Comparing and Contrasting
Of Mice and Men: The Movie
Choose one section and take notes addressing the questions/statements as you view the
movie.
Section I
There are several directorial choices that Gary Sinise made that differ from the
novel. Comment on these choices.
1.
In the film, the director shows us “the incident in Weed” differently from how we
find out in the book. What’s different? Why do you think he chose to do it that
way? How does it change the story?
2. The book begins with the “stage” set by the pond. In the film, we see George on a
train first. Why would the director do this? What is the director telling us about
George’s life?
3. What do you think of the director’s choice of Sharilynn Fenn to play Curley’s
wife? Does she look the way you imagined her in the book? Whom would you
have chosen?
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Section II
There are several scenes added to the movie in which Curley’s wife talks to George.
These scenes are not in the book, or they appear differently in the book.
4. Briefly describe at least two of these scenes.
5. How do these new scenes change or add to your opinion of Curley’s wife? What
do they show the audience about her? Why do you think the director (or
screenwriter) chose to add those scenes?
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Section III
Although the plot has the same ending in both the book and the movie, the actual
ending moments of each piece are different. The movie ends with a flashback; the
book ends with dialogue.
6. What does the flashback show?
7. How does the flashback leave the audience feeling at the end of the movie?
8. Does that feeling match the feeling at the end of the book? Why do you think the
director chose to use a different ending rather than just showing exactly what’s in
the book?
9. What is the line of dialogue that ends the book?
10. What does that line tell us about the speaker?
11. What feeling does that line leave the reader with? How does it make you feel
when he says that?
Graphic Organizer
Movie
Book