Character
Which character is being described here, and what does this say about him?
“(He) dabbled his big paw in the water.”
Lennie. He is frequently described as an animal to reflect his size and animalistic tendencies (lack of impulse control, no understanding of social rules, etc.)
Choose and explain two events that foreshadow Curley's wife' death.
What do the mice symbolize in the book?
The fragility of life, comfort (for Lennie), Lennie's strength vs. the mouse's weakness.
Give an example of how the theme of power is shown in the book.
Answers will vary.
"The silence fell on the room again. It came out of the night and invaded the room."
What type of figurative language is conveyed here?
Personification
Which character is this describing, and what does it say about him?
“His ear heard more than was said to him…”
Slim: he is empathetic and understanding. He can infer things about others just based on observation.
That Lennie will do another "bad thing" and will need to run away again.
What do the rabbits symbolize to Lennie?
comfort, responsibility, caretaking, his dream
What theme is revealed when Slim says " I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple."
euthanasia; weak vs. strong
Who is speaking to Lennie here? What does this convey about Lennie?
"Well he's sick of you...he's gonna beat hell outta you an' then go away an' leave you"
Lennie's hallucination of a rabbit. Lennie's biggest fear is George leaving him.
Why don't we know Curley's wife's name?
Name one thing Slim drowning some of his puppies foreshadows.
Candy's dog being shot or Lennie being shot (euthanasia)
What does the character of Curley symbolize?
Insecurity, abuse of power, social class conflict, violence
Connect the death of Candy's dog to two themes.
Who is the speaker/audience?
"I could have made something of myself. Maybe I will yet."
Curley's wife to Lennie
What is Crooks's dream? Does he believe it can be achieved?
Crooks longs for companionship and community, just as he used to have as a child. Even though he briefly feels hope that he could join the farm dream, he ultimately returns to his previous opinion that dreams are never accomplished.
Answers will vary
ex: any of the failed dreams discussed before, Crooks and Curley's wife saying no one ever achieves their dreams, Curley's wife's dream not coming true, etc.
What does the bunkhouse symbolize?
Community, togetherness, segregation, social class
Connect Curley's wife's dream to a theme BESIDES the theme of dreams.
Curley's wife's dream is all about gaining companionship, admiration, love, etc.
Who is the speaker/audience?
“An’ you won’t let the big guy talk, is that it?”
Curley to George
What is Curley's biggest fear, and what does this say about him? Provide evidence.
Curley is afraid of being mocked or laughed at. He is extremely insecure.
Example: Carlson laughing at him (and then Candy mocking him) causes him to start the fight with Lennie.
Which event in the chapter 6 setting description foreshadows Lennie's death?
The heron eating the snake.
George frequently plays solitaire throughout the novel. What does this game symbolize?
Loneliness...he is playing by himself!
Provide 2 examples of the theme of weak vs. strong appearing in the book.
Answers will vary.
What is the quote from, and what does it mean?
"She learned to be hard to cover her fright. And automatically she became hardest when she was most frightened."
Steinbeck's letter to Claire Luce. It suggests that Curley's wife's behavior (particularly her name-calling of the "weak ones" and her threat to Crooks) are a result of fear.