Megan Lauricella

Josh Larson
Ben Jefferson
Mr. Keegan/ Period Three
English 2H
12/11/15
We will be using the following questions in our Socratic Seminar. This will be our
summative assignment for this reading unit. Write notes with evidence to support your ideas.
The EVIDENCE is the MOST IMPORTANT part. Not all of the questions will be used but you
need evidence and talking points for each one.
1. How does Steinbecks portrayal of women affect the plot and contribute to the work as a
whole?
Assertion
He portrays women as
femme fatales.
(Menices).

Evidence
Well, I think
Curleys married...a
tart. He aint the
first. said George. (
Steinbeck 28).

Talking Points/Matters
Curleys wife causes trouble for
the male workers on the farm
because she is seeking attention.
She knows Lennie is mentally
challenged and continually pesters
him because hell listen to her
while she speaks.

2. Why do you think George stays with Lennie throughout the novel despite his many short
comings? What does this suggest about fraternity and idealized male friendship?
Assertion
He feels obligated to take
responsibility of Lennie
because George had
known Lennies Aunt
Clara from a young age.

Evidence
I want you to stay
with me, Lennie
your Aunt Clara
wouldnt want like
you running of by
yourself. ( Steinbeck
13).

Talking Points/Matters
The relationship of Lennie and
George resembles one of a
Mother Bear and her cub.
George and Lennie both needed
each other equally, in the sense
that a Man needs a dog and a dog
needs a Man.

3. What themes are shown through the minor characters such as Crooks and Curleys wife?
Why is it important that these characters illustrate the themes?
Assertion

Evidence

Talking Points/Matters

The impact loneliness has

on an individual can
affect the way they
interact with themselves
and others around them.

I could get you

strung up on a tree so
easy it aint even
funny.
( Steinbeck 81 ).
pg.73

The loneliness that Crooks and

Curleys wife acquire parallel
that of a average working man in
that time period.

4. If Lennie was not killed and the incident with Curleys wife did not occur, would George,
Candy, and Lennie achieve their American Dream? Explain.
Assertion
They would have
achieved the American
Dream because they had
already made a plan and
raised the money. Had
Curley's wife never
gotten involved there
would not have been any
issue.

Evidence
In one month. Right
squack in one month.
Know what Im
gonta do? Im gonta
write to them old
people that owns the
place that well take
it. An Candyll send
a hunderd dollars to
bind her. (Steinbeck
30).

Talking Points/Matters
Would George have been more
successful without having Lennie
with him?
If Curleys wife never got
involved would George , Lennie
and Candy achieve the American
Dream?

5. Do you think George did the right thing in killing Lennie? Why or why not? Did he
have other options?
Assertion
Yes, because like Candy
and his dog, George
understood the
circumstances and
realized it was time to put
Lennie out of his misery
and had he not they most
likely would have been
hunted down by the
workers on the farm and
lynched.

Evidence
I ought to of shot
that dog myself,
George. I shouldnt
ought to of let no
stranger shoot my
dog. ( Steinbeck 31).

Talking Points/Matters
Did George know if as long as
Lennie was with him he wouldn't
be successful.
Would Curley have killed Lennie
if George didnt?

6. Why are George and Slim the only people who felt something after Lennies death?

What themes are expressed in this portrayal? What is Steinbeck suggesting about
humanity?
Assertion
George and Slim are the
only people who feel
something about Lennie's
death because they were
the only two people who
truly understood and
cared for Lennie. A
theme expressed in this
portrayal is the
importance of acceptance
and love between friends.
That there is good and
evil within all of us.

Evidence
He aint mean, said
Slim. I can tell a
mean guy a mile off.
(Steinbeck 22).

Talking Points/Matters
Did George kill Lennie out of
betrayal or necessity?
Did George do Lennie a favor by
killing him when he was at peace,
by telling him the story of their
farm; knowing he was probably
going to get killed by someone
else like Curley.

7. Describe the different types of friendship in OMAM. For example, Lennie and George,
George and Slim, etc. What themes do these friendships advance? What do these
friendships express about humanity and man/men (think about it in terms of gender)?
Assertion
Lennie and George's
friendship is more
paternal whereas, George
and Slim's friendship is
more fraternal. The
theme is people put on
different personalities
depending on with whom
they are interacting with.

Evidence
But not us! An why?
Because . . . . because
I got you to look after
me, and you got me to
look after you, and
thats why.
(Steinbeck 8).

Talking Points/Matters
Is George and Slims friendship
out of necessity because George
did need Slims money to get the
House he wanted?

8. Do you think Curleys wife was manipulative? What themes are developed through her
character? Why is she an important character in the novel beyond her death?
Assertion
Yes because she would
intentionally insert
herself in inappropriate
situations with other men
while her husband was
away. A theme
developed through her
character and the

Evidence
Well, you keep your
place then, Nigger. I
could get you strung
upon a tree so easy it
aint even funny.
(Steinbeck 39).

Talking Points/Matters
Is Curleys wife the determining
factor of the fate of Lennie and
George?
If she wasnt involved would the
story have gone a completely
different way?

importance of her
character can be
explained by the fact that
she conveys a sense of
loneliness and teaches the
importance of a friend.
9. How does the significance of animals contribute to the themes in the novel? Think about
the various times animals are used in figurative language, description, plot devices, etc.
What is Steinbeck achieving through their use? How do they reflect character
development?
Assertion
He uses animal
descriptions to symbolize
elements of the
characters personalities
to one another. For
example, Lennie's
connection to mice
illustrates Lennie's
innocent nature. The
significance of animals to
the themes in the novel is
to help convey messages
such as you can still be
lonely even if you are
surrounded by others.

Evidence
Talking Points/Matters
Uh-uh. Jus a dead
mouse, George. I didnt
kill it. Honest! I found
What animal that Steinbeck
it. I found it dead.
mentioned would best resemble
(Steinbeck 4).
Lennie?
Does the way that Candys dog
die resemble or parallel the way
Lennie also died.

10. Suggest a theme that is expressed through the novel. Is this theme still applicable to
society? Give an example and support your opinion.
Assertion
A theme that is expressed
through the novel and is
still applicable to society
is you can still be lonely
even if you are
surrounded by others. An
example of this can be,
how George only plays
solitaire because
although he has Lennie;
Lennie can't comprehend

Evidence
George cut the cards
again and put out a
solitaire lay, slowly and
deliberately.
(Steinbeck 9).

Talking Points/Matters
Are barriers such as social and
racial contribute to the main
conflict in Mice of Men.

any complicated two

player card games.
11. How does John Steinbeck use foreshadowing to suggest that a.) Curleys wife will die,
b.) George and Lennie will not get their own farm, and c.) how Lennie will die? What
effect does his foreshadowing have on the reader?
Assertion
John Steinbeck uses
foreshadowing to suggest
Curley's wife will die
when he has her ask
Lennie if he wants to
touch her hair. Then, he
uses foreshadowing to
suggest George and
Lennie will not have their
farm by having Crooks
crush Lennie's hopes of
ever getting the ranch.
Lastly, he uses the rabbit
to foreshadow Lennie
will die by making it
worry Lennie about
George's loyalty to him.

Evidence
But mine is soft and
fine. Course I brush it
a lot. That makes it
fine. Herefeel right
here. (Steinbeck 44)

Talking Points/Matters
Does Lennie ruining everything
just like at their old Job
foreshadow that they will not get
through this one?