Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
A GCSE English Workbook by Steven Croft ~ Wessex Publications ~
About the Author of this Workbook Steve Croft is a lecturer and Programme Leader for English in a Tertiary College in Yorkshire and is committed to flexible forms of learning. He is a Senior AEB Examiner for A level English and also an Examiner for the International Baccalaureate.
Other workbooks in this series include: A level The Miller's Tale The Franklin's Tale The Wife of Bath's Tale and Prologue Great Expectations Much Ado About Nothing The Poems of John Donne Jane Eyre Hamlet Mansfield Park The Handmaid's Tale Measure for Measure Gulliver's Travels Edward II The Merchant's Tale Dubliners A Dolls House Poetry of Edward Thomas Poetry of Seamus Heaney King Lear Return of the Native A Passage to India Mean Time The Rivals Hard Times English Language Topics English Critical Appreciation Communications - Semiotics and the Media Tess of the dUrbevilles Murmuring Judges Othello The Whitsun Weddings The Glass Menagerie The Pardoners Prologue andTale Captain Corellis Mandolin The Country Wife Dead Sea Poems A Streetcar Named Desire Dr Faustus Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience The Duchess of Malfi The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales Volpone Christina Rossettis Verse Three Victorian Poets Selected Poems by John Keats Enduring Love Snow Falling on Cedars GCSE I'm the King of the Castle The Lord of the Flies War Poetry Macbeth An Inspector Calls To Kill a Mockingbird Of Mice and Men Romeo and Juliet
All materials available from: Wessex Publications Elwell House Stocklinch Ilminster Somerset TA19 9JF Tel/Fax: 01460 55660 or by using sales@wessexpublications.co.uk www.wessexpublications.co.uk
COPYRIGHT NOTICE The contents of this publication remain the copyright property of the publishers. They may be copied only within the purchasing institution. Any copying beyond these limits is illegal. Wessex Publications 2002
Teacher Guide
Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck
About the Workbook

The material in this package is fully photocopiable for use within the purchasing institution. In addition, you will, of course, need a copy of Of Mice and Men.
Using the Materials

We recommend that students read the novel at least once through first on their own or as a group in order to get a sound grasp of the text and the characters. The Workbook examines the novel and presents the student with ideas, questions, and activities to help her/him develop her/his own understanding and interpretation of it. Sections are also included on Steinbeck himself; Themes; Characters; Language, Structure and Style; Imagery. Revision questions to help students prepare for the examinations are also included. It will be necessary to photocopy the Workbook for each student. You could give each student a guide to keep, but we suggest that you spiral bind or staple them and retain them for future use. The answer boxes may, of course, be used but you will probably prefer students to answer in their notebooks for reasons of cost. However, the size of each box will enable students to gauge how much to write and will make it easier to discuss answers with individuals and groups. The Workbook is written and presented in a similar way to Open University/Open College materials and is intended to be interactive and student-centred. The package is far more than a revision aid or potted guide. Its purpose is both to support the student and enable her/him to work at her/his own pace. The Study Workbook is written for the student. It can be used in a variety of ways including:

alongside classwork and group work led by the lecturer/teacher/tutor individual supported-self study (flexible learning) work in class
individual work carried out at home paired or small group work revision work.
Using the CD version of the Workbook

The CD provides you with three versions of the workbook:
the complete workbook with questions, answer boxes and author's responses the workbook with tasks and answer boxes only the author's responses only.
Each of the above may be loaded onto your school/college Intranet or printed off separately. This will give you complete flexibility to use the materials as you see fit.
The Lecturers/Teachers Role

The pack is not intended as a substitute for the teacher/lecturer. In our view it is essential that she/he supports the student throughout by providing:

an introduction to Steinbeck's work explanation when needed guidance and support individually and within small groups regular checks of the students work.
Note All quotations from the novel itself are shown with speech marks. Tasks are written using New Times Roman font, and the author's suggested comments / answers / responses to them are given in a different font (Arial) to enable students to pick them out more easily.
Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck
A GCSE English Workbook by Steven Croft ~ Wessex Publications ~
CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Using the workbook John Steinbeck - background Section by section analysis Section 1 Section by section analysis Section 2 Section by section analysis Section 3 Section by section analysis Section 4 Section by section analysis Section 5 Section by section analysis Section 6 Themes Characters Language, Structure and Style Imagery Structure of the Story Specimen Questions page 1 page 2 page 4 page 17 page 27 page 42 page 52 page 60 page 67 page 75 page 79 page 81 page 82 page 83
Of Mice and Men
Using the workbook
1. USING THE WORKBOOK

The workbook examines various aspects of the novel Of Mice and Men and you will be asked to complete tasks on each of these areas as you progress through the different sections. All the tasks are designed to help you look carefully at the novel and to come to an appreciation of its meaning and significance as a piece of literature. In addition to work in the workbook itself it is advisable to keep your own, fuller notes, in a notebook or ring binder. These will be an important revision aid if you are going to answer on this text in an examination. Some of the tasks require quite short answers and where this is the case a box is provided in the workbook where you can write down your responses if you wish. Some questions may require a fuller response and it would be best if you wrote your comments or answers in your own notebook or file. At the end of the workbook you will find a number of specimen essay questions of the kind that you might find set for GCSE English. These titles and questions would also be suitable for coursework assignments on this text. If you are going to answer on this text in an examination it would be very useful to you to practise writing answers to several of these and have some idea of how you would tackle any of them. Good luck and happy studying.
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John Steinbeck - Background
2. JOHN STEINBECK 1902 - 1969

Born Salinas 1902
Contemporary issues form basis for much of Steinbeck's work
A good deal of what happens in Of Mice and Men is based upon experiences that Steinbeck actually had in his life. He was born in 1902 in Salinas in California and graduated from Salinas High School in 1919. He went on to Stamford to study English but he left there without getting a degree. In the years that followed he moved around a good deal and had many casual jobs varying from working on a newspaper to work as a travelling ranch-hand, moving along as the work presented itself. He also wrote at this time and did have some local success as a writer before writing Of Mice and Men which quickly became a world-wide success and brought him international recognition. The publication of this novel was followed in the same year, 1937, by a stage play which won an award for the best New York play. The subject matter which Steinbeck dealt with in Of Mice and Men would have come as no surprise to those who were already familiar with his writing because he had already become known as a writer interested in contemporary issues and not least those affecting the agricultural labourers of California. In the novel, Steinbeck draws attention to a social problem which had developed to immense proportions and of which he had experience at first hand. Climate change in the rest of America between 1888-1930 had resulted in the destruction through droughts of large tracts of fertile land which had been farmed and had supported the early settlers and homesteaders. These were the settlers who had established the innumerable small farms one of which George and Lenny and some of the other characters dream of owning. However, the drought, coupled with over-farming had turned this once productive farmland into immense barren tracts of land which became known as the dust bowl. The great financial collapse of 1929 which marked the start of the depression increased unemployment and poverty drastically throughout the United States. Industrial workers and white-collar workers suffered heavily but for those people who tried to scratch a living from their small farms, the situation was disastrous. Politicians eventually acted and Franklin D Roosevelts New Deal Economics did much to help ease the situation but in 1937 the problem was a long way from being solved and it would not fully be resolved until America entered the Second World War in 1941.
The creation of the American 'Dust Bowl'
The Great Depression 1929
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John Steinbeck - Background
'The Grapes of Wrath' published 1940
As a result of this great depression itinerant workers replaced the traditional immigrant Mexican labour in the south western states of the US such as California. These workers were exploited greatly by farm owners who made use of them as low-paid labour and many had to work in terrible conditions. The workforce was only needed for short periods at a time and so the itinerant labourers had to save enough from seasonal work such as harvesting crops to support them through the rest of the year when work would be extremely difficult to come by. Because of their travelling and solitary lifestyle and their lack of a base or somewhere to put down their roots, little could be done to help organise things that could improve their welfare through bodies such as trade union membership. Steinbeck had seen this problem at first hand and was very concerned with it and dealt with this same issue in his novel In Dubious Battle and his most successful book, The Grapes of Wrath which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. One of the key features of Steinbecks novels of this period are their gritty realistic element but also the political stand that is contained within them. For example, The Grapes of Wrath which is generally acknowledged to be Steinbecks masterpiece strongly supports Roosevelts state interference to reduce unemployment. Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 specifically for his prewar novels. He died in 1969 as Americas most distinguished novelist.
Given Nobel Prize for Literature, 1962
Dies, 1969
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Section by section analysis - Section 1
3.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS - SECTION 1

