Characters
Who travels with George?
Lennie Small
Why do George and Lennie leave Weed?
Lennie grabbed a girl’s dress and they had to flee.
What soft animals does Lennie love to pet?
Mice (and other soft things)
During what historical period does the novel take place?
The Great Depression
Who says, “An’ live off the fatta the lan’”?
Lennie
Which character gives Lennie a puppy?
Slim
What does Lennie hide in his pocket at the start of the book?
A dead mouse
What does the dream farm symbolize?
Hope and a better future
In which U.S. state is the story set?
California
Who is described as having “hands like paws”?
Lennie
What physical disability does Candy have?
He is missing a hand.
Whose gun does George use at the end?
Carlson’s Luger
Which animal represents aging and uselessness?
Candy’s old dog
What is the name of the ranch where they work?
The Tyler Ranch (usually called simply “the ranch”)
Who says, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”?
Crooks
Which character lives alone in the stable and faces racism?
Crooks
What event causes the men to form a search party?
Curley’s wife is found dead.
What does the riverbank clearing symbolize?
Safety and peace
Where do the ranch workers spend time playing cards?
The bunkhouse
Who tells George, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda”?
Slim
What dream does Curley’s wife reveal before she dies?
She wanted to become a movie star.
Where does George tell Lennie to hide if he gets into trouble?
In the brush near the riverbank.
How does the book’s cyclical structure support its themes?
It shows the inevitability of the characters’ fate.
Why does Steinbeck describe the bunkhouse as bare and plain?
To show the harsh, unstable life of migrant workers.
What does the phrase “I remember about the rabbits” represent?
Lennie’s childlike hope and their fragile dream.