Of Mice and Men
By John Steinbeck
In following photograph….
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1). Write on a separate sheet of paper, which you will
hand-in.
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2). Identify three (3) words that come to mind when
looking at this photo.Value evidence by explaining what
you saw in the photo that prompted you to think of these
words.
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3). Create a one paragraph internal monologue for the
woman in the photo.
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4). Once you are finished, share with a partner.
Migrant Mother, Nipoma, California, 1936, printed
later
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Iconic photo that captured the tone and mood of the
Great Depression.
Dust Bowl – 1930 – 1936
Combination of drought and severe wind erosion
Displaced many landowners mostly from Oklahoma
(“Okies”)
Migrated and worked their way to California
Themes:
1). The American Dream
2). The Predatory Nature of Humans
3). Loneliness and the Need for Companionship
(Brotherhood) – Identity and Group/Community
Discussion

What does the American Dream look like today? Who is
able to attain today’s American Dream?
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Explain how the idea of the predatory nature in humans
manifests itself today? Do you agree with this idea?
Explain.
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How important is the need for companionship for
individuals? What solution do you have for those who
cannot find companionship?
Chapter 1 (pages 1-16)
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Indirect Characterization (p. 2-5)
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How does Steinbeck demonstrate the theme of
companionship (brotherhood) in this chapter?
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Do you think George is wrong for saying that he
does not want Lennie around? (11)
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What did Lennie get in trouble for in Weed?
Chapter 1 (continued)
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Who do you think is more dedicated to the other,
Lennie or George? (12)

>Compare
and contrast
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What is George and Lennie’s American Dream?
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What does George order Lennie to do at the end of
Chapter 1?
Chapter 1 (continued)
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Predictions:
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Do you think Lennie will have to follow
along with George’s orders about going
hiding in the brush?
>
As a reader, how confident are you in
Lennie’s abilities?
> Foreshadow
Literary Terms
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From what point of view is this story told?
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1st Person – “I” , “We” , “Our”
2nd Person – Dialogue Only
3rd Person:
 Omniscient – Narrator knows all events and
characters’ feelings and thoughts.
 > Behind the Scenes
 Limited – Narrator only knows a single
character’s feelings and thoughts.
Literary Terms (continued)
 What
are some of the conflicts
evident in Of Mice and Men?
 Man
vs. Society
 Man vs. Nature
 Man vs. Himself
 Man vs. Another Man
Of Mice and Men
Chapter 2
Literary Terms

In what genre is Of Mice and Men written?
A. Historical
B. Non-Fiction
C. Fantasy
D. Fiction

Who is the main protagonist in Of Mice and Men?
A. Curley
B. George
C. The Boss
D. Lennie
Grammar
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Identify the Part of Speech of the underlined word in each
sentence:
1). “…this Curly punk is gonna get hurt if he messes with
Lennie” (26).
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Verb
2). “You see that glove on his left hand” (27)?
A. Preposition
B. Verb
C. Adverb
Grammar

Identify the Part of Speech of the underlined word in each
sentence:
1). “Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all…”(3).
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Verb
2). “His [George’s]anger left him suddenly”
A. Noun
B. Verb
C. Adverb
Vocabulary
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Choose the correct vocabulary word that best describes
the underlined words sentence:
1). My uncle was kind-hearted and spoke
so nicely to others.
A. alleviate
B. idealize
C. eclectic
D. benevolent
Vocabulary (continued)
2). The young girl built up an
amazing image of Robert
Pattington before realizing his drug
habit.
A. alleviate
B. eclectic
C. aesthetic
D. idealize
Chapter 2 (17 – 38)

Directly Characterize the following people. Support
your answer with evidence from chapter 2:
The
Boss (22-23)
Curley (25-26)
Candy (24-28)
Curley’s Wife (31)
Slim (33-36)
Chapter 2 (continued)
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What does Lennie get all excited about towards
the end of chapter 2?
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Symbolism
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Steinbeck added the dog to the story for a reason.
Do you think the dog is symbol for something? Do
you think it stands for one of the motifs?
Of Mice and Men
Chapter 3
Kewpie Doll Lamp….huh?
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Kewpie Doll
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Created by Illustrator
Rose O’Neill in 1909 in a
dream
Became popular in 1911
Rose led a sad life
 Had two divorces,
husbands would spend
her money gained from
illustrations
 During the Great
Depression, O’Neill lost
EVERYTHING
Kewpie Doll Lamp (continued)
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In cheerleading, this is called a “Kewpie”:
Kewpie Doll Lamp (continued)
 Symbolism:
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represents the wasting away of humanity
lack of dreams
“Like a man under the possession of a
hypnotist, we would all head to the bar, spend
every single cent we had, thereby putting us
right back in the captivity of our task-master
as we sought enough money to spend more
time with the Kewpie, and continue the cycle
of our dependence on her spell” (unknown)
Small Group Discussion
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Break up into groups of no more than three (3).
Designate specific roles:
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Recorder and In-Text Citations Manager
Textual Supporter
Presenter
However, ALL are expected to be engaged in their small group
discussion.
Small Group Discussion Questions
Pages 38 – 65 (Chapter 3)
 1). How would you characterize Slim at this point? Explain.
 2). Do you agree with Carlson’s opinion and actions towards
Candy’s dog, and how does this connect with Paula Span’s article
“The New Old Age”.
 3). Evaluate the effectiveness of Steinbeck’s ability to illustrate
tension within a scene.
 4). What is Steinbeck’s view of women and how is it demonstrated
in this chapter?
 5). Why is Candy so interested in George and Lennie’s American
dream, and how does George react to it?
 6). What important message does Candy give George in this chapter,
and why is it such an important message?
 7). Explain why Curley felt the need to pick on Lennie. Be sure to
mention how the other characters played a part in it, as well.
Of Mice and Men
Chapter 4
Discussion Questions
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John Steinbeck Quotes:
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“Oppression does not come only from the hands of the strong or the powerful.”
“The most visible kind of strength—that is used to oppress others—is itself born of
weakness.”
Explain how these quotes connect to Chapter 4.
How would you characterize Crooks, and why do you think he is this way?
So far, who do you believe is the loneliest character, most in need of
companionship? Explain with quotes from the book.
Of Mice and Men
Chapter 5 - End
Discussion Questions
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5.
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7.
8.
9.
What is revealed about Curley’s Wife’s American Dream?
Which theme do you think Curely’s wife demonstrates more: “the loneliness
and the need for companionship” or “the predatory nature of humans?”
Explain.
Do you believe Lennie is a selfish individual? Explain.
Do you believe Lennie is a an individual who is capable of making decisions on
his own?
After Curley’s wife is killed, Steinbeck writes, “She was very pretty and simple,
and her face was sweet and young. Now her roughed cheeks and her
reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly” (93). What is
Steinbeck illustrating here?
At the end of chapter five, “Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes
with his arm” (98). What is Steinbeck illustrating here?
Why do you think George chooses not to “give Lennie hell,” which is contrary
to how he normally would react to Lennie’s setbacks?
Do you agree with George’s actions at the end of the book? Why was it
necessary/unnecessary? How does it connect to Candy and his dog?
Do you think Steinbeck provides his audience with hope at the end of the
book?