Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Study Guide
Name:
Directions: When appropriate, please answer the questions in complete sentences.
Chapter 1
Where did the bus drop the two men off?
What does Lennie do with the water that makes him proud of himself?
What does Lennie “not” have in his pocket?
What did Lennie want to do with this item?
Where are George and Lennie going?
From where are George and Lennie coming?
When they get to where they are going, what does George tell Lennie to do?
Why did George and Lennie leave the last place they were at?
When Lennie goes out to get wood for a fire, what does he bring back that George takes away?
Who used to give Lennie mice?
Why did she stop giving Lennie mice?
What does Lennie want with his dinner that they don’t have?
What does George imply happened in Weed with the girl?
What dream does George and Lennie share?
Where does George tell Lennie to go if he gets in trouble?
Chapter 2
According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?
What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?
Describe the “stable buck.” What physical attributes does he have? What does the boss use him
for?
What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this?
What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?
What is George’s last name?
Who is Curley?
What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand?
Why does Curley’s wife come into the bunkhouse?
What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?
What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?
Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse.
Chapter 3
What does Slim say he would have done to the dog if he hadn’t given it to Lennie?
George says if he were really smart he would be doing what?
What is the story behind why Lennie and George travel together?
What can the reader infer about Lennie’s childhood and family life?
What did George do once that made him stop playing jokes on Lennie?
What does George tell Slim happened in Weed?
What sneaky thing does Lennie try to do?
What reason does Carlson give for wanting Candy’s dog shot?
What does Slim tell Carlson to take with him when goes to shoot Candy’s dog? Why?
Why don’t the guys visit Clara’s house instead of Susy’s?
Why does George say he will go and get a drink but that he isn’t going to pay for a flop?
What does Curley think Slim is doing in the barn?
How did Candy get $250?
What does Candy tell George he wishes he had done?
What does Curley think Lennie is smiling about?
What happens between Curley and Lennie?
Chapter 4
For what reason did Lennie come to the barn?
Where is George?
Who visits Crooks, Candy, and Lennie?
What do we learn about Curley’s wife?
Before Curley’s wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie?
Chapter 5
What day and time is it at the beginning of chapter 5?
What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself?
Why does Lennie think that he might not get to tend the rabbits?
Who visits Lennie in the barn?
According to Curley’s wife, why isn’t anyone going to leave the horseshoe tournament?
According to Curley’s wife, how come she didn’t get into show business?
What can we infer is the reason Curley’s wife married Curley?
What plan does Lennie have to avoid getting in trouble?
For what does Curley’s wife yell at Lennie? How is this ironic?
What did Lennie do to Curley’s wife?
Who finds Curley’s wife?
What does Carlson think has happened to his gun?
Chapter 6
Where is Lennie hiding?
With whom does Lennie have his first imaginary conversation?
With whom/what does Lennie have his second imaginary conversation?
What story does George tell Lennie?
What does he do while telling him this story?
Of Mice and Men Literary Terms
While reading the novel, find three examples of each of the literary terms listed below. When providing
examples, you will need to cite. This means writing down the page number from which you obtained the
quote/example, as well as correctly quoting!
Example of citing a quote: “The bunk house was a long, rectangular building” (17).
A few easy steps to follow while citing…
1. Write down the quote using quotation marks even if it is not in quotation marks in the book. Anytime
you use words/phrases from the book, you need to put quotation marks around them.
***Notice that there is no punctuation mark at the end of the sentence. The punctuation mark goes
after the parenthesis. The only punctuation marks you include in a quote from the book are
exclamation points and question marks. (Example: “You never seen Slim talkin’ to her?” (55). Even when
there is a question mark or exclamation point, you still need a period after the parenthesis.)
2. Write down the page number on which the quote is found. This number goes in parenthesis. You do
not use commas, page, pp, pg, or anything else inside the parenthesis.
3. Put a period after the page number.
If you have further questions about how to properly cite your quotes, go to the Lakes Eagles Homepage
(www.lakeseagles.com), use the “Academics” drop bar to click on the “English” link, and look it up!
Alliteration
Definition: The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of each word in a series. (Example: “Sally
sings something sweet every Thursday at choir practice.” The sounds being repeated is sssss. Another
example: “Once while I was in class, I fell asleep!” The sound being repeated in wwww. Even though “Once”
begins with an “O” the sound is the same as a “W”.)
Examples:
1)
2)
3)
Hyperbole
Definition: An extreme exaggeration. (Example: “I fought one million students just to get to my locker this
morning!” Another example: “I am stronger than sixteen ninjas and an elephant combine.”)
Examples:
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3)
Personification
Definition: Giving human characteristics to an inanimate object. (Example: “The sun smiled on the flowers
below.” The sun does not have a mouth and cannot smile; therefore, by saying that the sun is smiling you are
giving it a human quality.)
Examples:
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3)
Metaphor
Definition: A comparison between two unlike objects without using the word “like” or “as”. (Example: “My
brother is a monkey.” This comparison insinuates that my brother is a crazy animal.)
Examples:
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3)
Simile
Definition: A comparison between two unlike objects using the word “like” or “as”. (Example: “Her hair looks
like a bird’s nest.” This example insinuates the girl’s hair is tangled like twigs in a bird’s nest.)
Examples:
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Imagery
Definition: Words that appeal to the five senses. (Example: “The cafeteria let off a pungent odor that was so
strong you could taste the burnt chicken nuggets from down the hall.” Another example: “While relaxing at
the beach, I fell asleep to the soothing lull of the waves against the shore.” Both of these examples paint a
picture with words that allow the reader to imagine the scene.)
Examples:
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3)
Foreshadowing
Definition: Hints or clues about events to come. (Example: “It was a dark and stormy night…” This
foreshadows something gloomy or creepy that is going to happen in the story. Another example: “The worst
thing that could happen is that you die of boredom!” This foreshadows the possibility that a character will
suffer some tragic fate.)
Examples:
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3)