Before we start the detailed analysis you should be aware that the opening descriptions which are given at the beginning of each section are a particular feature of this novel and so it is important that you see them as more than simply background. These descriptions help to create a tone and sense of optimism throughout the novel.
TASK 1
Look carefully at the opening of the novel. What kind of world is described here?
The story opens with a description of the countryside close to the Salinas river near Soledad in California. All the events of the novel take place at or nearby this spot. In this opening description, Steinbeck creates a sense of hope and of freshness through the suggestion of a peaceful world of nature. It is springtime with trees bearing new leaves and the wildlife running free. This is an optimistic picture which suggests cycles of nature go on and on and constantly return no matter what. There is also, here, a sense of the harmony of nature unspoilt by human interference.
TASK 2
Unspoiled that is until what?
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Until the dogs belonging to the nearby ranchers are mentioned and we hear the sound of footsteps growing louder and the animals speed to safety.
TASK 3
What effect does this have on the atmosphere created at the beginning?
There is a sense in which the harmony of the earlier description is disturbed now by a sense of discord. It is quickly established that humans inhabit the area. The river is mentioned once more and we are told that a path has been beaten nearby and that it is a well-used path. It is used by boys coming down from the ranches to bath in the deep pool and by tramps coming down from the highway to camp for the night by the river.
TASK 4
How does Steinbeck make sure that we know that many people come this way and visit the deep pool under the Sycamore tree?
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The details of the ashes left over from many camp fires and the tree bough worn smooth by so many people sitting on it over the years emphasise the number of people who come to this spot.
TASK 5
Evening is beginning to fall as the men walk along the path. How are they dressed and what does this tell you?
They are dressed in denim and this tells us that they are ranchhands; denim being the customary clothing of ranch-hands. They also carry sleeping blankets, which tells us they are next in a long line of itinerant workers or passers-by. The similarity between them ends with the description of their clothes and bedding. Steinbeck gives us now a description of each of them, which shows much contrast, these two characters are George and Lennie.
TASK 6
Write brief notes describing each of them.
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GEORGE
LENNIE
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The contrast between them in size, appearance and manner is sharply drawn: George The immediate impression of intelligence Reminiscent of a quick-witted animal Restless George is the leader of the pair and is clearly in charge Has endured a good deal of physical hardship George washes in the pool in traditional cowboy style
Lennie Is described as a bear This establishes his essential nature combination of brute strength and animal-like innocence Appropriate from harmless appearance ie. teddy bear but also his strength as in bear hug Lennies way of drinking from the pool shows an animal temperament in thinking and is emphasised when he is compared to a horse Like an animal, always tries to satisfy his immediate needs
It is clear that Lennie seems unable to see the possible consequences of his actions and George reminds him that it was only the previous night that he was sick. This highlights one of Lennies most important and dangerous failings his inability to learn from past experience. Georges ticking-off establishes his role as Lennies mentor, certainly the one who looks after him and protects him from himself.
TASK 7
What else takes place, here, between them to demonstrate that Lennie is dependent on George and that he trusts him and admires him?
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Lennie does not see possible danger and George tells him not to gulp water from the stream because it will make him ill. Lennie's behaviour and responses show that he trusts George and looks up to him.
TASK 8
In what ways do you think that Lennie and George suit each other?
Well, they could be said to suit each other because of their complementary characters. Although they are both dressed in the same way they are very different in temperament. Lennie is slow and clumsy and is lax and easy-going whereas George is quick, precise, apprehensive and cautious. Notice that it is Lennie who always seems to suffer because of his reckless behaviour. We learn some other things about the relationship between George and Lennie too. George has been irritated and he complains that the bus driver was too lazy to take them all the way to the ranch they were heading for. The fact that the bus driver feels that he can treat them in this way shows the lowly status that he and Lennie occupy.
TASK 9
Why does his irritation increase?
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He becomes even more irritated when he finds out that Lennie has forgotten where they are going. The only thing that Lennie does seem to remember are the rabbits that are mentioned here for the first time although no further information is given about them for the moment. George does understand, though, the limits of Lennies capability even though he does get irritated with him from time to time and this shows, when he reassures Lennie, that he has taken responsibility for the work card that Lennie thinks he has lost. George then notices that Lennie is hiding something and he tells Lennie to let him see it. In the end he has to prise open Lennies hand and a dead mouse is revealed. Lennie wants George to let him keep the dead mouse saying: I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along.
TASK 10
What further does this reveal about Lennies character?
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It reveals his child-like innocence he thinks that it is okay to be petting a dead mouse with his thumb but it also says something about his need for some sort of physical contact an important aspect of Lennies character that has major repercussions at the end of the book. As the story progresses, it is worth noticing how Lennies petting of other creatures progresses from a dead mouse to the hope for rabbits, to a puppy and finally to Curleys wife. George has to shout before Lennie will hand over the mouse and this demonstrates the fact that George sometimes needs to be forceful in order to control Lennie and he reprimands him for his child-like behaviour.
TASK 11
What ominous note creeps into the narrative at this point?
It is revealed that there has been some past trouble with girls and we find that the two of them have recently been driven from their previous jobs as Lennie had done bad things. When thinking about the incident, the fact that Lennie giggled at the thought of it makes it sound less serious than it really was but in actual fact it had been very serious indeed.
TASK 12
What does George dream about?
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He dreams that without the burden of Lennie his life would be so much better. He could maybe meet a girl. Georges future would become much more rosy. Why do you think that George stays with Lennie if he thinks life could be better without him. Perhaps, when it comes down to it, George is afraid of being alone, perhaps he likes Lennies company in preference to real company at all, perhaps he feels when he is not irritated with Lennie some kind of obligation to look after him because he is clearly not able to look after himself.
TASK 13
What tensions are revealed in the relationship?
As George settles down to relax we see clearly that Lennie gets on his nerves. We have seen how George blames Lennie for making his life difficult and at the root of Georges irritation seems to be the kind of burden of responsibility that he has for Lennie. As they prepare for dinner, George is annoyed once more to find that Lennie has retrieved the dead mouse instead of collecting firewood. This time George explains as if to a young child that dead mice do not make good pets. He also reveals that this is not the first mouse that Lennie has adopted. Unfortunately and again a kind a note of foreboding for events that happen later, we also learn that he always manages to kill his pet mice accidentally because he is unaware of just how strong he actually is. Lennie, not realising that George is in no mood to talk about the rabbits, mentions them again and George feels more and more irritation building up within him until he finally bursts with frustration when Lennie tells him for a second time that he likes Ketchup with his beans obviously a luxury that they do not have.
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TASK 14
What further does George reveal about Lennie, here?
We are given further information about how Lennie had earlier innocently clutched the dress of a young girl, trying to pet her, like a mouse. Of course the girl, not surprisingly, became distressed and that it was this incident that caused them to be hounded from their job.
TASK 15
What does Lennie suggest?
He realises that George is subdued and fed up with him and so he discusses the possibilities of parting company and talks about his own needs and desires telling George that, if he was on his own, he would be able to keep mice.
TASK 16
How does George respond to this suggestion?
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This seems to trigger a kind of remorse in George who obviously thinks he has been mean to Lennie. He promises him a puppy to make amends. For a brief moment Lennie becomes a more equal partner in the relationship. He also uses Georges remorseful mood in order to persuade him to tell a story that he has heard lots of times before the story of the lives that they wish they had. It is the story about rabbits, one that Lennie has heard many times before but he pleads with George to tell it him once again. George agrees saying that afterwards they will eat their supper. He tells Lennie that: guys like us that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They have got no family. They dont belong no place. George goes on though to say that he and Lennie are not completely like that because they have a future, and they have got each other. Lennie takes this in and says theyre not like that because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.
TASK 17
What does George go on to tell Lennie?
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He goes on to tell him that one day they are going to have a house and they are going to keep cattle and some pigs and they are going to live off the fat of the land and they are going to keep rabbits which and it will be Lennies job to look after them. The whole existence that George describes is an idyllic one and just hearing of it gives Lennie much pleasure and comfort. The two now sit by the fire and eat beans from the can. As he is eating, Lennie shows signs of remembering something and tells George that he wont say a word. George praises him for remembering this and as a reward says that if he can remember as good as that he will let him tend the rabbits when he gets them.
TASK 18
What does George tell him then?
George tells him to look around at the place that they are in and remember it, it is only about a quarter of a mile away from the ranch and all he needs to do is follow the river. He makes him promise that if he gets into trouble like he always has done before, George wants him to come and hide in the brush of that place and George will come and find him.
TASK 19
What effect does this have on the narrative?
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It gives the reader a feeling that Lennie is inevitably going to get into trouble and creates a kind of anticipation that this will happen. They make up their beds and prepare to sleep there for the night but before sleeping Lennie talks some more about the rabbits and how he would like to have different coloured ones.
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4.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS - SECTION 2

