Cornell Notes
Topic/Objective: Of Mice and Men Chapter 2
(Allusions, Idioms, Vocabulary, Theme, Symbolism)
Name:
Class/Period:
Date:
Essential Question: If you were George and Lennie would you stay and work on the ranch after meeting the Boss,
Curley, and Curley’s wife? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Questions:
Create Vocabulary Cards
for the words on the right.
Notes: Vocabulary:
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ticking (n.): the cloth case for a mattress. In this instance, the cloth case was made
from burlap.
swamper (n.): a handyman; someone who performs odd jobs often involving cleaning
graybacks (n.): lice; parasites. Lice are small, wingless insects that live off the blood of
other animals
stable buck (n.): a stable is a building where horses are kept. A buck, in this case, is a
derogatory word for a black man. A staple buck, then, would be a black man who works
in a stable.
dragfooted (adj.) lame; dragging a lame foot
pugnacious (adj.): eager and ready to fight
ominously (adv.): in a threatening way
jerkline skinner: A skinner is the driver of a team of mules. A jerkline skinner is the
main driver of a mule team who handles the jerkline (reins).
Allusions:
 "On his head was a soiled brown Stetson hat...."
 " 'You got your work slips ' "
 " 'Well, that glove's fulla vaseline.' "
 " 'An' I bet he's eatin' raw eggs and writin' to the patent medicine houses.' "(eating
raw eggs made men stronger; getting medication through the mail without
prescription)
 " '...we'll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold.' "
 "His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple
dancer."(dancer from India or South East Asia)
How does the use of
Allusions add to the
chapter?
Idioms:
 " 'He was sore as hell when you wasn't here to go out this morning ' "
 " 'We don't want no pants rabbits ' "
 " 'Drink hearty boys' "
 " 'I ain't got the poop no more.' "
 " 'Bus driver give us a bum steer... ' "
 " 'He can rassel grain bags... ' "
 " 'I said what stake you got in this guy?' "
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" 'I told his old lady I'd take care of him' "
" 'You was gonna leave your big flapper shut and leave me do the talkin'.' "
" 'You was pokin' your big ears into our business... ' "
" 'Seen my old man?' "
" 'Say, what the hell's he got on his shoulder' "
" 'He done quite a bit in the ring ' "
" 'He's alla time picking scraps with big guys.' "
" 'You seen guys like that, ain't you? Always scrappy?' "
" 'Ever'body says what a game guy Curley is. And s'pose he does the same thing and
gets licked.' "
" '...and maybe they gang up on the big guy.' "
" 'Won't ever get canned 'cause his old man's the boss.'"
" 'Well -- she got the eye.' "
" 'Maybe that's why Curley's pants is full of ants.' "
" 'If he tangles with you, Lennie, we're gonna get the can' "
'Well, that won't do you no good if Curley wants to plug himself up for a fighter' "
" 'I seen 'em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her.'
" '...she's a rattrap if I ever seen one.' "
" 'You let Curley take the rap.' "
" 'For two bits I'd shove out of here ' "
" 'If we can get jus' a few dollars in the poke we'll shove off... ' "
" 'She slang her pups last night' "
" 'That's the most kind I seen around here when she was in heat
How does the use of
figurative language help
make this chapter more
interesting, and create
visual images that help us
relate to what is being
said?
Setting: Draw the setting for this chapter :
Symbolisms:
Themes:
Conflicts:
Characters:
Summary:
Questions:
Notes: