Character
Who are the two main characters who dream of owning a farm together?
George and Lennie
What recurring theme is represented by George and Lennie’s dream farm?
The American Dream and hope for a better life.
Reprehensible means—
Deserving blame or criticism.
Where are George and Lennie traveling at the beginning of the story?
To a ranch near Soledad to start new jobs.
Why does Steinbeck describe the opening scene by the river as a peaceful, safe place?
To foreshadow how it is used as a refuge from the chaos of the end of the story.
Which character is known as “the prince of the ranch”?
Slim
Which theme is most clearly expressed through Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife?
Loneliness and isolation.
Aloof describes someone who is—
Distant or unfriendly.
Why does Carlson shoot Candy's dog?
He insists on putting the dog out of its misery because it is old, blind, and smells bad.
What purpose does Steinbeck achieve through his introduction of the ranch setting and workers in Chapter 2?
He wants to show the challenging living conditions of migrant workers during the time of the Great Depression.
Which character represents loneliness and isolation because of racial discrimination?
Crooks
How does Steinbeck use Lennie’s strength to explore the theme of innocence and destruction?
Lennie’s innocence causes harm, showing how good intentions can still lead to tragedy.
To writhe means—
To twist or squirm in pain.
What happens to Curley’s hand in Chapter 3?
Lennie crushes it during a fight.
In Chapter 3, why does Steinbeck include the scene of Candy’s dog being shot, and how does it reflect his purpose?
He wants to show how life is easily discarded, and the feelings of others are considered insignificant.
How does Curley’s wife’s character challenge the men’s ideas about women on the ranch?
She shows that women are misunderstood and lonely, not just troublemakers.
What message does Steinbeck communicate about friendship through George and Lennie’s relationship?
True friendship requires sacrifice, loyalty, and sometimes painful choices.
Belligerently means—
In an angry or aggressive manner.
What does Lennie accidentally do to Curley’s wife?
He kills her by breaking her neck.
How does Steinbeck reveal his purpose through Crooks’ conversation with Lennie in Chapter 4?
He wants to showcase the racial isolation Crooks is experiencing and how it affects him.
Analyze George’s final decision in the novel. What does it reveal about his character?
It shows George’s compassion and moral conflict. He chooses mercy over cruelty, even though it breaks his heart.
Explain how the novel’s ending reinforces the theme of lost dreams.
George’s act and the death of Lennie symbolize the impossibility of dreams in a harsh, unfair world.
Define monotonous and use it in a sentence related to the novel.
Definition: Dull and repetitive. Example: “George spoke in a monotonous voice as he told Lennie their dream for the last time.”
What vision does Lennie have before he dies?
Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit.
What is Steinbeck’s larger purpose in how he ends the story in Chapters 5 and 6?
He is revealing the tragedy of lost dreams and how happiness and stability was unattainable for migrant workers during the Great Depression.