Of Mice and Men Chapters 5-6
Short Answer Questions
Chapter 5
1.
What is Lennie hiding in the barn?
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2. Why did Curley’s wife come to see Lennie?
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3. What did Curley’s wife tell Lennie?
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4. What happens in the barn?
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5. What is George’s reaction to the barn incident?
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6. What is Curley’s reaction to the barn incident?
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Chapter 6
1.
How does George and Lennie’s relationship change?
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2. Who is the only one who really understands what George did?
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Please answer the following questions thoroughly and in complete sentences.
1.) How did you like the ending of the novel? Explain.
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2.) What was your reaction when George killed Lennie? Explain.
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3.) Why did George kill Lennie? Explain.
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4.) Was George justified in killing Lennie? Explain.
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Literary Terms: Plot Structure
1. Identify the Climax of the story.
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2. Identify the Rising Action of the story.
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3. Identify the Resolution of the story.
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Irony:
Give three examples of irony (either verbal, situational, or dramatic) that you find in the novel. Be sure your example is
complete and give the page number in parentheses at the end.
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Give three examples of symbolism that you find in the novel. Name the idea or thing and what it stands for. Give the page
number in parentheses at the end of the example.
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Theme - Of Mice & Men focuses on the theme of FRIENDSHIP/PROTECTION.
List three examples of how the theme of friendship/protection is illustrated in the plot of Of Mice & Men. Be very
specific.
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Give two more examples of theme that you find in the novel. Be sure your example is complete and give the page number
in parentheses at the end. From what you have read in this novel, what do you think Steinbeck is trying to say about the
nature of human beings? Think about the concepts of friendship, belonging, trust, dreams, loneliness, mental impairment
and discrimination.
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Allusion
While some students may think that the title Of Mice and Men comes from the fact that Lennie likes to pet mice
and other soft things, the title is really taken from the poem “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns. After accidentally
turning up a mouse’s nest while he was plowing in 1785, he wrote an ode to this mouse, expressing his sympathy
for the mouse and his home.
[A mouse has been disturbed by the poet, who speaks to it philosophically. These are the last two verses.]
Scottish Version
Modern English Version
36
But Mousie, thou are no thy lane,
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But, Mousie, you are not alone
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In proving foresight may be vain:
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In proving foresight may be vain
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The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
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The best-laid plans of mice and men
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Gang aft agley,
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Often go astray,
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An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
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And leave us nothing but grief and pain
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For promis’d joy!
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For promised joy
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46
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Still thou art 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!
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43
44
45
46
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Still you are blessed, compared with me.
You are only affected by the present.
But ah, I cast my eye backwards
On dreary prospects
And though I cannot see the future
I guess and fear!
Directions: After reading the excerpt from Robert Burns’ poem, answer the following questions.
I.
The author’s attitude toward the mouse is best described as:
a. sympathetic
c. apathetic
b. skeptical
d. unattached
II.
Which statement best describes the theme of this poem?
a. Men are superior to mice and other small creatures.
b. Life is made up of the simple moments.
c. Nature may not always be around, so we should appreciate it while we can.
d. Even the most well-constructed plans can fail.
III.
Why do you think Burns wrote this poem? What do you think is the purpose of the poem?
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IV.
In a detailed paragraph or more, explain what the connection is between the novella and the poem. Use
specific examples from both the poem and the novella to support your response. Be prepared to read your
response aloud.
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V.
Many of us look back on our lives and, although we may have had the best intentions or plans, things did not
work out the way we wanted them to, for one reason or another. Think about a time that you had planned for
something to turn out one way, and it ended up another. What was your reaction? How did you adapt to the
situation? How are you dealing with the situation now? Would you have done anything differently, knowing
what you know now?
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Characterization
Character
Direct
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
Indirect
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
George
“The first man was small and quick, dark of face,
with restless eyes and sharp, strong features.”
Lennie
Character
Direct
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
Indirect
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
Candy
Curley
Character
Direct
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
Indirect
Characterization
What does the above
quotation reveal about the
character?
Curley’s Wife
Slim
The boss says about George: “Well, I never seen
one guy take so much trouble for another guy.”