Of Mice and Men
Section Two
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Plot summary (Section Two)
Complete the plot summary by filling in the blanks.
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Vocabulary
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Candy
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Candy
1. Write down one quotation that shows Candy
like to gossip. Page 29.
“Well – she got the eye… I seen her give Slim
the eye.”
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Character study: Curley
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Curley
1.
What is Curley’s reaction when he first sees Lennie? Write
down a quotation from bottom of page 26/top of page 27 to
show this.
“He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually
bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists”
2. Can you explain why Curley might react in this way? Write down a
quotation from Page 28 to show this)
“Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time
picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em
because he ain’t a big guy.”
3. Is Curley respectful towards his wife? Give a reason for your
answer from Page 29
Curley is extremely disrespectful to his wife: “Well that glove’s
fulla vaseline…Curley says he’s keepin’ that hand soft for his
wife.”
4. What does George think of Curley’s attitude? Write down a
quotation from Page 29 to show what George thinks.
“That’s a dirty thing to tell around, George said.”
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Character study: Curley’s wife
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Curley’s Wife
1. a) How does Candy speak about Curley’s
wife?
b) Write down a quotation from page 29 to
show this.
1 a) Candy speaks negatively about Curley’s
wife and he says she is flirtatious and
unfaithful.
b) “Well, I think Curley’s married…a tart”
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Curley’s Wife
a) Describe how Curley’s wife looks.
b) Write down a quotation from page 32 to show this.
2
a) Would you expect anyone to be dressed this way on a ranch?
b) Give a reason for your answer.
3.
Write down a quotation from George from the top of page 33 to show how he reacts to
Curley’s wife.
“ Jesus, what a tramp…Bet she’d clear out for twenty bucks”
1.
4
a) How does Lennie look at Curley’s Wife when she first appears on P32
Lennie stares at her body and looks her up and down.
b) What does Lennie think about Curley’s wife?
Lennie thinks Curly’s wife is pretty
c) Write down a quotation from page 33 to support your answer to question B
“Gosh, she was purty” or “Lennie, watched her fascinated”
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Character study: Slim
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Setting the scene
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Theme: Marginalisation
As you read through the novel, notice how many of the
characters seem to be underdogs. A more sophisticated
way of articulating is to say that they are marginalised
by society.
People are often marginalised because they are
different from what is considered ‘normal’.
People who are marginalised are denied power and
discriminated against. They are often insulted or
excluded (pushed to the ‘margins’ of society) and are
sometimes treated very brutally.
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Theme: Marginalisation
The swamper’s old dog is a metaphor for all the
underdogs in the society depicted in the novel.
(Used in this sense, ‘metaphor’ means a symbol.)
So far, which other characters do you think are
underdogs? Give reasons for your answer!
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Questions
Is Curley’s wife really looking for her husband? If
not, what is she doing in the bunk house?
Why does George tell Lennie to stay away from
Curley’s wife?
Curley’s wife is never given a name of her own.
Why do you think this is?
Paying particular attention to the exchanges
between George and Candy, reread the passage
from ‘ “Say, what the hell you doin’ listenin’?” ’ to
‘He felt safe now, and he spoke more confidently.’
Why do you think the old swamper feels so
vulnerable?
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Predictions
What events do you think the following quotations might
foreshadow?
‘ “You keep away from Curley, Lennie.” ’
(George)
‘Lennie still stared at the doorway where she
had been. “Gosh, she was purty.” ’
‘ “Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old
dog and give him one of the pups to
raise up?” ’ (Carlson)
‘ “Look, Lennie, if you get in any kind of
trouble, you remember what I told you to
do?” ’ (George)
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