Chapter 1

In the beginning of the novel starts with a rich description of
the physical setting. Explain the effect on the mood of the
novel by beginning the narrative with the description. What
is Steinbeck trying to suggest about the area by the Salinas
River?

Compare and contrast the two men who come into the the
clearing by the river. Why do you think Steinbeck
introduces the men by describing their physical features,
highlighting the fact that one is small and one is huge?
What can the reader infer about the two men based on their
descriptions?
Chapter 1

Even though Lennie’s mentality keeps him from fully
understanding the world around him, he is very sensitive to
George’s feelings. Describe an incident that shows Lennie’s
compassion for George.

Explain the idiom, “Live of the fatta the lan’”

Identify two prominent themes or motifs from chapter 1.
Chapter 2

The old man tells George and Lennie about a blacksmith
who used to work at the ranch and suddenly quit. Quote
what the old man says was the reason for his departure.
What does the old man’s story seem to suggest about the
men who work on these ranches?

Why does George not let Lennie speak to the boss?
Chapter 2

Who is Curley? What does it mean when Candy says he is
“handy?” What kind of person is Curley? Use specific
examples from the text to support your claim.

What does the reader learn about Curley’s wife? Why might
this be important to the story?
Chapter 2

Throughout the chapter, the reader is introduced to the
majority of the characters who will play a role in Of Mice and
Men. How are the characters connected? What can we learn
about Migrant workers during the Great Depression
through the narration of the chapter?
Chapter 3

Why did George at one time play jokes on Lennie? Why did
he stop? What do we learn about the interdependence of
George and Lennie?

Why does George reveal to Slim what happened to them in
Weed? What is Slim’s response?

What do Slim and Whit discover in a pulp magazine? Why
is this important?
Chapter 3

“His voice trailed off. It was silent outside. Carlson’s
footsteps died away. The silence came into the room. And
the silence lasted” (Steinbeck, 48). Why does the image of
silence play an important role at this point in the novel?
Who is literally be silenced? Who is metaphorically being
silenced, and what role does each man play in the silence?
Chapter 3

When Curley comes into the bunkhouse, who is he looking
for? What he discovers that Slim is not there, what does he
assume? What do we learn about Curley’s relationship with
is wife?

How are the theme of survival and the power struggle
between the weak and the strong highlighted in the chapter?
Chapter 3

Why does Curley pick on Lennie? Why do you think
George encourages Lennie to fight back when Curley hits
him?

Throughout the fight there are many animal references
referring to either Lennie or Curley. Find evidence from the
text and explain how the animal references connect to what
the reader already knows about the characters. How do the
descriptions of Curley change throughout the fight?
Chapter 4

At this point in the novel, the reader has been introduced to
the main characters in the plot. How would you describe
the characters?

Steinbeck spends a great deal of time describing Crooks’
living quarters. What does the reader gain through this
description? What do we learn about Crooks?
Chapter 4

Describe the interaction between Crooks and Lennie. How
are these characters similar? How are they different? What
can each character learn from the other?

Characterize Curley’s wife as she is presented in the novel.
How is the reader supposed to feel about her?

How is the idea of power and powerlessness developed at
the beginning and at the end of this chapter?
Chapter 5

Despite the descriptive setting of the barn and the quiet
Sunday afternoon, this chapter begins with an accident.
Explain what happened and why Lennie is so worried.

When Curley’s wife is trying to console Lennie, she states:
“You can get another one easy. The whole country is fulla
mutts” (Steinbeck, 87). How might this statement be
applied to more than just animals?
Chapter 5

How does the reader know that Curley’s wife does not
understand Lennie’s mental challenges? How does she
respond to Lennie’s explanation for why he likes rabbits?

Why does Lennie panic and what happens as a result of his
panic? How is this similar to events earlier in the story?
Chapter 5

Explain the following image from the novel: “And the
meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache
for attention were all gone from her face. She was very
pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young”
(Steinbeck, 92-3).

What is the decision George makes about the girl’s death?
What does Candy want to do and why?
Chapter 5

How does George keep the men from finding Lennie right
away? How do we know that this is not where Lennie
would have gone?

What do the men suppose happened to Carlson’s gun? Why
is this hard to believe?
Chapter 6

Explain the image of the heron awaiting its prey and its
connection to Lennie and his circumstances.

How can we explain the hallucinations that Lennie has
while he is waiting for George?

How does George know where to find Lennie?
Chapter 6

Explain the symbolism in George’s final telling of the farm
story.

Earlier in the novel, what foreshadows the final events
between Lennie and George?

Why do you think George shoots Lennie?
Chapter 6

Why do you think George lies to the men about the events
that led up to Lennie’s death?

Who realizes what really happened between Lennie and
George?

Explain the significance of the final statement in the novel.