Themes
George and Lennie are devoted to each other, and they help each other throughout the novella showing this theme.
What is Friendship?
George & Lennie had to leave Weed for this reason.
What is: Lennie touched the girl and she freaked out?
"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world" is said by this character.
Who is George?
These two characters leave Weed to find work.
Who are George & Lennie?
George tells Lennie that this will happen if he touches a girl.
What is lynching?
George and Lennie dream of buying a house and living together showing this theme.
What is The American Dream?
This character gave Curley’s wife the dog.
Who is Slim?
"He aint much of a talker, is he?"Describes which character.
Who is Lennie?
George and Lennie are dropped off this distance from the ranch.
What is 10 miles?
Curley's wife has no name for this reason.
What is: It shows her lack of independence & identity (typical for 1930s women)?
George and Lennie move from place to place to find work meaning they have no family or friends other than each other showing this theme.
What is Loneliness?
Slim and George were talking about this in Chapter 2.
What is George & Lennie's friendship?
Slim “It jus' seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin' together.” This seems strange to Slim.
What is: the relationship between George & Lennie?
This character gives Lennie a puppy.
Who is Slim?
The title of the novel comes from this.
What is "To A Mouse" by Robert Burns?
Crooks is separated and isolated from the other ranch workers because he is African American, meaning he is forced to live separately from them showing this theme.
What is Prejudice?
George was about to tell Slim about this before they were interrupted by Lennie (Chapter 2)
What is the incident in Weed?
“Gray of muzzle with pale, old eyes” describes this character.
Who is Candy's dog?
This person slept in George's bed before him.
Who was the Blacksmith?
Crooks lives in the stable for this reason.
What is: Racism & prejudice towards African American people in the 1930s?
Curley picks on the men who work on the ranch, including Lennie showing this theme.
What is the strong & the weak?
The advice that George gives Lennie about Curley's Wife.
What is: Don't even look at her?
George: "He’s my.... cousin. I told his old lady I’d take care of him. He got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid”. George tells a lie for this reason.
What is: explains why they are together & explains Lennie's mental issues.
Curley attacks Lennie for this reason.
What is: Lennie was smiling?
Severe storms in the 1930s caused this environmental disaster.
What was the dustbowl?