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch and the bunkhouse is described. What kind of building was it?
TASK 20
It is described as a long, rectangular building and inside the walls are whitewashed and the floor is unpainted. In three of the walls there were small, square windows and in the fourth a solid wooden door. There were eight bunks in the bunkhouse and five of them were made up with blankets. Over each bunk there was nailed an apple-box which served as two shelves for the personal belongings of the occupants of the bunk. Near one wall there was a black, cast-iron stove, its stove-pipe going straight up through the ceiling and in the middle of the room there was a large, square table littered with playing cards and around it boxes to those playing cards to sit on. When Lennie and George arrive it is about 10 oclock the following morning; a sunny morning. The door opens and a tall, old man comes in followed by George and then Lennie.
TASK 21
What does the old man say to them and what effect does this have?
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His opening remark: the boss was expecting you last night establishes the character of the boss before we actually meet him. It also introduces a slight note of unease because the welcome does not seem particularly friendly. It is as if George and Lennie have got off on the wrong foot right from the start. The fact that the bosss annoyance at Lennie and Georges late appearance is mentioned again reinforces the feeling of apprehension. The old man responsible for cleaning the bunkhouse isnt named at this stage but we later find that he is called old Candy. Lennie and George set about making their beds. Just as Lennie was finishing making his bed, the door opened again. A little, stocky man stood in the doorway. He was wearing blue-jean trousers, a flannel shirt, a black, unbuttoned vest and a black coat. He was wearing an old, brown Stetson hat and high-heeled boots and spurs.
TASK 22
What is the significance of these?
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From his boots and spurs it is clear that he is not one of the labourers and we quickly learn that he is in fact the boss.
TASK 23
The boss then starts to ask questions of George and Lennie. What is the effect of the bosss questioning?
At first, George is speaking for Lennie and Lennie remembers that he must keep quiet. However, all too quickly, Lennie forgets when he is put under pressure by the boss to speak for himself. One reason the boss does this is that he suspects that George is exploiting Lennie, perhaps taking his pay. Further probing questions and the lingering stare of suspicion that the boss gives to the pair provides a further cloud to their arrival at the ranch.
TASK 24
How does George account for the fact that he tries to speak for Lennie?
He tells the boss that Lennie is his cousin and that he promised his mother that he would take care of him. He explains that, as a child, he had been kicked in the head and so he is not as bright as ordinary people but, nevertheless, he is a good worker and will do anything that is asked of him.
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TASK 25
Does the boss believe this?
It seems that he needs good workers but he doesnt appear convinced by Georges story and tells him that he has got his eye on him. He also questions them as to why they quit their job in Weed. Although the boss seems to accept them, it is clear that he has still got his suspicions and he warns them not to try anything. George knows that after the boss has left that he has not been convinced by their story and he knows that they have got to be careful and not put a foot out of place because the boss will be watching them. Candy comes back into the bunkhouse, this time with his old sheepdog. The dog is blind and struggles lamely to the side of the room to lie down, grunting softly. Candy tells them that he wasnt listening but George insists that he has been listening to their private conversation with the boss. The old man is uneasy and stresses that he is not interested in anything they were saying and that, on a ranch, you never listen and you never ask questions. They begin to discuss the boss but at that moment a young man enters the bunkhouse. He is thin with a brown face, brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. He has a work-glove on his left hand and, like the boss, he wears highheeled boots. He is the bosss son and he asks if anyone has seen his father.
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TASK 26
What is your impression of Curleys behaviour?
He adopts the stance of a boxer and his behaviour seems aggressive and bullying. Like his father, he tries to force Lennie to speak for himself.
TASK 27
After he has left, what does old Candy have to say about him?
Candy explains how Curley fancies himself as a boxer and he says that he is pretty handy. He also tells him that Curley is like a lot of little guys, he doesnt like big guys and he is always picking fights with people that are bigger than him. It is as if he is mad at them because he isnt big too. He also tells them that Curleys behaviour has been worse since being married recently. His wife is already trying to flirt with some of the workers, Slim and Carlson.
TASK 28
Candy leaves the bunkhouse and George plays cards on his own. What does he say to Lennie?
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He expresses his dislike of Curley to Lennie and he also tells him that he is afraid for what might happen between Lennie and Curley. He knows that Curley is the type to pick a fight with Lennie because Lennie is so big and he is afraid that it is only a matter of time before this happens. He impresses on Lennie the importance of keeping clear of Curley and he reminds him that, if trouble does occur, he is to return to the place where they had camped the previous evening. From what we already know, though, of Lennie we are aware that if anybody picks a fight with him he will probable have little power to alter the situation and he is likely to cause real damage to Curley.
TASK 29
At that point there is a screech of brakes outside and a womans voice calling for Stable Buck. A girl is standing in the doorway. What do you notice about the description of her?
We are told that she had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes which were heavily made up. His fingernails were painted red and her hair rung in little, roll clusters. She wore a cotton dress
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and red mules with little bouquets of ostrich feathers attached to them.
TASK 30
What is effect of this description?
Her appearance seems to bear out Candys description of her as a tart and Steinbeck clearly presents her as one here. Notice that he makes no mention of her features and even her ringlets of hair are referred to unflatteringly as resembling sausages. She, unconvincingly, says that she is looking for her husband as she thrusts herself forward, invitingly.
TASK 31
How does Lennie react to her presence?
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Lennie is clearly fascinated by her and his eyes move down over her body. He watches her, fascinated. George tells her that if he sees her husband he will tell him that she was looking for him. As she turns she sees Slim and as he approaches she greets him in what is obviously a flirtatious manner saying: Hi! Good looking. She tells Slim that she is looking for Curley but he tells her that she is not looking very hard because he has just seen him going into their house.
TASK 32
Suddenly she becomes apprehensive and says goodbye, hurrying away. What is Georges reaction after she has left?
He responds by saying: Jesus, what a tramp. So thats what Curley picks for a wife. It is obvious, though, from Lennies response that he thinks that shes purty. It is clear that George has instantly recognised the trouble that there might be if Lennie so much as even speaks to Curleys wife and he gets angry with Lennie, warning him to keep away from her.
TASK 33
Suddenly Lennie says: I dont like this place George. I wanna get out of here. What is the effect of Lennie suddenly saying this?
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It seems that Lennie has picked up on the atmosphere and that his words create foreboding for the future. The irony is here though that George keeps them there and explains that they have got to stay there until they have earned some money.
TASK 34
George goes back to his game of cards and two other ranch-hands come back to the bunkhouse. The first one is Slim. How does Steinbeck describe this character?
He describes his: hatchet face as being ageless. He could have been anything between thirty-five and fifty. His speech is slow and his hands large and lean. He is what is called a jerkline skinner, and had the very responsible of driving a large team of mules. The atmosphere in the bunkhouse becomes more relaxed as George and Slim become acquainted. Carlson then enters. He is a powerful, big-stomached man and he too seems accepting rather than antagonistic towards George and Lennie.
TASK 35
What do the men talk about?
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They discuss Slims dog which has had new puppies. Candy is mentioned, (this is the first time his name is used), and Carlson suggests that the old mans dog should be put down and Slim could give him one of the puppies instead. Lennie is quick to pick up on this through his liking for animals and George doesnt need telling that Lennie wants a puppy too. George knows this and promises to ask for him. The triangle rings signalling that the meal is ready for the men and Slim and Carlson go out. George and Lennie are just about to leave when Curley comes rushing in wanting to know if they have seen his wife. George tells him that they saw her half an hour ago.
TASK 36
What sort of attitude does Curley have?
He is really quite aggressive and unpleasant in manner and it is significant that he eyes Lennie up as if seeing him for the first time. He seems to be mentally noting his size. As he goes, George says that he fears that he going to actually tangle with him himself as he has immediately taken a dislike to the man. Either way, there is an ominous note that there will be trouble for Lennie and George from that quarter in the future.
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5. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS - SECTION 3

TASK 37
The section opens inside the bunkhouse. How does Steinbeck describe the surroundings?
We are told that although the evening is bright outside, inside the bunkhouse it is dark and that from outside we can hear the thuds and clangs of a horseshoe game and voices sometimes raised. Slim and George enter the bunkhouse together and Slim reaches over the card table and turns on an electric light.
TASK 38
The two men talk together. What do the men talk about?
Slim acknowledges that Lennie is very strong and a good worker and George thanks Slim for giving Lennie a puppy from which he has become inseparable. George begins to open up to Slim
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about his relationship with Lennie and his fondness for his fried shows through in the way that he speaks of the two of them as companions rather than one being dependent on the other.
TASK 39
What does this tell you about who is dependent on whom?
It suggests that while Lennie is very obviously dependent on George for many things, in a sense the dependency works both ways and that George too gets something from the relationship and that in one way he is dependent on Lennie as a companion. George is obviously pleased to be able to talk to someone, through, about his difficulties with Lennie and he tells Slim the story of how Lennie very nearly drowned. So great was Lennies loyalty to George that he did what he was told and jumped in the river but he couldnt swim. George then goes back to his solo card game. A symbol, perhaps, of that part of him which wants to be alone. Perhaps foreshadowing the time in the future when he really will be alone.
TASK 40
What else does George confide in Slim?
He tells him of the incident in Weed?.

