MHDaon 1
Name_____________________Period _
English II
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Study Packet
Pre- Reading:
Answer these questions in one or two well, elaborated paragraphs.
Are dreams and goals important? What happens when those dreams are never fulfilled? What if other people make fun
of or doubt those dreams? Is it more important to look at reality or to have dreams? Can you do both? Discuss the
concept of having dreams and goals for the future.
Answer each question in a complete and detailed sentence.
While Reading: Character Study – Fill in the table.
Character
Lennie Small
George Milton
Candy
Curley
Curley’s wife
Slim
Carlson
Crooks
Physical Description, age, personality traits
Occupation
Relationship to others
MHDaon 2
Section 1: Analyzing the Novel
1.
When George and Lennie approach the river, why does George warn Lennie not to drink too much water?
2.
George has told Lennie something that he always remembers even when he forgets everything else. What is it?
3.
Why does Lennie have a dead mouse in his pocket?
4.
Why does George order Lennie not to talk when they get to the ranch?
5.
What happened to all of the mice that Lennie’s Aunt Clara gave him?
6.
Why have George and Lennie run away from Weed?
7.
What is the connection between Lennie’s mouse and what happened in Weed?
8.
Why does George say that migrant workers who travel from farm to farm are the loneliest people in the world?
9.
What dream do George and Lennie share?
10. What suggests that “the dream” is urealistic?
11. What does George tell Lennie to do if he gets in trouble at their new job site?
12. How does Steinbeck convey Lennie’s animal-like qualities?
13. How and why does Steinbeck describe the actions of Lennie’s hands?
14. Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
*lumbered
*juncture
*mottled
recumbent
heron
bindle
B.
thrashin’(threshing) machine
*brusquely
*imperioiusly
*morosely
jack (slang)
*yammered
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Mottled: bent/spotted/smooth/pleasant
Recumbent: lying down/repetitious/boring/holding office
Bindle: bedroll/dog/tree/stick
Morosely: proudly/gloomily/happily/argumentatively
Contemplated: ignored/considered/turned/wavered
Imperiously: carefully/awkwardly/domineeringly/angrily
Dejectedly: slowly/quickly/sadly/simply
Jack: plant/coat/blanket/money
MHDaon 3
Section 2: Analyzing the Novel
1.
Describe the bunkhouse. How is it realistic?
2.
What details suggest that the ranch hands have a “romantic” side?
3.
What limb is Candy, the old swamper missing?
4.
What evidence does the old swamper give that the ranch boss is a “pretty nice fella”?
5.
How can we infer that the boss is NOT a working man?
6.
According to the old swamper, why does Curley wear a work glove on his left hand? What does that tell us
about Curley?
7.
What is the general attitude toward Curley’s wife?
8.
Why does Carlson suggest shooting Candy’s dog?
9.
Give an example of foreshadowing in this section.
10. According to the old man, what has made Curley “cockier”?
11. What causes George to become angry at Lennie? What is he really angry about?
12. List the similarities between Candy and his dog.
13. How does “survival of the fittest” play a key role in this section?
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
*scourges
swamper
graybacks (slang)
tick
*liniment
buck
buckers
skinner
cultivator
*plaintively
*barley
*mollified
*pugnacious
handy
B.
*skeptically
*ominously
*derogatory
tart
trace chains
*contorted
mules
*brittle
*bridled
*archly
*apprehensive
wheeler
*profound
*complacently
*grizzled
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Scourges: bags/sponges/brushes/pests
Pugnacious: irritating/careful/aggressive/flawless
Slough: pour/discard/beat/pressure
Derogatory: wrong/pleasing/unfavorable/sympathetic
Tart: immoral woman/pretty girl/stolen money/plaid cloth
Plaintively: eagerly/proudly/uncertainly/mournfully
Archly: roughly/sadly/friendly/slyly
Apprehensive: nervous/painful/tired/quick
Gravity: wariness/seriousness/friendliness/unpleasantness
MHDaon 4
Section 3: Analyzing the Novel
1.
