held on to the girls dress. Another instance was when he killed the mouse by petting it too much.

9. When Lennie realizes that the girl is dead, what is he most remorseful about? Lennie was most remorseful about George not letting him raise the rabbits for sure this time. 10. Lennie didnt hide in the brush after killing the pup but did after killing Curleys wife. Why? Lennie hid in the brush only after killing Curleys wife because he knew the severity of his actions compared to that of the puppy. 11. How are we prepared ahead of time for George having the gun to kill Lennie? George went to the bunkhouse and took the gun so that he could kill Lennie peacefully without the other men knowing. We are prepared ahead of time for this because we know George cares about Lennie. 12. Candy sees his dream of the farm die. Why does he blame it on Curleys wife ? Candy blames it on Curleys wife because she is the one that caused Lennie to kill her.

Chapter 6
1. What does the vision of Aunt Clara tell Lennie at the riverbank? The vision of Aunt Clara at the riverbank scolds him for not listening to George, for getting himself in trouble, and for causing so many problems for his only friend. 2. What does the vision of the giant rabbit tell Lennie? The vision of the giant rabbit tells Lennie that George will probably beat him and abandon him. 3. In what way does Lennie defend George as he argues with himself? Lennie doubts what Aunt Clara and the rabbit say. 4. Why has George determined to kill Lennie himself rather than let the other men find him? George wants to kill Lennie himself because he knows that the other men will kill him harshly. George wanted to let Lennie die peacefully. 5. Why does he again tell Lennie about how the farm will be just before he shoots him? George wants Lennies last thoughts to be happy ones before he shoots him. 6. What is the relationship between Lennies death and that of Candys dog? Both deaths were done under the same circumstances and are similar to each other. Lennie and the dog were not wanted so they were killed under the same circumstances. 7. Why is the loss greater for George at the end of the story than for Lennie? Lennie was not as emotionally attached to George as George was with Lennie. George lost his best friend. 8. Slim tries to comfort George in the only way he knows how, by buying George a drink. What does this tell us of Georges future? This tells us that Georges future will be filled with a lot of freedom without Lennie including a lot of time spent at the saloon.

9. Describe the importance of companionship as it seems to be related by this story. Companionship is very much related to this story as is loneliness. Everyone longs for someone to confide in and share their thoughts. This factor in the story is important because without it, the characters would not be the same. 10. Describe the importance of dreams as Steinbeck stresses them in the story. Dreams are important in life in order to look beyond the struggles that come with every day. They give the characters in the story hope for what is to come, even though their future may not look as bright.