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TASK 41
What had happened here?
It seems that, in Weed? Lennie had seen a girl in a red dress. George says that he wants to touch everything he likes and so he reached out to feel the red dress and the girl screamed and Lennie got all confused. He held onto the dress because that was the only thing he could think to do and the girl screamed and screamed more. George heard the screaming, came running, and by the time he got there, Lennie was so scared that he was just holding onto the girl so hard George had to hit him over the head with a fence post to make him let go. He was so scared he wouldnt let go of the dress and he was so strong that George couldnt get him off. It seems that the girl told the law that she had been raped and so a group of men in Weed formed a party to go out and lynch Lennie. George and Lennie had to hide in a ditch under water for the rest of the day and then at night they got away.
TASK 42
What does Slim want to know?
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He asks George whether he had hurt the girl but George tells him, no, he had just scared her, he just wanted to touch the dress just like he wanted to pet the pups all the time. Slim confirms that Lennie isnt a mean guy, Slim says that he can tell a mean guy a mile off. At that point, Lennie comes in through the door. Immediately Lennie goes straight to his bunk and lays down facing the wall with his knees drawn up. However, George knows what he is up to. Lennie has taken one of the pups and has brought it in and concealed it. George tells him that he must take it back straight away, the pup will die being only a day old and taken away from its mother.
TASK 43
When Lennie hears this, he rushes back with the pup. How does Slim respond to all this?
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He says that Lennie is just like a kid and George confirms this and he says that there is no more harm in him than a kid either except that he is so strong. The men return to the bunkhouse in the darkness after playing horseshoes. A Negro called Crooks has been allowed to participate in this game. We havent yet met Crooks but he will have a significant role to play later. We have already heard Candy describe him. Carlson complains about Candys old dog smelling and he offers to shoot him. Old Candy resists this but Carlson is determined and even Slim agrees that its time the dog is put down. A young labourer, Whit, tries to distract the group with a western magazine that includes a letter from a former worker but Carlson continues.
TASK 44
Eventually, he leads the dog out into the darkness to shoot it. What does Slim mean when he tells Carlson you know what to do take a shovel?
Slim is sensitive to Candys feelings and he knows that it would upset the old man to see the body of the dog having been shot so he is telling Carlson to make sure that he buries the dog out of sight after he has shot it.
TASK 45
What kind of atmosphere does Steinbeck create in the bunkhouse after Carlson has led the dog out?
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The atmosphere in the bunkhouse is very tense. The men try to continue as normal but Slim constantly watches old Candy who lies unmoving and unspeaking on his bunk. The tense atmosphere continues as they wait to hear the shot. The silence falls and this reveals a real concern and humanity for Old Candy and eventually the shot is heard. We now meet Crooks the Negro who comes in to tell Slim that the new big guy is messing about with his pups taking them out of the nest. Crooks has to prepare some tar to treat a mules foot and his description of Lennie and the pups draws a comparison between Lennie and Candy who both display a sentimentality towards animals. This also serves as a reminder to us that Lennie cannot leave the pups alone even though they are too young to be played with. The talk now turns to the topic of women as Whit reminds us about Curleys wife flirting. George again predicts that she is going to cause trouble and that she could easily land a man in jail.
TASK 46
What does the invitation for George to join the other men on their visit to town indicate?
This is a sign that George is becoming accepted by the group. Whit invites him to go with them to town to visit a brothel where they can have drinks and meet women.
TASK 47
What effect is created by his description of the ranchers night out?
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His enthusiastic description of the two places in town that they can go shows how empty their life is and how this is the best that they can look forward to in entertainment. Another feature of the lonely life of the itinerant worker, completely detached from normal family life. Carlson returns and cleans up his gun after shooting the dog. Candy remains silent.
TASK 48
Curley enters and looks threateningly around the room. What is the matter with him?
He has come looking for his wife and it is clear when told that Slim has gone out to the barn to put some tar on a split hoof that Curley suspects that Slim is with his wife and he rushes off. Whit says that Curley is just spoiling for a fight and the fact that he is prepared to go for Slim confirms this. George is now left alone with Lennie who has returned from the barn and he questions him as to what he has been doing and whether he has seen Curleys wife or not but Lennie assures him that he is subdued because he is worrying that George will think that he has done wrong by playing with the puppies too much. Lennie asks George when they can get that little place an live on the fatta lan an rabbits. For the first time since his dog has been shot Candy stirs. He turns slowly over, his eyes wide open, and he watches George carefully. Lennie asks George to tell about that place again. George does as Lennie asks and describes their dream ranch with its windmill, little shack, chicken run, and rabbits, adds Lennie. George goes on describing how they could keep pigs and smoke bacon and catch salmon and so forth.
TASK 49
What is the purpose of George keep repeating this description?

