Of Mice and Men page references refer to the new Longman edition. Page(s) Chap. 1 19 What’s happening First description of George and Lennie 23 Dead mouse Lennie has been petting Trouble in Weed referred to (see p. 67 for more detail) George explodes at Lennie and goes on about how easy it would be without Lennie 24 28 (bottom) & 29 31 31 & - 33 34 Chap. 2 38 George convincing L. he must stay with him, also mention of Aunt Clara G telling L about their dream G telling L to look at the area they are camping in and that he should return there if there is any ‘trouble’ Bunk house description 39 Meeting Candy, he has no right hand, old, works as a swamper (cleaner) 41 42 Description of the boss Boss dealing with their arrival 45 Candy and his dog 46 48 & 49, 50 53 Curley appears (the boss’s son) candy gossips about Curley and his wife First intro. of Curley’s wife 54 L impressed by how pretty she is Description of Slim the jerk line skinner (he steers the teams of mules/horses) Carlson, another worker 55 57 Significance We get a picture of what they look like and also how they react, George is careful and checks things out, Lennie does things without thinking (drinking the water.) We are told from the start how Lennie loves soft things, also his strength We realise they had to leave in a hurry and that L. caused trouble We realise George’s frustration with Lennie at times but also see that he feels guilty - if he was on his own would it be so good? 5 lines from bottom on p.29 “His anger left him.....he looked ashamedly at the flames.” Shows George’s sense of responsibility and then it leads on to their dream First time we get the details of their dream, what they have in contrast to other migrant workers - each other Foundation laid for what happens at the end L does get into trouble and returns to this spot. This is where we will meet a lot of the men on the ranch Candy gossips and fills them in on other characters on the ranch (e.g. the stable buck p.40) Shows how lonely he is Boss cannot understand why G speaks for Lennie - he is not used to seeing men travel together like this - see his suspicions on p 43. George lies a little about L in order to protect him Description of dog makes it clear how old the dog is Description, we see how he reacts to Lennie We discover something about the men’s attitudes and views if Curley’s wife Description of her and how she reacts to the men & how they react to her George warns Lennie against Curley’s wife Strong character, understands people, look at his comment on page 57 re men travelling together Talks about Slim’s dog that has had puppies, and he talks about Candy’s dog and the need to 59 & 60 Chap. 3 64 65 - 68 69 George says again he dislikes Curley Find out Slim has said that Lennie can have one of his dog’s puppies George confides in Slim 70 -72 L brings the puppy into the bunk house Carlson on about Candy’s dog 74 - 76 Dog discussion again 77 Crooks (stable buck )- he works with the horses, not allowed to sit and talk in the bunk house Discussion on Curley’s wife and then on to the ‘flop house’ in town G & L talks about their dream again without realising Candy can hear them Candy talking about his dog how he should have shot it himself Tension between Slim and Curley - ends up with Curley hitting Lennie and L. crushing his hand 78 & 79 84 - 89 89 90 - 93 Chap. 4 98 - 99 100 101 - 106 Description of Crooks and his room Crooks explains how he gets treated Conversation between Crooks and Lennie 107 - 109 Candy comes in and Crooks hears about their plans 109 - 115 Curley’s wife comes in 115 George and the others are back get rid of it. Ends with the men having gone to eat - only Candy’s dog left. Seems as if G & L are settling in well and that L is very happy about the puppy. We get the history of why they are together and also the details about what happened in Weed - prepares us for what comes later and shows Slim’s understanding G tells L off and sends him to put the puppy back - reminds us of L stroking soft things We hear how the dog has been Candy’s friend - he is not keen to have the dog put down Dog shot - Candy feels he is outnumbered by the others - clearly very sad and lonely racist treatment of Crooks - reflects the reality of the time - 1930s America during the depression Again shows attitude towards women at the time and especially these working men’s attitudes. Suddenly, with Candy’s offer of joining them and using his money the whole idea of a little place of their own becomes a reality. Parallel between Candy’s dog and Lennie (George will end up shooting L himself and not letting Curley do it) L’s strength - Slim protects L & G by making sure Curley won’t tell his dad what happened. We are reminded of L’s ability to do damage! Tells us a lot about his character and what he is like - explains to us as readers what he is like. We get an insight into the way he gets treated We see Crooks using his power over Lennie teasing him about George, also Crooks realising you can talk to L and your comments are safe with him as he won’t repeat them, he gets insight into L and G’s friendship The sudden excitement - Crooks keen to come in as well, sees a way out of his current existence She uses the power she has as a white woman to threaten Crooks - we learn quite a bit about her and her attitude towards Curley here Chapter ends with Crooks on his own again quite sad, it was an illusion that he could join them and get out of his current situation Chap 5 Sunday 120-121 Lennie in the barn - the puppy is dead prepares us for the fate of Curley’s wife p 122 128 Conversation between Lennie and Curley’s wife 129 Very powerful description, almost as if time is standing still Candy finds the body -calls George George asks for time - Candy to delay telling others for a few minutes We learn a lot about Curley’s wife - she tells us a lot about herself. Description of L.’s panic as she struggles. Evocative use of language 130 - 131 130 133- 135 Chap. 6 140 reaction from others especially Curley and Slim 140 - 143 Note description of landscape same as start of novel. George on his own in the brush - where G had said he should come to 143 - 146 George’s arrival, very calm 146 - 147 George shoots L. while talking about their dream. 148 & 149 last scene - Slim realises what G. has done. The idea that George did not do it out of ‘meanness’ George clearly uses the time to go and get Carlson’s gun - we figure this out later. Candy’s anger at Curley’s wife as he realises their dream is over. Note how George moves slowly and “his feet dragged heavily” p 135 Note sad description of Candy left alone - compare with p. 60 when his dog was left alone in the bunk house. George going over things in his mind, seeing his aunt Clara and then the rabbit - many critics feel this rabbit is the weakest moment in the book Very moving sequence as they go over the lines of what they have ‘I got you and we got each other.....’ The irony is of course that this cannot remain the same, G will end up shooting L and they won’t have each other any more Unlike Candy George does what is the kindest for L. by killing him - the ultimate in friendship, what would L. have instead? We have deep sympathy for G. - Slim understands what has happened as he has compassion and understanding, others not, Carlson doesn’t understand what has happened even.
