Characters
Which character represents physical strength but intellectual vulnerability?
Lennie
What event foreshadows the novel’s ending?
Candy’s dog being shot
Why does Candy want to join George and Lennie’s dream?
He fears being useless and alone
What were the 4 marginalized groups represented by characters in the novel?
Intellectually disabled, physically disabled, people of color, and women
What year was the film adaptation released?
1992
BATTLE: Name as many characters from the novel as possible.
The points will go to whichever team lists the most characters :)
What is the climax of the novel?
When Lennie kills Curley’s wife
How does the dream change George/Lennie/Candy’s outlooks on life?
It gives them hope for a better future.
What does life on the ranch suggest about vulnerability?
Vulnerable characters are at risk, oppressed, isolated, and often punished for their weaknesses.
Who is my Bridgeton twin?
Ms. Chisholm <3
In what ways is Curley insecure, and how does this affect his behavior?
He is insecure about his size and status, leading him to act aggressively and pick fights.
Lennie’s capacity for causing intended harm escalates throughout the novel. What were the things that Lennie harmed?
Mouse, puppy, Curley’s wife
Why does Crooks reject the dream when he hears about it?
His life experiences have taught him that dreams are unattainable for people that are struggling/marginalized.
Why do characters try to exert power over others?
They feel powerless and that they have a lack of control over their own lives/circumstances.
What is MLA?
A style guide to formatting academic papers
How does George and Lennie’s relationship challenge traditional masculinity?
Their friendship emphasizes care, loyalty, and emotional dependence over toughness.
Why does George kill Lennie?
He did not want the other men to hurt Lennie more. He wanted to give Lennie a painless, merciful death because he cared about him.
What was Curley’s wife’s dream?
She wanted to be a movie actress.
BATTLE: List as many themes as possible that appear in the novel.
Friendship, loneliness/isolation, the American Dream, power and vulnerability, mercy/compassion, responsibility, fate vs. free will, injustice, prejudice/discrimination, dreams vs. reality, innocence vs. cruelty.
What is my favorite kind of energy drink?
Alani <3
DEBATE: Which character do you think holds the least amount of power on the ranch? Support your answer.
The points will go to whichever team best supports/debates their answer
DEBATE: Who do you believe was most responsible for what happened at the end of the novel?
The points will go to whichever team best supports/debates their answer
How does the Dream compare to the life of a migrant worker?
The Dream provides stability, security, a home, independence, etc.
What does Steinbeck suggest about the innate nature of humanity? (Inherently good, inherently bad, shaped by circumstance, etc.)
People are largely shaped by society/circumstance
BATTLE: Draw a picture of a mouse and a man.
The best art gets the point :)