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Its reinforcing the dream life that Lennie and George would love to have. It is the dream that keeps them going and gives them strength to work and carry on even when life is hard.
TASK 50
What do you notice about George when he talks about their dream ranch?
His voice goes warmer and he forgets the card game that he is playing as he describes in more detail the little place that they could get cheap. As he describes it in more detail it is clear that he feels a strong need to settle and to take pride in his work. His whole description shows how much pride he takes in being able to plant and grow and the comfort that he takes in being his own boss with no danger of being sacked or canned.
TASK 51
What do you notice about the way Lennie responds at this point?
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As usual, Lennie cannot hear enough about the rabbits that George mentions. But it is also significant that here he shows the only sign of intentional violence that there is to be found in the whole story.
TASK 52
What does he direct this violence against?
It is provoked by George mentioning that they will have a setter dog and a couple of striped cats but he tells Lennie that you have got watch out for the cats otherwise they will get the rabbits.
TASK 53
In response to this, Lennie breathes hard and says: You just let em try to get the rabbits. Ill break their god dam necks. IllIll smash em with a stick. What is the significance of this outburst?
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It shows that Lennie is capable of violence even though in this case it is directed against future and in fact non-existent cats which might dare to disturb his future rabbits but, nevertheless, it shows a capacity under his calm and amenable exterior for a degree of violence. Candy joins in at this point with some questions of a practical and financial kind.
TASK 54
What does he offer to do?
He offers to go in with George and Lennie and contribute some money towards their farm and George tells him that he will have to think about that. Further, though, Candy offers to make a will and to leave his share to Lennie and George in the event that he should die.
TASK 55
He tells them that he doesnt have any relatives and that he is prepared to make his will right there and then. What is the effect of Candys offer?
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Candys offer makes seem possible something which up until now has only been a dream to George and Lennie and George decides then to put the plan into action in a months time. He plans that they will buy an old place and fix it up and they will go and live there. He knows the place and he says that he will write to the people who are selling and send one hundred dollars from Candy as a deposit on the old place.
TASK 56
Candy then speaks about his dog. What does he feel about it?
Basically he feels that he should have shot the dog himself. He shouldnt have let a stranger shoot him. At that point the door opens and Slim comes in followed by Curley, Carlson and Whit. Slim is scowling.
TASK 57
What is the trouble between him and Curley?
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It seems that Curley has accused Slim of flirting with his wife but Slim has resisted these accusations and Curley has apologised but, nevertheless, Slim is very annoyed about it. He tells him that he has been asking him about it too often and he is sick of it. He tells him that if he cant look after his own wife, what can he do about it and to leave him alone. Carlson joins in telling Curley that he ought to tell his wife to stay at home where she belongs if he lets her hang around the bunkhouse then he deserves all he gets. Curley turns on Carlson and asks him if he wants to step outside.
TASK 58
How does Carlson respond?
Carlson just laughs and calls him a god dam punk. He tells him that he is trying to scare Slim and couldnt do it. In fact Slim has thrown a scare into him and calls him yellow and warns him that
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if he comes for him, hell kick his god dam head off. Even Candy joins in the attack. Curley is clearly humiliated and glares at him. His eyes notice Lennie who is still smiling at the thought of the ranch.
TASK 59
Curley turns on Lennie. Why does he pick on Lennie?
It is typical of Curleys cowardly nature that he should display his violence on Lennie. Lennie is big but Curley knows him to be apparently harmless. It is ironic that Lennies happy thoughts leave him with a smile on his face and this is misinterpreted by Curley. Even though he is so big, Lennie has two distinct disadvantages. He is terrified by aggression and he wont defend himself at least not until commanded to do so by George. Curley then begins a vicious assault on Lennie. Lennie does not make any attempt to defend himself and Curley punches him in the face until his face is battered and bleeding. Slim makes an attempt to intervene but George stops him and he yells to Lennie: Get him Lennie, dont let him do it. Lennie takes his hands away from his face and looks at George. Just as Curley is swinging his fist once more, Lennie reaches for it and grasps Curleys fist in his huge hand. Curley is helpless and was: flopping like a fish on a line. George then shouts to
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Lennie to let him go but Lennie, who is terrified, doesnt release him. Even when George slaps him again and again, Lennie still held onto the closed fist. By this time Curley is white and shrunken and his struggling has become weaker. He is crying, still with his fist clenched within Lennies hand.
TASK 60
Slim and Carlson organise medical treatment for Curley. George is concerned that they might get the sack for what Lennie has done to the bosss son. How does Slim respond to this?
Slim says to Curley that he thinks his hand caught in a machine. He tells him that he doesnt want to tell anybody what happened and theyre certainly not going to and he says to him that if he tells people and gets Lennie into trouble then Slim and the others will tell everybody the true story of what happened and so Curley will become a laughing stock. Curley agrees that he wont tell. The buggy has arrived by now and Slim helps Curley up. They are going to take him to Carlson to see a doctor. He helps Curley out of the door and there is the sound of the wheels drawing away. A moment later Slim comes back into the bunkhouse and he looks at Lennie who is still crouched fearfully against the wall. He asks to see his hands. Lennie sticks them out. Slim says Christ awmighty, I hate to have you mad at me. George interrupts and tells Slim that Lennie was just scared, he didnt know what to do and he reminds them that he had warned them that nobody should ever fight him and then he remembers that it was Candy that he had told. Candy agrees. Lennie smiles with his bruised mouth and tells them that he doesnt
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want any trouble and he asks George if he can still tend the rabbits. George tells him that of course he can and that he hasnt done anything wrong.
******
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The next scene shifts to Crookss room which is next to the barn. It is full of harnesses and other horse tackle which is there to be repaired. What do we learn about the way Crooks is able to live here?
TASK 61
We find that he is able to leave his personal possessions lying around because he is free from the company of the communal bunkhouse. It seems that he has more possessions that the other workers because, as a stable buck, his job is more permanent. Steinbeck gives us a detailed description of Crookss room. Steinbeck himself had probably seen this kind of room lots of times and it is likely that he is describing it here from his own experience.
TASK 62
What kind of impression do you get of the room?
Its neat and it gives a workmanlike impression and this seems to indicate that Crooks has a committed and professional attitude towards the horses and the upkeep of their equipment.
TASK 63
What kind of impression is given of Crooks?
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As his name suggests he is crooked in that his spine has been damaged as the result of an accident. He is not an itinerant worker like the others and this room is his home. Steinbeck seems to indicate that he is exceptional in that he is literate and is conscious of his rights. His large gold-rimmed spectacles are prominent and he has a tattered copy of the California Civil Code for 1905. These are symbols of his intellectual capability. He is a proud and aloof man. He is in constant pain, though, from his injury and he treats himself as he does the horses, with liniment. He is in the process of doing this when Lennie interrupts him and understandably he is annoyed at this interruption. In many ways, Crooks is a solitary man. A victim of prejudice because he is black and a man who enjoys solitude and his own independence. It is evident from the way that Steinbeck has described him that he wants the reader to have sympathy with this character. Much of his pride and his truculence can be seen as a defence mechanism against the racial prejudice that he experiences from the other work-hands. He has been excluded from the bunkhouse because of his colour and there is no reason why he should welcome the appearance of Lennie.
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TASK 64
What irony do you detect here?
The irony is that Crooks, like Lennie, is desperately lonely and so eventually he invites Lennie to sit down. Lennie of course has already forgotten that he is not to talk about his and Georges plans for the future because he is thinking so much about the rabbits. He doesnt really listen to Crooks who talks about his childhood and his isolation. Perhaps this is another way in which Steinbeck intensifies their sense of loneliness and isolation in that the characters dont listen to each other.
TASK 65
How does Crooks respond to Lennie?
In a way he taunts Lennie perhaps being unable to resist a rare opportunity to inflict pain on someone else. He suggests that George and Lennie are together because of the companionship
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that each needs with the other. Perhaps out of envy because he has a companion Crooks taunts Lennie with the idea that George may desert him. Although Lennie is sure that George will come back Crooks upsets him with the suggestion that George may be hurt.
TASK 66
How does Lennie respond to this suggestion?
The thought of this almost pushes Lennie to violence. Notice how Steinbeck creates a sense of tension here: Suddenly Lennies eyes centred and grew quiet and mad. He stood up and walked dangerously towards Crooks. Who hurt George? he demanded. Fortunately Crooks is aware of the danger here and he edges back on the bunk to get out of the way and passes it off by assuring Lennie that he was just supposing and that George isnt really hurt and it is okay, hell be back. Crooks goes on to talk about the ranch where he spent his childhood and the mention of alfalfa makes Lennie forget about George.
TASK 67
At this point Candy arrives. How does Crooks feel about this?
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He is disappointed because he sees his new friendship as it was developing with Lennie threatened by the intrusion of someone else. At the same time, though, he is both pleased and excited at the unusual prospect of company and the friendly evening. Notice here how Lennie innocently disregards the fact that this is Crookss private room while Candy on the other hand is very aware of the social distance between himself and Crooks. Candy, though, who has gone through the experience of losing his dog also has a kind of enforced loneliness thrust upon him and it is significant that these three are left alone together as outsiders whilst the rest of the men have gone to town. The talk goes on about the rabbits and the proposed piece of land, Candy also having forgot his vow of silence like Lennie.
TASK 68
How does Crooks respond to their plans?
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He is very critical of their plan and he puts it down as being just a dream until he hears that they have both the money and an actual place in mind. When he hears this he almost believes it might really happen and he asks to be included in the plan. At that point, Curleys wife appears looking for Curley. Underneath, though, we can detect that she is not really interested in finding Curley but she is looking for male company. He has abandoned her to go with the other men to the town and to the brothel which does not, of course, say very much for their marriage. Although she makes a derogatory comment about all the weak ones being left behind together in a sense she too is a lonely woman, a victim of the isolation imposed on her by her circumstances.
TASK 69
Like the others left behind she too has her dreams. What are these dreams?
She tells them how she could have gone off with the shows and become a star, how one man had told her how he could get her a job in the cinema so she had ideas that she has wasted and dreams that she could have been a star. She goes on to probe about the truth concerning the injury to Curleys fist and she complains that the men wont talk to her and that she has nothing to do on a Saturday night.
TASK 70
How does Candy respond?
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He is tired and angry at her insults and he becomes angry with her when she scoffs at their plan. She begins to suspect that Lennie was the cause of the injury to her husband and she begins to turn her attention on him.
TASK 71
What do you notice about the way that she speaks to Lennie?
The way she talks to him has sexual undertones. Part of her is probably attracted by someone who can beat Curley and she says that if rabbits is all Lennie wants she might get a couple of herself. Lennie, of course, doesnt understand the double meaning in Curleys wifes words but Crooks does and he intervenes now trying to protect Lennie. He attempts to assert himself which, for a black man confronting a white woman, is putting himself at great risk.
TASK 72
How does Curleys wife respond to Crooks?
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She responds by threatening to exercise the little power she has by getting Crooks hanged. Notice the way here that she speaks to him scornfully using a term like nigger which is designed to put him in his place and for her to exert her authority over him. She has little power but she does have power over Crooks. Notice how she is described as standing over him as they are waiting for him to move so that she could whip at him again. Crooks, though, knows better and he knows when he is beaten and he sits still not looking at her and at last she leaves him alone. Candy tells her that he thinks he hears the others coming back and she had better go. Not wanting to take any chances she agrees to. She doesnt want the others to tell her husband that she has been out of the house.
TASK 73
Before she goes what does she have to say to Lennie?
She tells Lennie that she is glad that he bust up Curley a little bit she felt that he had got it coming to him that sometimes shed like to bust him myself and then she leaves. Crooks tells the others that they had better go too now, hes not sure that he wants them there anymore.
TASK 74
Why does Crooks feel like this?
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He feels that even a coloured man has got to have some rights and that by the others being in his place that had drawn Curleys wife to his living quarters and he had been hurt by what she had said to him and how small and insignificant she had made him feel. Having the others there had made him forget his true position but she had reminded him of it. At this point George returns.
TASK 75
How does he respond to the fact that the others know about their plans for the future?
He is angry that their plans have been revealed and it is clear now that the good-natured mood of the evening has been well and truly broken. Crooks tells Candy to forget his request to join them in their plans for the future and he is left alone in his room.
******
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TASK 76
It is now Sunday afternoon and the workers have some leisure time. Most of the men are playing horseshoes outside but what is Lennie doing?
He is alone in the barn talking to his puppy. It is dead and lays in front of him. Lennie looks at it for a long time and then he puts out his huge hand and strokes it from one end to the other.
TASK 77
What has happened to the puppy?
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It is clear from what Lennie says that he has killed it. He has played with the puppy but, not knowing his own strength, he has accidentally killed the animal. He scoops a little hollow and lays the puppy in it and covers it with hay. He decides to tell George that he found the puppy dead like that. He then unburies the puppy and looks at it again stroking it from ear to tail and he knows that George will know if he tells him that. Suddenly, in a fit of anger, he picks the puppy up unable to understand how it has come to be dead and he hurls it away from him and he sits bent over his knees whispering now I wont get to tend the rabbits. Lennie retrieves the pup and begins to stroke it once again. Just at that point, Curleys wife comes round the end of the last stall very quietly so that at first Lennie doesnt see her.
TASK 78
What do you notice about the way that Curleys wife is dressed?
The white cotton dress, the mules and the red ostrich feathers are clearly designed to be provocative. Her face is made up and she has clearly spent a lot of time getting her hair all in place. She comes quite near to Lennie before he sees her and he suddenly panics shovelling hay over the puppy with his fingers before looking up sullenly at her. She tells him that she knows that it was he that broke her husbands hand but Lennie refuses to be drawn. What does Curleys wife want?
TASK 79
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She says she wants to talk to Lennie because she is lonely and that she cant talk to anybody. She wants to know what Lennie has got there and he reveals that it is his little pup.
TASK 80
We now learn a little bit more about how the pup met its end. What had happened?
Lennie tells her that he was just playing with him and the pup made like he was going to bite Lennie and Lennie made like he was going to smack him and he did and clearly the smack had killed him.
TASK 81
What attitude does Curleys wife take here?
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She comforts him and consoles him and tells him not to worry he can easy get another one, the whole countrys full of pups or mutts as she calls them. She moves closer to him speaking soothingly and telling him not to worry about talking to her. Lennie is worried, though, about what George will say if he sees him talking to her. At this she gets angry wanting to know whats the matter with her, hasnt she got a right to talk to anybody and so on.
TASK 82
She then begins to tell him about herself. What does she have to say?
She tells him that when she was young she met an actor in one of the shows but her mother wouldnt let her go off with the actor because she was only fifteen and that was the beginning of her dream of being in the movies. Then she tells of how she married Curley out of desperation when her hopes were dashed. The fact that we are told that her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away gives us an insight into just how lonely and desperate for real communication Curleys wife is. Like Lennie and Crooks and Candy she is a misfit, a misfit lost in her own lonely world. While she is talking, Lennie talks of the rabbits but just as they had done in Crookss room, neither pay much attention to what the other is saying.
TASK 83
What effect does she hope the story will have on Lennie?
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She hopes to impress Lennie with her story and further she confesses to him that she does not like her husband.
TASK 84
How real do you think her opportunity to become an actress was?
Not very real. She seems to be star-struck and to have taken seriously the flattering promises made by men who were trying, probably for sexual reasons, to ingratiate themselves with her. Despite her attempts at sophistication, underneath she seems pathetically nave.
TASK 85
Can you find a particular example to support the idea of her naivety?
The notable one is when she is convinced that her ol lady stole the letter from Hollywood that would have been her passport to become a movie star.
TASK 86
Why did Curleys wife marry Curley?

