Study Questions
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Section One:
1/ What words does Steinbeck use to convey Lennie’s animal like qualities?
2/ Why does Steinbeck describe the action of Lennie’s hands?
3/ What is George’s attitude toward Lennie in this section? Why does he stay with Lennie?
4/ Explain the connection between Lennie’s mouse and what happened in Weed.
5/ Describe George’s dreams in this section.
6/ What suggests that the dream of the farm is unrealistic?
7/Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.
Section Two:
1/ Most of the opening paragraphs of this section consist of a realistic description of the bunkhouse. What detail
suggests that the ranch hands have a “romantic” side?
2/ How does the account of Whitey’s quitting contribute to the book’s mood of isolation and disconnection?
3/ Why is the stable buck set apart from the other men?
4/ Why is Lennie’s last name inappropriate? In what way could it be considered appropriate?
5/ Why is the boss suspicious of George and Lennie?
6/ What explanation is given for Lennie’s mental condition? Is it accurate?
7/ What is Candy’s attitude toward Curley?
8/ What is Candy’s opinion of Curley’s wife? Does it seem justified?
9/ What kind of person is Slim?
10/ What is the significance of Slim’s and Carlson’s comments about dogs?
11/ Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.
Section Three:
1/ What does George’s conversation with Slim reveal about his past treatment of Lennie?
2/ Why does George trust Slim?
3/ What is George’s analysis of Lennie’s attack on the girl in Weed? Does it seem probable?
4/ Analyze Carlson’s reasons for and Candy’s reasons against shooting Candy’s dog.
5/ Why does George decline Whit’s invitation to visit the brothel?
6/ How is George’s dream farm like a “Garden of Eden”? Is it a realistic dream?
7/ What comparisons does Candy make between himself and his dog?
8/ What does Lennie’s fight with Curley show the ranch hands? What are the men likened to?
9/ Give examples of foreshadowing.
Section Four:
1/ What does the description of Crooks’ room reveal about Crooks?
2/ Why is Crooks’ name appropriate?
3/ Why does Crooks allow Lennie to enter his room?
4/ How do Crook’s words to Lennie about loneliness reinforce this theme in the novel?
5/ What is Crook’s reaction to the dream of the farm?
6/ How do the bosses exploit the workers? How do the men dream of getting free of their bosses?
7/ How does the behavior of Curley’s wife seem deliberately designed to provoke the men?
8/ What motives does Steinbeck suggest for her behavior?
9/ Stop at this point and make a prediction for what you think will happen in the story.
Section Five:
1/ How is Lennie’s treatment of his dead puppy typical of his character?
2/ What does Curley’s wife dream of? Is her dream any more realistic than the others?
3/ How does Curley’s wife feel about Curley?
4/ Why does Lennie touch Curley’s wife?
5/ How does Lennie react to her fear? Why does he react this way?
6/ How does Lennie react to what he has done?
7/ How does George’s reaction to the murder relate to his belief in the dream?
8/ How does Curley react? How does Slim react? Who wins out?
Section Six:
1/ Describe Lennie’s state of mind as he goes to hide in the brush.
2/ The description of Lennie’s death recalls another event in the novel. What is it?
3/ What does this parallel reveal about George’s motives?
4/ Explain George’s last remarks to Lennie?
5/ Why does George lie about the gun?
6/ Why does Slim treat George as he does?
7/ Explain the significance of the last lines of the novel.
Final Projects:
Choose one of the following options for a final project:
1- Write an account of the murder and the posse’s pursuit of Lennie as it might appear in a local newspaper. Bear in mind
that any such account would be based on the testimony of men such as George, Curley, and Slim.
2- Based on George’s description of the farm, make a diagram of it, showing how each acre is allotted. Make it as practical as
possible for supporting three people, or indicate why it is not practical.
3- Illustrate through painting, drawing, or a collage, or another visual medium a scene from the novel. Some suggestions: a
general scene in the bunkhouse, Curley’s fight with Lennie, Curley’s wife in Crooks’ room. Write one page on what emotion
or tension you were trying to portray and why the scene and the emotion/tension are important to the book.
4- Create a picture of George and Lennie, stressing their relationship and their contrasting physical features. You may use
whatever visual medium you wish. Write one page on what aspects of their relationship you were trying to portray and why
you chose them.
5- Write an essay comparing the conditions of migrant workers in the 1930s to migrant workers today.