Chapter 1
Who are the two main characters introduced at the beginning of the novel, and what is the nature of their relationship?
George Milton and Lennie Small
The two men are good friends, but George acts as caretaker and companion to Lennie.
Where do George and Lennie arrive at the start of Chapter 2?
The bunkhouse
What does Lennie bring into the bunkhouse that upsets George?
His new puppy
Find a quote that describes the bunkhouse. Be prepared to read the quote!
Anything from the beginning of chapter 2.
What does RICE stand for?
Restate
Introduce
Cite
Explain
What is the setting of the beginning of chapter 1? List 3 details that describe the setting.
- Soledad, California
- On the Salinas River near the Gabilan Mountains
- Forest-like area with a brush and small pool of water
- Several animals are around (rabbits, lizards, dogs, deer)
- Mentions nature colors like green, brown, and gold
How is the bunkhouse described in the beginning of chapter 2? Provide 2 descriptive details.
- White washed walls
- Unfinished floors
- 8 beds
- Men's belongings in small box-like shelves
- Cast iron stove and stovepipe
- Big square table
- playing cards
Who does George open to in the beginning of the chapter and what does he tell this man?
Slim. He tells Slim about why he and Lennie had to leave their job in Weed.
What color does Curley's wife wear when we are first introduced to her?
Red
How do you correctly cite a quote from Of Mice and Men.
(Steinbeck pg. #).
Explain the significance of Lennie’s fixation on small animals, specifically mice.
Lennie loves soft things.
Who is Curley and how does his behavior set up conflict? Provide 3 specific traits shown in Chapter 2.
Curley is the boss’s son. He is aggressive, jealous, picks fights (especially with larger men), a good boxer, insecure, mean
What happens to Candy's dog in chapter 3? Why does this happen? Who is the cause of this? How does Candy feel about the situation?
Candy's dog is shot because it is very old, smells bad, and can barely move. Carlson is the man who suggested killing Candy's dog. Candy is very upset about the situation.
What happened to Candy's hand?
Candy lost his hand in a work accident on the ranch. His hand got caught in a machine, and because of the injury, he was given money and now works as a swamper (a cleaner) instead of doing regular ranch work.
What is the central idea? What are the dos and don'ts when writing a central idea?
The overall lesson or message the author conveys to the reader.
- The central idea must be a complete statement.
- The central idea must be a universal message.
- The central must not include specific details from the text (title, author, character names, etc.)
What two directions did George give to Lennie before arriving at their new job on the ranch?
1. Don't talk
2. If anything bad happens, return to the brush immediately
What excuse does Geroge give the boss about Lennie’s reluctance to talk/respond to the boss’s questions?
Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse when he was a child.
At what point does Goerge and Lennie's dream start feeling like it is something they can achieve?
When Candy offers them his savings and asks to be a part of the dream.
Why is the boss skeptical of George and Lennie when they first get to the ranch.
- They arrived late.
- He thinks George is using Lennie to work and then taking his money.
Which writing strategy would best support the following central idea and why?
"Hope is what keeps us going and guides us to achieve our dreams."
Characterization or conflict.
Characterization: George, Lennie, and Candy have hope that their dream of owning land will come true and it gives them motivation to persevere.
Conflict: Fear can lead someone to have hope that things will change or get better.
Describe George and Lennie's American Dream.
George and Lennie's dream is to own their own farm and land, where they can live independently and have a comfortable life. They want to live off the fatta the land!
Explain Slim’s role among the workers and why the other men respect him.
Slim is respected because of skill (he's good at his job), calm authority, and fairness. The other men defer to his judgment.
What happens between Curley and Lennie in this chapter? How did the incident begin? What happened during the incident? How was the incident resolved?
The incident begins when Curley is angry and looking for someone to pick on. He sees Lennie smiling to himself and thinks Lennie is laughing at him. Curley gets mad and starts punching Lennie, even though Lennie doesn't want to fight. At first, Lennie is scared and doesn’t defend himself, but George tells him to fight back. Lennie grabs Curley’s hand and won’t let go, crushing it badly. The incident is resolved when Slim and the other men tell Curley to say his hand got caught in a machine so no one will know Lennie hurt him.
Why is George so secretive about his and Lennie's American Dream and plans to own their own land one day?
George keeps their dream secret because he knows most ranch workers never achieve it. He also protects it because the dream gives him and Lennie hope and something to live for.
What is the central idea of the passage below?
"They fell into a silence. They looked at one another, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true. George said reverently, "Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her." His eyes were full of wonder. "I bet we could swing her," he repeated softly.
Candy sat on the edge of his bunk. He scratched the stump of his wrist nervously. "I got hurt four years ago," he said. "They'll can me purty soon. Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk houses” he said miserably, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs.
I'll have thirty dollars more comin', time you guys is ready to quit."
George stood up. "We'll do it," he said. "We'll fix up that little old place an' we'll go live there." They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing."
The central idea of the passage is hope and dreams give people comfort, purpose, and a sense of belonging.