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The pair met at a dance hall one evening when she had decided that she just could not stay at home any longer. She obviously did not have the intelligence or perhaps the desire to grasp the hollowness of the promises which men made her. She saw, then, Curleys offer of marriage as her last chance of escape. She tells us, though: I don like Curley. He aint a nice fella. As had happened with Crooks, Lennies innocent and open manner inspires confidence in her. Lennie goes on to tell her about the little farm with the garden and the rabbits that he and George have got planned for themselves. He moves cautiously closer to her until hes right up against her. She asks him what makes him so nuts about rabbits. He tells her that he likes to pet nice things. Curleys wife moves away from him a little bit telling him that she thinks he is nuts. As he talks about the imaginary rabbits the two sit closer together and talk about petting nice things. Curleys invites Lennie to touch her hair but she appeals to him to be careful not to mess it up. As he strokes her hair she becomes worried and wants him to release her but the more she yells the more tightly Lennie hangs on.
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TASK 87
Does this remind you about another episode that we heard about earlier in the novel? What was it?
Exactly the same thing had happened with the girls dress in Weed and later with Curleys fist. Lennie, as ever unaware of his own great strength, shakes her in his fright and terror and breaks her neck. He soon begins to understand the seriousness of what he has done and he says: I shouldnt have did that. George will be mad.
TASK 88
What does he then remember?
He then remembers Georges instruction about returning to the campsite they had used on the way to the ranch and to hide there if anything ever went wrong or he got into trouble. Still concerned that the dead puppy should not be discovered he take it with him just as he had done the mouse in the opening
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scene. After a little while, Candy comes into the barn and discovers the body of Curleys wife.
TASK 89
Candy fetches George and the two wonder what to do. What does George conclude in the end?
George concludes that the others will have to be told and that Lennie will have to be jailed for his own good. Candy reminds George, though, that Curley will be intent on getting his revenge on Lennie and he will probably organise a lynch mob to hang Lennie.
TASK 90
Why does Candy agree to let George appear to know only about the death of Curleys wife as the others find out?
He does this to try to protect George from any suggestion that any of the others might make that he had conspired in the death of Curleys wife with Lennie. The men come into the barn: Slim, Carlson, young white, and Curley, Crooks keeping back and last
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of all George. They find the body and stay still, looking. Slim went forward to examine the body and he felt her twisted neck with his fingers.
TASK 91
Then the other men crowded near. How does Curley respond?
Curley reacts with rage. He knows who has done it and vows to shoot Lennie. Carlson backs him up saying: Ill get my Luger and they both run out of the barn. Slim tells George that it looks as if Lennie is responsible for her death. George didnt answer but he nodded slowly.
TASK 92
Slim makes the connection with the incident in Weed that George had told him about. How does Slim respond?
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He seems resigned and quiet and says: Well, I guess we got to get him. Where do you think he might of went? George doesnt tell them of the pre-arranged hiding place, though, and he tells Slim that he would have gone south. They had come from the north and so he would have gone south. Slim repeats that they have got to get him. George asks Slim if they couldnt just bring him in and lock him up. He says that Lennie would not have deliberately killed Curleys wife. Slim nodded and said that they might be able to do that if they could keep Curley in but Curley was going to want to shoot him and, anyway, he says if they lock him up and strap him down and put him in a cage thats no good. George says I know, I know . Carlson comes running back in saying the bastards stole my Luger.
TASK 93
Curley follows him carrying a shotgun in his good hand. What is the significance of the missing Luger?
This reveals to us why George went to the bunkhouse before the murder is discovered. It is not Lennie but George who has stolen the Luger. He had already come to terms with the fate that Lennie must meet and he had taken the gun himself to carry out the task. There is an irony, here, in that the ranch hands assume that Lennie and not George has taken the gun and this makes Lennies death all the more certain as they believe they are dealing with an armed and dangerous man.
TASK 94
What attitude does Curley show now?
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Curleys rage has turned now into a cold determination to take Lennies life. He gives the shotgun to Carlson and says when you see him dont give him any chance, shoot for his guts. Curley tells Whit to go to get the police, the deputy sheriff and then he turns suspiciously on George and says youre coming with us, fella. George agrees but tries to persuade Curley not to shoot Lennie. His pleas fall on deaf ears though. Course well shoot him says Curley. Candy is told to stay with Curleys wifes body and Curley calls to George to stick with them, obviously still highly suspicious of him possibly being involved with Lennie. George slowly follows them.
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The scene now switches to the deep, green pool on the Selinas river where Lennie and George had camped at the beginning of the novel. It is late afternoon and the sun is going down.
TASK 95
What do you think is the significance of the descriptions of the natural scene at this point?
We see the water snake swimming across the river suddenly becoming prey to the heron that stood in the shallows. This is a scene of nature playing out the cycle of hunter and prey and is quite different to the description of the scene at the beginning of the novel. This sense of the hunter is foreshadowing what is to come. The sun used as a symbol of life has left the valley now. Lennie appears. Notice the comparison of Lennie moving as silently as a creeping bear. He finds a place and sits to wait for George.
TASK 96
What do you make of his comment: George gonna wish he was alone and not have me bothering himif George dont want meIll go away ?
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There is an irony, here, in that unknowingly Lennie has predicted his own fate. This is exactly what is going to happen.
TASK 97
What begins to happen now in Lennies mind?
His state of mind seems to be deteriorating fast. Ironically, this seems to be caused more by the guilt that he feels for letting George down rather than what he has done but he begins to see things. First of all he sees a vision of his Aunt Clara telling him off for being so much trouble for George. The idea then that he will not be able to tend rabbits creates a picture in his mind and again the voice, this time coming from a gigantic rabbit sitting on its haunches in front of him, that spoke with his own voice, tells him that he is useless, he is crazy, he is not fit to look after any rabbits. The giant rabbit also tells Lennie that he is sick of him and that he is going to leave him. In the end Lennie can bear it no longer and he puts his hands over his ears crying for George. At that point, George comes quietly out of the brush and the giant rabbit disappears back into Lennies mind. George asks him what he is yelling about and Lennie tells him and wants reassurance that George isnt going to leave him. George tells him that he isnt.
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Of Mice and Men
TASK 98
The last conversation between George and Lennie is one in which really they say goodbye as the sun retreats taking any hope with it. Lennie makes George tell him once again about the place they will get together. What effect does this have?
This creates a saddening and melancholy effect on the reader who knows, just as George knows, that Lennie is about to die. Lennie gets his friend to tell him once again the story of how they will live of the fatta the lan but all the time things are closing in on Lennie as symbolised by the sound of the ranchers searching for him getting closer and closer. George plucks up courage and as they continue talking behind Lennies back he raises the gun and prepares to kill him. George finally reassures Lennie of the dream future which in a sense is in a kind of heaven that he hopes Lennie will find and then George shoots him.
TASK 99
How does Lennie die?
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Of Mice and Men
Lennies death is quick and clean and he is unaware of what has happened to him, happy in Georges reassurances about their future. He is like Candys old dog who had to be put down, there was no other way out.
TASK 100
How does George react when the others arrive?
George seems shattered by the experience. He is quiet almost disbelieving. He has thrown the gun away and he doesnt contradict Carlsons deduction that Lennie had stolen the gun and George had got it from him. Nobody but George knows that he himself took it. George has taken upon himself the responsibility for killing Lennie. He has saved Lennie from Curley just in the same way as the dog was put out of his misery.
TASK 101
Is there any comfort at the end of the story?
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Of Mice and Men
Perhaps the only comfort to be seen as the story closes is the possibility of friendship between Slim and George. Slim understands what has happened and is understanding as to how George must feel. Curley and Carlson, on the other hand, are genuinely surprised that George and Slim are saddened by what has happened. Carlsons last comment at the end of the story reminds us of the harsh realities of the world.
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Of Mice and Men
Themes
9. THEMES
DGeorge and Lennies Dream
Okay. Some day were gonna get the jack together and were gonna have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs and and live of the fatta the lan Lennie shouted an have rabbits. Go on, George! Tell about what were gonna have in the garden an about the rabbits in the cages an about the rain in the winter and the stow, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that, George. Whynt you do it yourself. You know all of it Noyou tell it. It aint the same if I tell it. Go on George. How I get to tend the rabbits. Well said George well have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit-hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, well just say the hell with goin to work, and well build a fire in the stove and set round it an listen to the rain comin down on the roof
TASK 102
This is the dream the George and Lennie shared. Do you think that they both believed in the dream?
We dont know for sure, of course, but it seems likely that the dream was a whole lot more real to Lennie than to George. Lennie is obsessed with the dream and clearly takes a great comfort in it. George, though, seems to use the dream to make Lennie happy and to settle him down when he becomes upset and discontent.
Of Mice and Men
Themes
TASK 103
George and Lennies dream affect other people on the ranch. Who are they?
They are: Old Candy Crooks

