Characters
This character is central to the story but doesn't get a name.
Who is Curley's wife?
The river where the story begins and ends
What is the Salinas River?
We might consider it a stand-in for the Garden of Eden
What is EITHER the bucolic scene at the beginning of the book OR the farm?
Crooks embodies this theme.
What is racism?
"I oughtta of shot that dog myself... I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.''
Who is Candy, to George?
The ranch's swamper
Who is Candy?
The discovery that upsets George upon entering the bunkhouse for the first time.
What is a can of insecticide -- roach killer?
The animal Lennie "becomes" in the first and last chapter.
What is a bear?
We know the theme from the title. Most of the characters have one, whatever it might be.
What is a broken dream or dreams?
"He ain't mean...I can see [he] ain't mean."
Slim to George, talking about Lennie.
He has "God-like" eyes.
Who is Slim?
"The deep green pool of the Salinas River was still in the later afternoon. Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gabilan mountains, and the hilltops were rosy in the sun." Name the chapter in which this description appears.
What is Chapter 6 (the final chapter)?
It's a card game, but it also might be a metaphor.
What is George's game of solitaire?
The characters share this theme, which is odd given that it is defined by singularity.
What is loneliness?
"Le's go...Le's get outta here. It's mean here."
Lennie to George, early in the book.
She gave Lennie a piece of velvet.
Who is Aunt Clara?
This chapter's second paragraph begins: "It was Sunday afternoon. ...The afternoon sun sliced in through the cracks of the barn walls and lay in bright lines on the hay. There was the buzz of flies in the air, the lazy afternoon humming."
What is Chapter 5?
Curley's wife is the only female on the ranch and she embodies something else.
What is male desire or temptation?
We talked about it as a shape, but it's really about not being able to get off the Ferris Wheel.
What is a never-ending circle of awfulness, whatever that may be.
"A guy sets alone out here ...Sometimes he gets thinkin', an' he got nothing to tell him what's so an/ what ain't so. Maybe if he sees something', he don't know whether it's right or not."
Who is Crooks, to Lennie.
Her house has no kewpie lamps, but it's the one the ranchers prefer.
Who is Suzy, the owner of a house of prostitution, where the men go on Saturday night.
Name three personal possessions that Crooks has in his room that the other ranch hands do not.
What are books and shoes, or a shotgun, a pair of rubber boots, an alarm clock.
The title of the book is a metaphor of sorts. This Scottish poet wrote the poem the title comes from, and this is its modern English translation.
Who is Robert Burns? And what is "The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray"?
Lennie subtly embodies this theme.
What is innocence?
"Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"
Who is Carlson, to Curley?