George & Lennie
What does George tell Lennie to do if he gets into trouble?
He must hide in the brush where they camped for the night.
What do the men think of Curley’s wife?
They think that she is flirtatious.
Why does Crooks live separately from the other men?
He is segregated because he is African American
A representation of survival of the fittest on the ranch
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.”
George
Why does Lennie have a dead mouse in his pocket?
He likes to stroke it.
Why does Curley pick a fight with Lennie?
He thinks Lennie is laughing at him, He likes picking fights with big guys, He is aggressive and conceited.
Why does Carlson shoot Candy's dog?
Carlson shoots Candy’s dog because he is old and smells bad.
What do the rabbits represent?
A symbol of Lennie's dreams and his innoncence
“Why can't I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.”
Curley's Wife
The novel opens with George and Lennie camping by the river, because:
George wanted one more night of freedom.
What evidence does Candy give that the boss is a good guy?
He gave the ranch workers a gallon of whisky for Christmas.
Why does Lennie kill Curley’s wife?
He doesn’t mean to; he just wants her to be quiet.
What does Carlson's gun represent?
“A guy needs somebody-to be near him ... A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody.”
Crooks
George and Lennie had to leave their previous job because...
Lennie was accused of rape
Why doesn’t Curley expose the fact the Lennie broke his hand?
He is too proud and embarrassed.
Why might the reader sympathize with Curley's Wife in her final moments?
We learn she is a product of her environment, her meanness wasn't her true nature.
What does the dead mouse represent?
A symbol of Lennie's unwitting strength
"Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple."
Slim
When George says his life would be easier without Lennie, is it true?
Yes, but he still prefers having Lennie around; he does care for him.
According to Crooks, why does man need companionship?
To have someone to talk to, To have someone to reassure your fears, To have someone to just be near.
List the hierarchy of power in this text, beginning with the most powerful.
The Boss, Curley, Slim, George, Candy, Carlson, Curley's Wife, Lennie, Crooks
What do Crooks's glasses represent?
Intelligence and intellect
“Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again.”
Narrator