Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Disability in Of Mice and Men
 In your own words, what is the definition of a ‘disability’?
A disability is…
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How can people be disabled?
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Who has a disability in Of Mice and Men?
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How are people with disabilities treated in today’s society?
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 How were people with disabilities treated in the 1930s?
In groups, each one of you will pick an internet research task from the three below.
You will then all complete Task 4. You will have to feedback to each other on what
you have learnt. Additionally, you will need to feedback to the class.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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 Task 1: How were disabilities looked
at in the past?
 Read the following article from
1937 about a mother who killed her
son because he was an ‘imbecile’ or
mentally disabled. Think about the
following questions while you read the
article:
 How is the term ‘imbecile’ seen in
today’s society? Would the term be
used to describe mentally disabled
people in today’s newspapers?
 Thinking about the time period and
how having a disability was a huge
stigma, was the mother right or wrong
to kill her son? Explain.
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Lady Lumley’s English Department
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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 Task 2:
Go to the website and analyse what the campaign posters are saying about disabled
people. http://www.disabilityhistory.org/dd_camp2.html
 Write your analysis in the space provided.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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 Task 3: Go to the following website and answer the questions below:
http://www.disabilityhistory.org/dd_camp2.html
In the early 20th century, how did the UK Mental Deficency Act of
1913 categorise disabled people?
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What did Hitler want to happen to disabled people? How did he send his message?
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How were people with disabilities used as entertainment? List at least 3 ways.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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 Task 4: View any of the following websites to read an article about how a woman
and her disabled daughter were viciously bullied.
Either:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6838691.ece
or:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mother-killed-herself-and-daughter-incar-fire-1789423.html
 Write a personal response to the article and think about the following questions:
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Was the mother justified in killing her daughter and herself?
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From the 1930s, have peoples’ mentalities changed about people with
disabilities?
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Is there any solution in stopping prejudicial violence against the
vulnerable?
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What is your personal reaction?
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Lady Lumley’s English Department
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
6
Race and prejudice
"…You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted ... “
"Why
ain’t
you
wanted?"
Lennie
asked.
"’Cause I’m black…"
Some facts about the history of African Americans during the 1930s:

Slavery was practiced in the Deep South of America until the end of the
American Civil War in 1865.

The Yankee North beat the Confederate South; they destroyed the southern
economy and forced them to free the slaves.

This did not mean an improvement for black people living in this area.

Although they were free, the Black Community were not allowed to live in
the same areas, attend the same schools, eat in the same restaurants or
travel on the same trains or buses as white people. Black and white
people were segregated or separated. Black people, of course, had a lower
quality of resources, education, etc.

Local laws made sure they remained second-class citizens.

Many black people were forced to take poorly paid jobs which left them as
badly off as when they were slaves.

The police ignored the majority of crimes against black people, whilst it only
took an accusation of a crime for a black person to be presumed guilty.
Therefore, it was a white woman’s or man’s word over a back man’s; the
white person was always believed and the black person suffered
tremendously.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Crooks in Of Mice and Men