According to George, how did he end up traveling with Lennie?
2.
Why did George stop playing dirty tricks on Lennie?
3.
Why does George continue to stay with Lennie?
4.
Why were George and Lennie forced to flee from Weed?
5.
Who makes the final decision on whether or not Candy’s old dog should be shot?
6.
Analyze Carlson’s reasons for and Candy’s reasons against shooting Candy’s dog. How do they touch on the
central issues of the novel?
7.
What comparison(s) does Candy make between his own condition and his dog’s? How does this reinforce
the theme of responsibility?
8.
Why does George agree to let Candy join them on their dream farm?
9.
How is Curly’s wife described?
10. What can we infer about Curley and his wife’s relationship?
11. How are George and Lennie different in the eyes of the men?
12. What does Lennie’s fight with Curley show the ranch hands? What does the description of this fight suggest
about the nature of violence?
13. What punishment does Lennie fear he will receive for hurting Curley?
14. Why does Curley agree not to get Lennie fired for crushing his hand?
15. Why does Steinbeck choose to give Curley’s wife the title, “Curley’s wife” or “Curley’s girl” and not give
her a name?
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
found
*scuttled
*derision
*receptive
rheumatism
euchre
kewpie
B.
goo-goo – (slang)
hoosegow – (slang)
*reprehensible
*bemused
welter (welterweight)
*wryly
*solemnly
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Scuttled: ran quickly/frowned/threw away/collided
Pulp: small animal/rough fabric/shapeless hat/cheap paper
Euchre: type of plant/alcoholic drink/a card game/type of gun
Hoosegow: jail/harness/bunkhouse/bar
Raptly: hurriedly/intently/furiously/frequently
Reprehensible: humble/amusing/wrong/cautious
Bemused: shocked/surprised/angered/dazed
Wrly: sadly/loudly/feverishly/mockingly
MHDaon 5
Section 4: Analyzing the Novel
1.
How does Steinbeck address the lack of civil rights for blacks through Crooks’ character?
2.
Based on George and Curley’s conversation, what do you infer will happen with Curley’s wife?
3.
Why has Crooks been able to accumulate more personal items than the other ranch hands?
4.
What is the initial reason that Crooks gives for Lennie not being welcome in his room? (This is an
example of social criticism. What is Steinbeck addressing?)
5.
According to Crooks, why does a person need a companion?
6.
How does Crook’s attitude change toward the dream farm?
7.
Why are the men afraid to talk to Curly’s wife in the present of others?
8.
How does Curly’s wife’s behavior and destructive character seem deliberately designed to provoke the men?
9.
What motives does Steinbeck suggest for Curley’s wife’s behavior?
10. How is Crooks able to boldly ward off Curly’s wife?
11. Give examples of foreshadowing in this section.
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
*aloof
hame
*fawning
*disarming
booby hatch
*brutally
B.
*sullenness
*contemptuously
*indignation
bindle stiffs
floozy
*appraised
*crestfallen
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
1. Hame: feed bag/part of a horse collar/rabbit cage/cut of meat
2. Aloof: apart/silly/friendly/serious
3. Fawning: laughing/chasing/groveling/striking
4. Contemptuously: frequently/happily/disdainfully/swiftly
5. Indignation: pleasure/danger/fear/anger
6. Averted: left-handed/gave credit/self-controlled/turned away
7. Crestfallen: dejected/surprised/horrified/excited
Section 5: Analyzing the Novel
1.
What has happened to Lennie’s puppy and why?
2.
How is Lennie’s treatment of his dead puppy typical of his character?
3.
What two pieces of information does Curley’s wife share with Lennie?
4.
In what way is Curley’s wife also a dreamer? Is her dream any more or less realisitic than George and Lennie’s dream?
5.
How does Curley’s wife entice Lennie into caressing her hair?
6.
What is the nature of Lennie’s attack? How does he react to his actions?
7.
Why does George say that they can’t let Lennie escape to live on his own?
8.
What does George do and why?
