Reading 8- Ramirez
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Of Mice and Men Study Guide 5
Vocabulary Warm Up
Cross out the word or phrase that does NOT have a meaning similar to the word in
bold in the sentence.
1. Joanne inspected her son’s room to see if he had put away his toys. (p. 85)
look at closely
check carefully
looked inside
2. When Janice got to her job interview, her mind went blank, and she couldn’t think of
anything to say. In a panic, she asked if she could use the restroom. (p. 86)
sudden hurry
uncontrollable fear
extreme nervousness
3. The child came into the house very sullenly when her father called because she had wanted
to stay out and play longer. (p. 86)
foolishly
with dislike
unpleasantly
4. When Mira asked Peter why he was so unhappy, he told her his story of woe. (p. 87)
sorrow
disappointment
great sadness
5. Nora was so upset by her co-worker’s rude comments about women that she was afraid she
might lose control and smack him. (p. 87)
shake
slap
hit
6. The nurse spoke very soothingly to the patient who was worried about surgery. (p. 87)
calmingly
sweetly
reassuringly
7. Brian earnestly promised to pay back the money he borrowed from his uncle. (p. 90)
sincerely
seriously
uncertainly
8. The young child didn’t want his mother to pick him up and writhed to get out of her arms.
(p. 91)
begged loudly
twisted his body
made strong movements
9. Steven was bewildered by his friend’s strange behavior and didn’t know how to respond. (p.
91)
confused
puzzled
upset
10. The radio station got fainter and fainter as they drove until, finally, they couldn’t hear it at
all. (p. 98)
weaker
clearer
quieter
Specialized Vocabulary
horseshoes (p.85) - a game played with the iron, u-shaped shoes worn by horses; the object of
the game is to throw the horseshoe accurately enough to hit an iron pole or stake on the other
side of the playing area
horseshoe tenement (p.86) - a horseshoe game or tournament
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While You Read
Part 1
------------------------------------------- START on page 84.
 STOP on page 92 after you read: And then he crept around the end of the last manger and
disappeared.
1. What is Lennie doing in the barn?
2. Who does Lennie meet in the barn and what happens?
Part 2
------------------------------------------- START on page 92 with the sentence: The sun streaks were high on the wall by now, and the
light was growing soft in the barn.
 STOP on page 98 at the end of the chapter.
1. What does Candy find in the barn?
2. What is George’s reaction when Candy shows him what he found? What is
Curley’s reaction?
3. What happened to Carlson’s Luger?
After You Read
A. Write a Title. Write a title for Chapter 5 that will capture the interest of the readers while
also giving them some idea about the content of the chapter.
B. Look at the Big Picture. Think about the main events and ideas in Chapter 5. Then
complete each of the following sentences. Try to complete the sentences without looking at
your book. Compare your sentences with those of your classmates.
1. Curley’s wife tries to draw Lennie into a conversation because:
2. Eventually, Lennie starts talking to Curley’s wife even though:
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3. When Curley’s wife wants Lennie to let go of her hair,
4. When George finds out what has happened, he realizes:
5. George asks Candy to wait a few minutes before calling the other guys so that:
Reading Beyond the Lines
A. You Be the Judge. Assume that George is successful in preventing Curley from shooting
Lennie and that Lennie is arrested and has to go on trial. What factors do you think a judge
would consider in deciding Lennie’s case? Read the statements below and check () the
factors in Lennie’s case which you think a judge would consider in deciding what to do with
Lennie. Then check () the statements that you think should be considered. Please add one
or two additional things that you think are important.
JUDGE
YOU
1.
Lennie has a cognitive disability.
2.
Curley and his wife had only been married a few weeks.
3.
Curley’s wife asked Lennie to feel her hair.
4.
Curley’s wife tried to scream which made Lennie panic.
5.
Lennie didn’t mean to hurt Curley’s wife.
6.
Lennie ran away and hid.
7.
Lennie has gotten into trouble before for being too rough with
women.
8.
This is the first time Lennie has hurt someone.
9.
10.
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Longer Answers: Think about these questions and discuss in class Monday.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Were you surprised by what happened in this chapter? Why or why not?
Why is Curley’s wife so insistent about trying to strike up a conversation with Lennie?
What do we learn about Curley’s wife in this chapter? Does it change your opinion of her?
What do you think happened to the letter from the man in Hollywood that Curley’s wife had
been waiting for?
5. How do you feel about Lennie after what happens in this chapter? Why?
6. Why does George immediately abandon the plan of getting a farm even though Candy would
still like to do it?
7. Who is Candy talking about when he says “poor bastard”?
Taking a Closer Look
Looking at Cause and Effect. Although many of the events in Chapter 5 may be small, the
consequences are serious. Think especially about the causes and effects of these events. Use
information from Chapter 5 to complete the following chart showing some of these causes and
effects. Remember that an event can sometimes be both a cause and an effect of other events.
CAUSE
EFFECT
Lennie hit the puppy and accidentally killed it.
Lennie hit the puppy and accidentally killed it.
Curley’s wife is lonely.
Curley’s wife says that no one will notice if
Lennie talks to her.
Curley’s wife thought her mother stole the letter
from the man in Hollywood.
Curley’s wife thought her mother stole the letter
from the man in Hollywood.
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Curley isn’t a nice fellow.
Curley’s wife tells Lennie to stop stroking her
hair.
Curley’s wife screams.
Curley’s wife screams.
Curley’s wife struggles and tries to yell.
Candy comes into the barn and finds Curley’s
wife.
George says they can’t let Lennie get away.
Curley wants to shoot Lennie.
Carlson’s gun isn’t in his bag.
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Focus on Literary Concepts: Allusion
In literature, an allusion is a reference to something in literature or history. Writers use
allusion to add an extra layer of meaning to something they are writing by making the reader
think of other important literature or events. The title Of Mice and Men is an example of a
literary allusion. Although readers might think Steinbeck chose the title Of Mice and Men
because of Lennie’s love of petting mice, in fact Steinbeck actually chose the title as an allusion to
a poem called “To a Mouse” written in 1786 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns wrote his
poem “To a Mouse” after being out in a field and seeing a mouse’s nest destroyed by a plow.
Steinbeck takes the title for his book from the most famous lines of the poem.
Putting Ideas Into Practice
A. To a Mouse. Read the last two verses of the poem “To a Mouse.” The original is on the left,
and a modern English translation is on the right.
But, Mousie, thou are no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft a-gley.
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain
For promised joy.
But, Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving that foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Often go astray
And leave us nothing but grief and pain
For promised joy.
Still thou are blest, compared wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e’e
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!
Still you are blessed, compared with me!
Only the present touches you:
But ah! I backward cast my eye
On prospects drear!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!
1. In what ways are mice and men similar and different, according to Burns?
Same:
Different:
2. What is Burns trying to say in these verses - what is his point?
B. What’s in a Title? Think about these questions and prepare to discuss the following
questions with your classmates.
1. Why do you think Steinbeck chose the phrase “of mice and men” for the title of his book?
What meaning does the title give to the book?
2. Originally Steinbeck was going to call the book Something That Happened. Which title do
you prefer? Why?
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