Story Elements
The story occurs in order, within a certain time period.
What is chronological?
One theme of this novel is how humans cope with or respond to loneliness. Give one example of a character who is lonely and how he/she copes with their loneliness.
Curley's wife: looks for company with men
Crooks: Stays aloof, doesn't want others in his living space
Curley: Wants to fight anyone who threatens to take away his wife
Lennie: Pets soft things
Candy: Gossips
This character's jealousy and insecurity lead to conflicts with other ranch workers, including Lennie and George.
Who is Curley?
The story of Lennie grabbing a girls dress is told using this technique.
What is flashack?
How do the men in the bunkhouse console Candy when his dog is being put down?
What is a distraction? They focus on playing a card game.
One theme of the novel is friendship and the sacrifices we make for friends. Name one set of friends and a sacrifice that they make for each other.
What is George & Lennie: George gives up having a girlfriend or family.
Candy and His Dog: He gives up social acceptance to keep dog that stinks and others view as worthless
This character's conflict with society is exemplified by his mistreatment and isolation due to his race.
Who is Crooks?
A narrative device in which a storyteller gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
One example that shows Lennie is good-natured.
What is the river scene?
Answers may vary
One theme of the novel is dreams that are deferred or altered. Name one dream and how it is changed or altered throughout the novel.
What is the dream ranch was supposed to be just for George and Lennie; now Candy is contributing, and Crooks wants in on the dream farm.
Five external conflicts
What is Person vs. person? Person vs. society? Person vs. nature? Person vs. supernatural? Person vs. technology?
An outside narrator who only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
Third-person limited
Crooks is doubtful of Lennie and George accomplishing their dream because most men waist their money on these two things.
What is gambling?
What is women?
One theme of the novel is the discrimination and prejudice that humans have to endure. Name at least two examples of prejudice or discrimination in the novel.
Crooks has to live separate from others because he is a Black man
No one will talk to Curley's wife; she doesn't even have name because she is seen only as a sexual object
Lennie is subject to being taken advantage of because of his special needs and mental deficiencies
This type of conflict is most relevant now than it has ever been.
What is person vs. technology?
Name the five types of narration.
What is first-person? Second person? Third-person limited? Third-person objective? Third-person omniscient?
Curley's wife proves she is smarter than she looks by asking Lennie, Crooks, and Candy this question
What happened to Curley's hand?
This theme is prevalent throughout the novel, representing the fragility of dreams and their susceptibility to failure.
What is the American Dream?
Two examples of person vs. self conflict for Candy.
What is lost his hand?
He cannot work as efficiently.
What is old age?
He is being aged out by his younger peers.