What does the
quality of the
water fountains
say about the
treatment of
black people?
 Crooks is named for his ‘crooked back’. He is ostracised or alienated at the
ranch because of his race and is treated as a second-class citizen. Look at the
following page numbers, and find quotes that show racism towards Crooks.
Remember to explain why they are racist or cruel. Also, try to include information
about the time period to support your evidence.
Page 20 - Quote:
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Pages 50 - Quote:
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Pages 78-79 - Quote:
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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 Crooks expresses his feelings about racism and loneliness on several
occasions. In some ways, he provides insight to the reality of the American Dream
and the loneliness of the ranchers. Look at the following quotes from Crooks and
analyse what his words say about his feelings towards his status in society:
"If I say something, why it's just a nigger sayin' it" (p. 74)
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"You got no right to come in my room... You go on get outa my room. I ain't wanted in the
bunkhouse and you ain't wanted in my room." (p. 72)
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"Sure, you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain't no
good. A guy needs someone - to be near him. A guys goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't
make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, a guy gets too lonely, an' he
gets sick." (p. 77)
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"I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches with their bindles on their
backs an' that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an' they quit an'
go on... An' never a god-damn one of 'em gets it." (p. 78)
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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"I remember when I was a little kid... had a strawberry patch. Had an alfalfa patch…
Used to turn the chickens out on the alfalfa on a sunny morning" (p. 77)
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 Some people may describe Crooks as being cynical, resentful and even coldhearted. Write a paragraph below, responding to the questions. Include quotes to
support your answers.
1 - Why do you think people may think this way?
2 - How do you respond to Crooks?
3 - Where can we see that Crooks is actually vulnerable?
4 - Does he have reasons to be cynical? If so, what are the reasons?
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 Discuss, with a partner, who has it worse in society: Lennie or Crooks? Take a
side and develop points on why your chosen person has it worse. Remember to
include information about the time period to help you support your points.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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The social hierarchy
 Cut out and use the cards to rank who has the most power and the least power
on the ranch. The person with the most power should be at the top. The person with
the least amount of power should be at the bottom. Provide reasons for why he /
she should have that ranking.
 Find a person with a different ranking and discuss why he/she decided to use
that ranking. See if you can convince each other of the ‘correct’ ranking.
Candy
George
Lennie
Curley
The Boss
Curley’s wife
Carlson
Crooks
Whit
Slim
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Narrative point-of-view and play-like
features
What is a ‘novella’?
 A novella is a short novel that usually tells a moral or lesson.
Viewpoint and play-like features
 The novel is written in third person, but we are never told what anyone is
thinking. Therefore, the reader needs to infer from dialogue and actions what
the emotions of the characters are.
 Of Mice and Men can be seen to have many elements of a play-like structure.
Steinbeck even dramatized Of Mice and Men for the stage, and also the
novella has been adapted to film. Can you think of why it resembles a play?
Firstly, shower key elements in a play. Then, see if those elements exist in Of
Mice and Men. Try to think of at least three reasons.
key elements
in a play
 List the dramatic elements / features in Of Mice and Men :
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Structure and plot
What type of structure is used in Of Mice and Men?
The structure of the text is cyclical, it is a circular novella.
This means that the first and last chapters come full circle.
Thinking about Lennie and George’s situation, why do you
think Steinbeck chose to structure the novella in a circle?
Think about what a circle represents or what terms like
‘vicious circle’ mean?
Chapter 1
The opening is set in a beautiful clearing
by a stream.
Chapters 2 -5
The meat of the story is set on the ranch,
inside, in either the bunkhouse, in Crooks'
room or in the barn. At the beginning of each
chapter, there is a description of the setting.
Then, the sections largely focus on dialogue
from the characters. There is no official
viewpoint; therefore, Steinbeck wants the
reader to draw his / her own conclusions.
There is rising and falling action in each
section, which leads to foreshadowing.
Chapter 6
The closing is set in a beautiful clearing by a
stream.
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 For each chapter, write the setting and the important events for each chapter.
You should have a maximum of 2-3 events for each chapter. Therefore, make sure
your events hold significant meaning.
Chapter 1
Chapter 6
Chapter 2
Circular
Novella
Chapter 5
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
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Analysing plot and structure
What goes around, comes around ...