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Of Mice and Men
Themes
The dream was first introduced when the two are at the campsite the day before they take up their new jobs and we can see then that the idea soothes and comforts Lennie and in some ways George uses it just as a bedtime story can be used to soothe and comfort a child. Lennie has heard the story so many times before he knows it off by heart but he still loves to hear it again just as a child loves to hear the words of a well-known story or rhyme read by their parents. At the heart of the dream for Lennie is the idea of looking after the imaginary rabbits that they will have on their farm. George is much more realistic about life. George has an intelligence that makes him aware of the harsh realities of his and Lennies life as well as the practical difficulties in achieving their ambition. Although not stated in the narrative there is a sense that after the death of Curleys wife George gives up on the dream. No doubt he was a man well capable of organising the dream to become reality but it is as if he gives up hope after Lennie has gone as if the purpose that was driving him on has been taken away and the sense seems to be at the end of the story that his future will consist of gambling away his stake money in pool rooms and spending his time chasing women and in brothels as a relaxant to the hard work of the day. When Candy hears of the dream he is very keen to become a part of it. He has no family, he is disabled and he is growing old. He is willing to use his savings to help them out and his money, momentarily, puts the dream within their grasp. The three of them discuss it together and their ideas become more firm and detailed that ever before. While George is away, Lennie, against Georges orders, tells of the dream the night that they spend in Crookss room. Crooks who has the added disadvantage of being black in a racially prejudice community is, for a brief moment, keen to share their dream too. With Lennies death, though, the dream dies too and the future happy times that these characters had hoped to secure for themselves are dissolved. The other character for whom dreams are significant is Curleys wife who longs for the glamour of Hollywood and the films. At the time the book was written, the movie business in Hollywood was a booming industry and a number of attractive young women had been thrust to stardom as movie stars. Curleys wife imagines that, given the opportunity, she too could have been one of these women.
TASK 104
How real do you think Curleys wifes dreams are?
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Of Mice and Men
Themes
From the way she describes them, they seem founded in little more than a comment made by a man who knew her fleetingly as he passed through. He had promised to write to her but never had and had promised her a break in the movies. He was probably simply saying that to lead her on perhaps to flirt with her and there is a naivety in the way that she believes this mans words, a naivety which is emphasised further with the idea that the letter actually did come and her mother had kept it from her.
TASK 105
Why is her dream important to her?
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Themes
This becomes clear when she explains why she came to marry Curley even though she does not love him and does not even like him. She marries him out of desperation that there seemed no other future for her and so the dreams are a way of keeping alive an idea that there could have been and possibly still could be a better future for herself. In other words she needs to have something to live for because the real world of her bad marriage, her loneliness and her isolation on the farm is not enough to sustain her. In many ways she is another of the tragic, lonely outsider figures in the story and has much in common with Lennie not least of course because her dreams, too, do not come true.
Friendship
George and Lennie
At the heart of the story is the friendship between George and Lennie. The first thing to recognise is that their friendship is an unusual one. They travel together, they find work together and they look after each other. During the 1930s, for the migrant workers who were often displaced from their homes and families broken up because of the need to travel for work, few of them settled long enough in one place to develop lasting friendships. And against this background, then, the friendship between Lennie and George is all the more special.
TASK 106
How does Steinbeck draw attention to the fact that this friendship is so unusual?
He does it quite frequently, mainly by the comments that other characters make about it. The boss, for example, is very
Of Mice and Men
Themes
suspicious because he has not seen: one guy take so much trouble for another guy. It is so unusual that he thinks that George must be exploiting Lennie in some way perhaps by taking away his pay and thus preying on Lennies gullibility and lack of intelligence. Curley, too, makes a similar comment and Crooks appears, because of his own loneliness, very envious of the friendship so much so that he upsets Lennie out of spite with tales that George might desert him.
TASK 106
Who seems to you the only character who really understands the friendship?
Slim seems to be the only one who really understands the friendship between George and Lennie. He is sympathetic towards them to the extent that George confides in Slim and reveals a great deal about their relationship. He tells Slim about the incident in which Lennie nearly drowned and he also confides in Slim the incident involving the girl in the red dress and the reason they had to leave their last place in such a hurry.
TASK 107
How does George feel about his friendship with Lennie, do you think?
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Of Mice and Men
Themes
There are times, of course, when George becomes frustrated by his friendship with Lennie because he has to do the thinking for both of them, particularly when Lennie gets into trouble. It also annoys George that Lennie has forgotten things and doing the things that he has specifically told him not to do. However, when they get to the ranch, Georges responsibility for Lennie is diminished to some extent in that the others at the ranch also take Lennie under their wing as it were. Having said that, George needs Lennie almost as much as Lennie needs George and, has we have seen, it is Lennie that provides the real driving force behind the dream and gives George the incentive to carry on. In the end we see the true depth of the friendship when George shoots Lennie, even though the task causes him great suffering, in order to spare Lennie from any more pain or hurt. At the end of the story, though, as we have already noted, there is a glimmer of hope in that there seems to be a friendship developing between George and Slim.
Loneliness
Like friendship, loneliness is another key theme in Of Mice and Men. We have already noted on a number of occasions how the kind of life that the migrant workers of the 1930s live, did not lend itself to the development of deep, or lasting or significant friendships. It was a lonely and often solitary existence. Which characters do you think are particularly lonely in the story?
TASK 108
Make a note of them and why they are lonely.
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Of Mice and Men
Themes
Candy: He is old and disabled, and although the others tolerate him, he has no real friends except perhaps his old dog who, like Candy himself, is old and has become a burden. Candy deals with his loneliness by gossiping and listening to whats going on. He is also worried about his future, though, when he is too old to work and thats one of his reasons for wanting to join in the plan to buy the smallholding: When they can sack me here, I wisht somebody would shoot me. I wont have no place to go an cant get no more jobs. Crooks: The black stable hand again suffers loneliness as a victim of racial prejudice. He is even kept out of the bunkhouse and has to live alone in his own room. He warns, himself, of the dangers of too much loneliness: A guy needs somebody to be near hima guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Curleys wife: She too is doomed to a lonely existence. In a moment of foolishness, she married Curley and soon lives to regret it. When she appears at the bunkhouse, and later Crookss room, she pretends to be looking for Curley but really she is looking for company. Although she likes to flirt with the men, there is a sense, too, in which she is genuinely lonely.
The theme of loneliness is also emphasised in some subtle ways by Steinbeck. For example, the name of the nearby town, Crookss birthplace, Soledad means lonely in Spanish. The card game that George plays so often, called Solitaire, is a game for one player perhaps a suggestion that George will soon be alone.
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Of Mice and Men
Characters
10. CHARACTERS
In this section you will find a series of bullet points for each of the characters. These bullet points indicate the key features of each character. Look at them carefully and then take each bullet point, develop it for yourself finding evidence from the text to support the point and then use the information to write a full character study for each of the characters.
George
Described as being quick-witted and intelligent He has a good working knowledge of farming and ranching He enjoys the quiet of the countryside He is keen to break out of the monotony of their everyday life He has taken on responsibility for Lennie George understands that Lennie can be both a burden as well as an advantage to him but his feelings for Lennie are genuine but never become sentimental In some ways, George ignores the danger signals that result in Lennie getting into trouble at the ranch He has the strength of mind and character to carry out the compassionate killing of Lennie at the end of the story
Lennie
He is very childlike He becomes frightened very quickly although he is a man of great physical strength He is often described in terms of an animal suggesting not only his bear-like tendency but also a kind of animal innocence Lennie has no awareness of ordinary values such as good and bad His obsession for petting small things shows that he has a deep-rooted emotional need which he doesnt fully understand himself but needs to satisfy The terrible progression of the fulfilment of this need leads from the dead mouse to the dead puppy to the dead girl His irresistible urge to pet conflicts with the desires and sexuality of Curleys wife Think about how far he is responsible for his own end
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Of Mice and Men
Characters
Crooks
A crippled black man who looks after the horses on the ranch He is literate and intelligent He has long been the victim of racial prejudice and this has made him reserved and aloof He has known better times and like most southern blacks was brought up on a smallholding run by his father He becomes caught up in George and Lennies dream of escape He automatically rejects friendship and companionship even though he is a very lonely man Underneath, though, we see he has an intelligent awareness of life and he has thought a lot during his long hours alone He gathers the confidence to try to get Curleys wife to leave his room but he is humiliated by her His dream of becoming part of George and Lennies dream farm is shattered by George and the events that occur. He had made up his own mind about not joining the plan after Curleys wife had made those derogatory comments thus suggesting that he may have been so downtrodden that he even believed himself to be unworthy of daring to have such a dream.
Curley
Curley is a small man who seems to have developed an inferiority complex as a result He is continually aggressive and trying to prove himself and how tough he is in order to assert his masculinity He is humiliated by his wifes dissatisfaction and lack of interest in him He needs to boost his self esteem and confidence as a result He adopts the role of a professional boxer but when he fights he fights unfairly He takes advantage of those who he thinks are weaker than himself He avoids those that he feels might put up a fight or may be more than a match for him He takes pleasure in inflicting pain on others and gets rid of his feelings of frustration and anger through violence. Even his attempts at intimacy with his wife are crude and physical
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Of Mice and Men
Characters
Curleys wife
It is significant that Curleys wife is never given a name in the novel Curleys wife makes her sound like one of Curleys possessions She is not treated as an individual in her own right and this is something that she greatly resents She is a character symbolic of other things a possession of Curleys, a seducer, a sex symbol, or as the men say jail bait Although married, she flaunts herself in seductive clothing, flirting with the ranch hands She is conscious of the effect this has on the men and this is the effect that she desires She is always anxious to avoid her husband finding out but she uses him as an excuse, always pretending to be looking for Curley She, too, has dreams of a better life She is insecure and lonely Her pain at Lennies petting her hair leads to her death
Slim
A dignified and sympathetic character. He possesses natural authority but is gentle and friendly When there is trouble the other ranch hands turn to Slim He is tolerant of others He shows intelligence and perception and a firm sense of justice He recognises the good in George and he understands about his relationship with Lennie At the end of the novel he shows great sympathy towards George and, unlike the other, he knows exactly what has happened
Candy
Candy is an old man and at the end of his useful life on the farm He knows he has little to look forward to He has lost his hand and this reinforces the potential violence of the ranch workers lives He loses his dog the only companionship he has enjoyed He is given hope and comfort by being allowed to share George and Lennies dream
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Characters
He also realistically is aware of his own prospects for the future He is realistic about what will happen to Lennie if the Lynch mob get their hands on him
Carlson
A practical and unsentimental man Takes a pride in his gun and his ability to use it Constantly complains about Candys dog We usually see him in aggressive situations He does stand up to Curley At the end he is totally with Curley in their plans to deal with Lennie He shows no sympathy or understanding about the feelings of George and Slim on Lennies death
The Boss

