Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
GUIDED STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM
1. Where does he opening scene in Of Mice
and Men take place?
1. In a ditch, by a stream/woods area
2. Why did George and Lennie leave their
jobs in Weed?
2. They ran because of a run-in with a girl
3. Why does George takes care of Lennie?
3. He promised Aunt Clare – He loves him
4. To George and Lennie, what does the
phrase, “An’ live off the fatta the lan’” mean?
4. Get there own place, grow their own food
5. Describe the character Lennie
5. He’s big, dumb, sweet, doesn’t know his
Own strength
6. Why is George often upset with Lennie?
6. Because Lennie is childlike and takes a lot
care
7.
7. Because he needs to get it out – he trusts
Slim – is lonely
Why would George tell Slim about what
happened in Weed?
8. George is often complaining that he could
“live so easy” if he did not have to take care
of Lennie. Why doesn’t he leave Lennie behind?
8. He needs Lennie’s companionship
He promised Aunt Clare
He loves Lennie
9.
9. Because Lennie sounds dumb, but he’s
Strong and a good worker
Why does George answer all the questions the
boss directs to Lennie?
Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
GUIDED STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM
10. How does the boss react to George’s
friendship with Lennie?
10. He thinks George is trying to take
Lennie’s money
11. Curley is described as being
pugnacious, and Candy says of him,
“He’s pretty handy.”
What does this mean?
11. “pugnacious” – inclined to fight
He likes to fight
12. How does Curley react to Lennie’s
silence?
12. He thinks he’s a threat
13. What uneasy feeling does George
have about Curley’s wife?
13.
14. Describe the character Slim
14. People trust him. He’s the local authority
15. After Curley attacks Lennie and is
himself hurt, Slim tells Curley to say
that something else happened to him.
What really happened and what is Curley
supposed to say?
15. Lennie broke Curley’s hand
He’s supposed to say it got caught in a
Machine.
She’s trouble
Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
GUIDED STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM
16. How does Curley’s wife seem to
know what really happened to Curley?
16. She knows Curley
She sees the bruises on Lennie’s face
17. What is Curley’s wife’s reaction to
Curley’s injury?
17. He had it coming
18. Why is Crooks jealous of Lennie’s
friendship with George?
18. Because he is lonely and isn’t allowed to
Socialize with others
19. Why does Lennie kill his pup?
19. It’s an accident. – he doesn’t know his
Own strength
20. What does Lennie’s anger at the
dead puppy foreshadow?
20. His anger at Curley’s wife’s death
21. Why does Curley’s wife tell
Lennie to feel her hair?
21. She’s lonely and wants attention
Lennie likes to pet soft things
Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
GUIDED STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM
22. Why does Lennie kill Curley’s wife?
22. Because he doesn’t know his own
Strength – he doesn’t want to get in trouble
And she starts yelling out of fear
23. Why does Lennie run off after
killing Curley’s wife?
23. George told him to. Hide in the brush
Till he comes
24. Where does George shoot Lennie?
24. In the back of the head (just like the dog)
25. Before he shoots Lennie, what does
George try to do?
25. Ease his mind – make him happy
26. Why isn’t Curley’s wife’s name given?
26. Steinbeck is expressing that she is
She is Curley’s possession
27. All the men called Curley’s wife a tart,
but upon examination, the reader realizes
she was desperate. What is she desperate for?
27. Attention – a dream
Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men
GUIDED STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM
28. The theme of loneliness is
exemplified in what?
28. Crooks, Slim, Candy, George & Lennie
Curley’s wife
29. Why did Slim tell George,
“Ya hadda, George. I swear you hadda”?
29. So that George knew that Slim
understood
30. The last line in the novel is “Now what the
hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”
What does this line reveal?
30. They don’t get it. They are detached
from human companionship
31. Why did Steinbeck title
his novel Of Mice and Men?
31. The title alludes to a Scotish Poem by
Robert Burns – which includes a line
that the best laid plans of Mice and Men often
go awry