George and Lennie are stuck; they can’t get ahead no matter how much they try.
This, of course, leads back to the title Of Mice and Men. Answer the questions
below to see how events come full circle.
How does the story begin and end? Think about the setting and the actions of the
characters.
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In chapter 2, what does Lennie receive? In which chapter does the ‘inevitable’
happen?
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In chapter 2, what does George warn Lennie about? In which chapter does the
‘inevitable happen?
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Chapter 3 begins with the hope of a bright future. Who ruins the mood?
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Chapter 4 begins with the hope of a bright future. Who ruins the mood?
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Foreshadowing
 Foreshadowing is a technique used by the author to give hints to the reader
about what will happen later in the text. The author may use symbolism, dialogue,
metaphors, actions or other technques to ‘tip the reader off’.
Some critics have claimed that Steinbeck has used too many hints to give away the
ending.
 Can you think of hints that Steinbeck gives about what will happen in the end?
Try to think of nine.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Foreshadowing and symbolism
 Certain aspects of the novella represent and foreshadow what happens in
chapter six.
What do the following represent and foreshadow?
Candy’s dog  "Got no teeth, he's all stiff with rheumatism. He ain't no good to you,
Candy. An' he ain't no good to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?" (49).
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Solitaire  George plays it all of the time
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The dead mouse and puppy
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The death of Curley’s wife
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The heron killing the water snake
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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The ending
Learning Objective:
To be able to comment on the ending of the novella in terms of Steinbeck’s use of
form, structure and setting.
 Read from: 'George came quietly out of the brush …’ to the end of the novel.
The pool by the river is the place where Lennie and George’s story begins and ends.
It is a safe sanctuary and a place free from the prejudices of the rest of the world,
where Lennie and George can be themselves. This is where the story was born, and
also where the dream farm and Lennie meet their end.
Although the first chapter and the last chapter share the same setting, there are
some obvious differences between the two chapters.
 Fill out the Venn Diagram below to illustrate these differences and similarities.
Chapter 1
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Chapter 6
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Why does Steinbeck begin and end the novella in the same place?
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In Chapter 1, Steinbeck mentions a heron, rabbits and other animals. What might
these images symbolise?
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In Chapter 6, Steinbeck then describes how a heron kills a water snake. What is the
significance of this image? What does it represent? What does it foreshadow?
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In his solitude and overwhelming fear and sadness, Lennie begins to have
hallucinations about his Aunt Clara and a rabbit. How does Steinbeck use imagery to
communicate Lennie’s state of mind in this section?
Hint: Think about what the rabbit represents in the beginning, and throughout the
novella.
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“Ain’t you gonna give me hell?” Why do you think Lennie wants George to do this at
this point in the novel? How does Steinbeck present George here?
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‘The wind waves flowed up the green pool’. Comment on Steinbeck’s choice of image
here, as the men get nearer to George and Lennie.
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Why do you think George talks about the farm as he shoots Lennie? How does this
conclude the theme of ‘dreams’?
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If George didn’t kill Lennie, what would have happened to him? Consider the
context of the novella.
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Was George’s decision an act of love or selfishness?
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Comment on Slim’s reaction to what George has done. How is this consistent with
his character throughout? Link this to the shooting of Candy’s dog.
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The last lines of the novel are famous. Think of as many reasons as you can for why
Steinbeck chooses to end the novel in this way, and why the ending might fit in so
well.
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Lady Lumley’s English Department
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Quotes from Chapter 6
‘All the time he coulda had such a good time if it
wasn’t for you…But he had to take care of you’.
‘Ill find a cave an’ I’ll live there so I won’t be no
more trouble to George.’
‘You’re always saying that, an’ you know
sonofabitching well you ain’t never gonna do it.’
‘He’s sick of you,’ said the rabbit. ‘He’s gonna
beat hell outta you an’ then go away an’ leave
you.’
‘I done another bad thing.’
‘It don’t make no difference,’ George said.
‘He said woodenly, ‘If I was alone I could live so
easy.’ His voice was monotonous.’
‘An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s what,
that gives a hoot in hell about us.’
‘You…an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you.
Ain’t gonna be no more trouble.
‘No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I
ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.’
‘You hadda, George I swear you hadda.’
‘Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two
guys?’
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Analysis
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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The ending and George
 How do you feel about George’s decision to shoot Lennie? Was it the right thing
to do?
 Take 6 minutes to discuss your opinions with your partner. Justify your view.
Support your view with evidence from the text and / or your notes on context.
 Share your ideas with the rest of the class.
“You hadda, George. I swear you
hadda.”
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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The ending and George
Using the ideas from your earlier discussions, complete the table below.
George was right to shoot Lennie
George was wrong to shoot Lennie
because…
because…
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Debating the ending
 In pairs you are going to use the ideas above to debate the ending of Of Mice
and Men.
One of you will be Person A and the other Person B. You will then have fifteen
minutes to prepare your arguments to convince the other person. Person A will try to
convince person B that George was right to kill Lennie. Person B will then present
the argument that George should not have killed Lennie.
Three pairs will be picked at random to perform their debate to the class. The class
will then decide which partner’s argument was most effective.
Useful Quotations

‘Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly’.

‘An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither.’

‘I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail.’

‘You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get.’

‘If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.’

‘...I can let you tend the rabbits all right. ‘Specially if you remember as good as that.’

‘I’m goin’,’ he said. ‘I’m gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself...’

‘No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want
you to know.’

‘The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the
trigger’.

‘Slim said, ‘You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.’
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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Censorship
 Of Mice and Men has been frequently banned and challenged for its ‘offensive’
and ‘vulgar’ language. It has also been attacked for including controversial ideas and
depictions of racism, euthanasia and disability. One censor called the book ‘of no
literary value’.
 In pairs, discuss the following statement and come to a conclusion on whether it
is right or wrong to censor:
‘The word ‘nigger’ can be seen throughout Of Mice and Men’. Today, that word is
very offensive, and I don’t think my daughter should be forced to read and say
that word. It promotes racism, and I think that is despicable.’
 Are there any other words in Of Mice and Men that should be censored?
 Discuss your thoughts and opinions with your classmates. Think about gender,
race and social status.
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