Of Mice and Men: The final
scene
What message does
Steinbeck convey in the
final scene?
What structural patterning is
used in the final scene?
Why show Lennie recalling his dream in
the moments before death?
 Lennie
giggled with happiness, ‘An’ live
on the fatta the lan.’
 What does the dream motif represent to
Lennie?
 Where else do we hear about it in the
novel? Find page ref.
 What message does Steinbeck convey
about the American Dream?
A* paragraph showing understanding of
authorial intention and structural patterning
Steinbeck shows Lennie is in a state of
innocence and fantasy before his death as he
recalls for a final time his dream to ‘live on the
fatta the lan’. This is moving and tragic;
Steinbeck uses this scene to criticise the dream
showing that it is illusory for those vulnerable in
society. Lennie’s dream is a recurring motif first
introduced in chapter one and shows the
cyclical nature of the novel – Lennie is trapped
in a dream that will never materialise; he cannot
escape his fate.
How does Steinbeck want us to feel
towards George for his actions?
 Slim
came directly to George and sat
down beside him, sat very close to him.
‘Never you mind,’ said Slim. ‘A guy got to
sometimes.’ ‘you hadda, George.’
 Why does George ‘got to’? What is the
alternative consequence? Find a quote.
 Which earlier event does the murder of
Lennie echo? Find a quote for this. What is
the effect of this echo?
A* paragraph showing understanding of
authorial intention and structural patterning
Steinbeck uses Slim as his mouthpiece in the final
scene instructing the reader to feel empathy
towards George by justifying his actions by
saying ‘A guy got to sometimes’. Slim recognises
that this is a kinder fate than Curley’s threat to
‘shoot the guts outa that big bastard’. This also
echoes the earlier shooting of Candy’s ‘stiff with
rheumatism’ dog which was a merciful killing
and prepared us for George’s compassionate
but difficult decision. Unlike Candy, who has
Carlson kill the dog, George ends Lennie’s life
himself which shows his courage.
Why end the novel with Carlson’s confusion?

‘Curley and Carlson looked after them [George and
Slim]. And Carlson said: ‘now what the hell ya suppose is
eating’ them two guys?’

How can Curley and & Carlson be seen to contrast
George & Slim? Find quotes from earlier in the novel to
support

George – ch.3 view on ranchmen working on their own?
Slim – Ch.2 view on why ranchmen don’t travel
together?
Curley – ch.3 example of his provocative nature?
Carlson – ch.2 example of his tactless approach to
Candy?



A* paragraph showing understanding of the
theme of friendship and characterisation
Steinbeck concludes the novella with the juxtaposition
of the emotionally cold Carlson and Curley with the
more compassionate George and Slim. Hardened by
years working alone on the ranch, Carlson has lost the
ability to feel and support others. Steinbeck offers the
reader hope that friendship and humanity – as shown
through George, Lennie and Slim -is the only source of
protection and hope in an otherwise brutal and unjust
world.
Re-write this (or write your own) but with crossreferenced quotes to prove your evaluation of
character.