He appears only once He is described as: pretty good by George and a nice fella by Candy although he doesnt seem particularly pleasant to them His manner is rather aggressive and he makes sure that they know that he considers himself better than they are From the little we see of it, his treatment of George and Lennie seems fair
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Of Mice and Men
Language, Structure and Style
11. LANGUAGE, STRUCTURE AND STYLE

Language & Structure
One of the striking features about Steinbecks story is the realistic way in which it is presented. He writes, showing an interest in the lives of the poor and of the socially deprived. There are certain aspects of the way that he uses language that you should be aware of. For example: The story is written in the third person. In other words, the writer seems invisible but they can see everything that goes on and even what is inside peoples minds and they can describe their thoughts, speech and actions to the reader. In this story, though, Steinbeck does not use the technique of looking into peoples minds very much. In fact, only once do we see directly into peoples thoughts. Can you spot where this is? Steinbeck uses simple language in a straightforward vocabulary which means that his story is told in a direct, plain and uncomplicated fashion. The dialogue is written as it would have been spoken and Steinbeck makes use of dialect forms. Why do you think he does this? He uses a different kind of speech for different characters. For example, Lennies sentences are very childlike in character. Curleys language tends to be full of pent up aggression and anger. Look carefully at how each of the characters speak and make notes on the differences that you find between them. Slang, or colloquial language, is used in the novel, again to reflect the way that real people speak. Find some examples of where Steinbeck uses slang and think about the effect they have on the narrative.
Style
Here are some important features to note about the style in which Of Mice and Men is written: The story is a blend of description and drama When Steinbeck uses description, which is most notable in the first and last scenes, he creates a vivid picture of nature and the natural
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Language, Structure and Style
world. Although not vital to the development of the story, these descriptions form a background against which the story is set and also contain a symbolic importance. Find some of these descriptions yourself and think about what they add to the story and why they are important The events at the ranch, on the other hand, are written very economically with very little description. Everything there is designed to develop or reveal a theme or a character trait, most of which indicate the fate which is to befall Lennie and George The dramatic style that Steinbeck intended from the outset consists mainly of dialogue and of short exchanges and the story is developed through these exchanges. It is worth noting that, originally, Steinbeck intended the story to be easily adapted for the stage and so the writing is very similar to the way in which a play would be written. Think about how easily the story could be made into a play. Think about the locations, possible props, the number of characters and suggestions on how to use light symbolically.
******
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Of Mice and Men
Imagery
13. IMAGERY
Imagery is the use of words to create pictures or images in the readers mind and is used by a writer to make their words more effective and powerful. Although Of Mice and Men is written in simple and straightforward language, Steinbeck uses several images as symbols of things. A symbol is an object which is used to represent or indicate something else. For example, he begins with the description of the river and the path and the campsite. Wildlife is referred to only in the opening and closing scenes which are set by the river. Perhaps here Steinbeck is drawing a contrast between the ongoing cycle of nature and a human beings temporary appearance in this scene which typifies the transient lifestyle of the itinerant workers. Although animals feature prominently in the plot, the images of them often emphasise the harshness of the workers lives. They also feature in the descriptions of people, particularly Lennie. He is compared to a bear and a horse and later in the first scene Steinbeck likens him to a terrier when he shows reluctance to give up his pet mouse to George. Imagery to do with hands is also used in the novel. For example, Lennies hands are referred to several times as paws and the gloved fist of Curleys plays an important part in the story.
The Use of Light

Steinbeck often refers to light and dark, or sunshine and shadow, and frequently these are used to create atmosphere. Think of as many examples as you can where Steinbeck uses light in this way.
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Of Mice and Men
Structure of the story
14. THE STRUCTURE OF THE STORY

When we talk of the structure of the story we really mean the way that the story is put together. This is quite a short story but it nonetheless has a very tight and clearly defined structure and within the structure everything comes full circle, everything comes as a cycle. For example, the action ends in the same place as it began Five central scenes comprise the story. See if you can identify these five central scenes and make a note of the significance of each of them. Here they are in brief:

Scene One: sets the scene and introduces the main characters Scene Two: we meet Curley and there is the shooting of Candys dog Scene Three: the damage to Curleys hand Scene Four: the confrontation with Curleys wife Scene Five: the green pool on the Selinas river.
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Of Mice and Men
Specimen Examination Questions
15. SOME SPECIMEN EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

1. 2. Write two character descriptions of George and Lennie examining how each of them see their relationship and what each of them gets from it. Assess the contribution made to the novel by: a) Curley b) Curleys wife c) Slim Look at the scene which takes place in Crookss room. What is the importance of this scene in relation to the rest of the story? Examine Steinbecks use of imagery in Of Mice and Men. Examine the central themes of Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck wanted to make to his readers? What point do you think
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
If you were to recommend this book to a friend, what would you have to say about it? What contribution does the character of Slim make to Of Mice and Men? Choose two scenes from the story which you have found effective and examine closely Steinbecks style of writing in each of these scenes saying why you find each of them particularly striking. How effective do you find the ending of Of Mice and Men? Which two characters do you feel most sympathy for in the novel and why?
9. 10.
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Mice and Men

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Of Mice and Men

A GCSE English Workbook by Steven Croft ~ Wessex Publications ~

Of Mice and Men

About the Workbook

Using the Materials

Using the CD version of the Workbook

The Lecturers/Teachers Role

Of Mice and Men

A GCSE English Workbook by Steven Croft ~ Wessex Publications ~

Of Mice and Men

Using the workbook

1. USING THE WORKBOOK

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck - Background

2. JOHN STEINBECK 1902 - 1969

Contemporary issues form basis for much of Steinbeck's work

The creation of the American 'Dust Bowl'

The Great Depression 1929

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck - Background

'The Grapes of Wrath' published 1940

Given Nobel Prize for Literature, 1962

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS - SECTION 1

Unspoiled that is until what?

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

Write brief notes describing each of them.

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

Why does his irritation increase?

Continues on next page www.wessexpublications.co.uk -9-

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What further does this reveal about Lennies character?

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What ominous note creeps into the narrative at this point?

What does George dream about?

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What tensions are revealed in the relationship?

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What further does George reveal about Lennie, here?

What does Lennie suggest?

How does George respond to this suggestion?

Continues on next page

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What does George go on to tell Lennie?

Of Mice and Men

Section by section analysis - Section 1

What does George tell him then?

What effect does this have on the narrative?

Of Mice and Men