Reading Trivia Questions
What state does the story take place?
California
Why does Crooks not believe in Lennie's dream?
He's seen a lot of others fail through the years
George and Lennie dream of owning their own farm. What important theme does this represent?
The American Dream and their hope for a better and more independent or free life.
Most of the novel takes place on this type of workplace during the Great Depression, explains its importance.
A ranch, showing the difficult and unstable life of the migrant workers.
Lennie repeatedly asks George to tell him about the farm and the rabbits. What does this reveal about Lennie?
The dream gives Lennie comfort and something hopeful to look forward to.
What is the name of the town where the ranch is in?
Soledad
Why is Crooks protective of his living space on the ranch?
It is the only thing he has and isn’t allowed to sleep or be in the bunkhouse with the other workers.
Many ranch workers move from job to job and have few close relationships. What theme does this show?
Loneliness, many of the characters lack stable relationships or a true home top stay in.
Why is the bunkhouse an important setting for the ranch workers?
It shows their temporary lifestyle and lack of a permanent home.
In Chapter 3 Candy says he should have killed his dog himself. What does this reveal about Candy?
He feels guilty for letting someone else make a painful decision about someone he loved.
On his first day at the ranch, what does George find near his bed in the bunkhouse?
Bug/Lice killing powder from a previous worker
What 2 things does Lennie have hallucinations about, after escaping the ranch? What was the purpose of these hallucinations?
A giant rabbit and his Aunt Clara, to point out the mistakes Lennie has made and to highlight his biggest fears.
Candy worries he will be useless when he becomes too old to work. What theme does his fear connect to?
Human worth in society, that people are often valued only for what they can contribute or produce.
Crooks lives alone in the stable instead of the bunkhouse. What does this setting reveal?
It shows his isolation and separation from the other workers.
Slim is one of the few characters the other ranch workers consistently respect and listen to. What does this reveal about his character?
Slim’s calm attitude and confidence make him a natural leader, even without any official authority, like the Boss or Curley.
What 3 things does George tell Lennie to do right before he shoots him?
1.) take off your hat
2.) look beyond the mountains
3.) imagine the “dream”
Why isn’t Curley’s wife given a name?
Because of gender inequality, none of the men really care or think about her as anything other than "Curley's Wife"
George stays with Lennie even though caring for him makes his life much harder. What theme does this relationship develop?
Friendship and loyalty, George sacrifices his own enjoyment and freedom to care for and protect Lennie.
During the setting with Candy’s dog’s death, Steinbeck repeatedly emphasizes the silence in the bunkhouse before and after the gunshot. What is the significance of this silence?
The silence builds tension and shows the men’s discomfort, while also emphasizing Candy’s grief and the seriousness of the dog’s death.
Curley’s wife often seeks attention from the ranch workers. What does this reveal about her character?
She is more lonely and desperate for others to notice her than the other characters first realize.
What town do George & Lennie escape from before the beginning of the book?
Weed
At the end of the novel, George tells Lennie to think about the farm while preparing to shoot him using Carlson’s gun. Why is this moment sharing their dream especially significant?
George uses their dream to comfort Lennie before killing him, turning the dream from a symbol of hope into a final act of mercy.
George and Lennie’s farm dream gives them hope, but it never becomes reality. What larger message does Steinbeck develop through this?
Dreams give people hope, but harsh reality and fate can prevent them from achieving those dreams.
The novel begins and ends at the same peaceful river clearing. What is the significance of returning to this setting?
It creates a circular structure and shows that George and Lennie’s journey ends where it began.
After Curley’s wife dies, George admits that he may have always known, deep down, that the farm dream would fail. What does this reveal about George's thinking?
George is realistic but allowed himself to believe in the dream because it gave Lennie and himself hope.