Theme Study
Dreams and Plans
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus carefully on
meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative interpretations.
(Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think / feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the text. Look for
comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how characters change throughout
the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points,
finding quotations to support your ideas:

Many of the characters in the novel have dreams and plans for the
future. George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife all aspire to
something. For these characters, it is these dreams which keep them
going. Consider each character’s dream: where does their dream come
from? What happens to their dream? Consider:
o Lennie and George’s farm – independence, no bullying or slave
labour
o Curley’s boxing
o His wife’s acting
o Pulp magazines
o Candy’s “retirement”

How does the theme of dreams fit in with the larger theme of The
American Dream? What is Steinbeck’s overall message about the
American Dream?

The title of the novel is taken from a Robert Burns poem which says;
‘The best laid schemes o’ mice and men often go wrong.’ Why did
Steinbeck choose this title?

How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?

Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this
theme? How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this theme?

How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
Friendship and Loneliness
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus
carefully on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be
awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative
interpretations. (Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think /
feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the
text. Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how
characters change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points,
finding quotations to support your ideas:
 George and Lennie are unusual because they ‘string along together’,
even though their friendship is threatened by Lennie’s behaviour. The
other characters tend to be alone, isolated, because of their lifestyle.
Consider these characters in terms of friendship and loneliness:
o George
o Lennie
o Curley
o Curley’s Wife
o Crooks
o Candy
o Slim
 What do you think Steinbeck is saying about the importance of
friendship in the novel?
 What is Steinbeck’s overall message about loneliness?
 How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?
 Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this
theme? How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this
theme?
 How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
Power
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus carefully
on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative interpretations.
(Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think / feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the text.
Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how characters
change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points, finding
quotations to support your ideas:

The novel explores the issue of power through many characters. Consider all
the characters in the novel, exploring: Who has power over whom in the
novel? What are the effects of this power?

What do you think Steinbeck is saying about power in the novel?

How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?

Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this theme?
How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this theme?

How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
Prejudice and Protest
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus
carefully on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be
awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative
interpretations. (Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think /
feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the
text. Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how
characters change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points, finding
quotations to support your ideas:
 The novel explores the issue of PREJUDICE AND PROTEST through
many characters. Consider how these characters are used to explore
this theme:
o Crooks
o Curley’s Wife
o Lennie
o Lennie and George
o Candy
 What do you think Steinbeck is saying about prejudice and protest in
the novel?
 How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?
 Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this
theme? How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this
theme?
 How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
Fate, Destiny and the American
Dream
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus carefully
on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative interpretations.
(Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think / feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the text.
Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how characters
change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points, finding
quotations to support your ideas:
 The title of the novel appears to be taken from a poem by Robert Burns (1756-96)
called “To a Mouse”:
The best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft agley
And leave us nought but grief and pain
For promised joy!
“Gang aft agley” means “often go wrong”. Thus, George and Lennie’s best laid plans
often go wrong, leaving nothing but grief instead of joy. The irony of this is that we
all need dreams in order to get through the hard times but Steinbeck doesn’t seem
to suggest that we should give up our dreams even if we are unlikely to achieve
them. What do you think Steinbeck is saying about dreams, fate and destiny in the
novel? Consider this question in terms of key characters:
-
George
Lennie
Curley’s Wife
Candy
Curley
Whit

What is Steinbeck’s message about the American Dream?

How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?

Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this theme?
How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this theme?

How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
The Working Man
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus carefully
on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative interpretations.
(Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think / feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the text.
Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how characters
change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points, finding
quotations to support your ideas:

‘Of Mice and Men’ offers an insight into the lives of the Working Man.
Steinbeck creates portraits of the life these men led and the types of
characters living this life. Although the characters of the novel have much in
common in terms of their financial hardship and migratory lifestyles,
Steinbeck actually presents quite distinct characters. It could be said that
each character represents a ‘type’ of person, as if each character shows how
this lifestyle can form people into different shapes. Consider these ideas in
terms of all the following characters:
 The boss comes from a higher social order
 Curley, the boss’s son
 George – quick-witted
 Lennie – slow
 Slim – dignified
 Crooks – cynical
 Whit – superficial
 Carlson – brutal
 Candy – fatalistic

What is Steinbeck’s message about the working classes in America during the
Great Depression?

How does this theme change and develop throughout the novel?

Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this theme?
How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this theme?

How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
Theme Study
Death
Your task is to explore this theme throughout the novel. You should focus carefully
on meeting the AOs for this paper. In the exam, marks will be awarded for:
 Squeezing quotes
 Analysing language and structure, thinking about alternative interpretations.
(Perhaps this means… / Some readers may think / feel…)
 Making links between themes, characters and language use within the text.
Look for comparisons and links (Steinbeck’s typical style / how characters
change throughout the novel etc)
To explore this theme, you need to consider the following points, finding
quotations to support your ideas:

Look at the table below and explore the ideas within each box, with
quotations.

How does the theme of death change and develop throughout the novel?

Does the ending of the novel offer any hint of positive aspects of this theme?
How does Steinbeck leave the reader thinking about this theme?

How does this theme link in with other key themes in the novel?
DEATH
Candy and his Dog
Shot by Carlson for
being smelly and old
Candy says he should
have shot his dog himself
Animals that die in the novel
Mainly at Lennie's hand. He crushes
everything he is trusted with.
Candy is devistated by this
loss and looks to Lennie
and George for comfort
Lennie is warned about his
power by George
The mouse
at the start
of the novel
The puppy
near the
end of the
novel
Curley's wife
At the end
of the novel
Lennie's death
The end of the novel provides
no other way out for Lennie.
George kills Lennie
to save him from torture
and from himself.
Is George
a murderer?