MHDaon 6
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
*consoled
*earnestly
B.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
*writhed
*sulkily
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
Jeering: ignoring/smiling/praising/mocking
Complacently: smugly/sadly/suddenly/mightily
Contorted: reduced/twisted/replied/believed
Writhed: struggled/pleaded/examined/laughed
Bewildered: angered/rejected/puzzled/depressed
Dusky: dark/even/unpleasant/checkered
Cringed: shouted/broke/burned/shrank
Hovered: left/raised/lingered/returned
Sniveled: frowned/whimpered/turned/smiled
Section 6: Analyzing the Novel
1.
What scenes of death does Steinbeck describe in the beginning of Section 6 parallel the events of the
previous section and foreshadow the event to come?
2.
How does this section bring the novel to a full circle?
3.
What two imaginary visitors visit Lennie while sitting on the river bank? Why is this significant?
4.
What is George’s inner conflict?
5.
The description of Lennie’s death recalls another event in the novel. What is it?
6.
Explain George’s last remarks to Lennie.
7.
What lie does George tell about the way Lennie died?
8.
Explain the significance of the last line in the novel.
Vocabulary A. Define these vocabulary words which are listed in order of appearance in the novel.
B.
*scudded
*scornfully
*skittered
*belligerently
snooker
*dutifully
Choose the word or phrase that comes closest to the meaning of the word (as used in the novel).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Scudded: stopped abruptly/circled wildly/delivered suddenly/moved quicikly
Skittered: scurried/avoided/waited/laughed
Gingham: tpe of fabric/type of plant/type of seasoning/type of gun
Snooker: rifle/wagon/game of pool/type of machine
Haunches: carriages/hips/ammunition/prongs
Retorted: confused/laughed/turned/answered
Belligerently: suspiciously/slowly/hostilely/artificially
Monotonous: laughing/unvarying/drilling/irritating
MHDaon 7
POST READING:
Complete the sentences with facts from the novel.
1.
George and Lennie leave Weed because _______________________________________
2.
Lennie likes to pet _________________________________________________________
3.
George and Lennie are going to work_______________________________________ ___
4.
George and Lennie want to buy______________________________________________
5.
On the farm, Lennie will tend ________________________________________________
6.
George and Lennie clash with ________________________________________________
7.
Curley jealously guards _____________________________________________________
8.
Slim gives Lennie _________________________________________________________
9.
Carlson shoots ____________________________________________________________
10. Candy offers to help pay for _________________________________________________
11. Lennie crushes ___________________________________________________________
12. Curley’s wife threatens _____________________________________________________
13. Curley’s wife discovers _____________________________________________________
14. Curley’s wife invites Lennie to _______________________________________________
15. Lennie breaks ____________________________________________________________
16. Lennie hides ____________________________________________________________
17. Lennie is tormented by ____________________________________________________
18. George steals Carlson’s _____________________________________________________
19. For the last time, George tells Lennie about ____________________________________
20. George kills ______________________________________________________________
MHDaon 8
Literary Analysis: Parallels and Contrasts
Parallels relate to two things that are comparable because they are similar and share many characteristics and
their similarity provides emphasis. Contrasts, on the other hand, relate to two things that are different. Give
examples from the novel of parallels and contrasts. Cite the page number in parentheses.
Parallels:
Contrasts:
e.g. George and Lennie’s dream and
Curley’s wife’s dream.
e.g. George is small and smart; Lennie is
big and dumb.
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
Post Reading - For Discussion:
1.
In your opinion is George a failure at the end of the novel? Explain.
2.
Explain the significance of the title.
3.
Give three examples of irony (either verbal, situational, or dramatic) that you find in the novel.
Cite the page number in parentheses.
4.
What are the conflicts in Of Mice and Men? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual,
or emotional ) exists?
In Of Mice and Men, what are the major themes?
5.
6.
Discuss three different symbols in Of Mice and Men. Name the idea or item and what it
symbolizes. Cite the page number in parentheses.
7.
What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
8.
Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned?
9.
Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?