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Copyright © 2006
Directions
Simply Novel is a program designed with
flexibility for both the teacher and student.
Step 1:
Note that Simply Novel is divided into
sections. The sections are easy to identify;
they begin with an objective page and end
with a comprehension check. Use these
sections to identify your starting points.
We’re talking really flexible! The
program is easy to use; you can easily
move forward or go backward to
review!
These sections are broken down by objective
pages that look something like this...
Step 2:
Determine which activities need to be
completed before, during, and after reading
the novel.
Step 3:
Establish how many sections you want to
complete each day.
Remember to pace yourself. Don’t try to
cover too much in one day!
Directions
Step 4:
Prior to reading, use Simply Novel
to learn the background
information. This includes:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
KWL Chart
Objectives
About the Author
Historical Background
Literary Elements
The Setting
Character Descriptions
Comprehension Checks
Chapter Summaries
Depending on the novel, there
may be additional slides to
review
Understanding the background of a novel
helps make connections.
Wow, aren’t you lucky we thought of you when
creating this!!!!
The comprehension checks build
confidence.
Directions
Step 5:
We recommend that students keep a
journal to answer the questions on the
right side of the slides. They might want to
journal their thoughts as well.
Step 6:
Read the novel. You decide what works
best; here are three options:
a) Students can benefit by reviewing
the chapter summary before
reading.
b) Review the chapter summary after
reading the chapter.
c) Another option is doing both a and b
Step 7:
Post activities – students demonstrate
their understanding of the novel by
completing the post activities.
Use the journal as an exit tool. Ask
students identify three things they
learned each session and offer points
for accuracy.
The program is really flexible.
These techniques help students to
better understand what they will be
reading and gives them an
opportunity to improve their
comprehension!
Objective Index
In order to navigate to a specific objective within the
program, locate the icon and click; the program will
advance you to the objective.
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Copyright © 2006
Of Mice and Men
KWL Chart
What do you know about Of Mice and Men? Find the K on the chart below
and write down everything you know about Of Mice and Men. Next, in the
column labeled W, write down what you want to learn about Of Mice and
Men. Do not write in the L column. A sample is provided for you.
K
What I KNOW
The book is about mice
and men.
Bloom's: knowledge
W
L
What I WANT to Know
What I LEARNED
Do the mice talk?
Objective
1. INTRODUCE AND IDENTIFY
THE AUTHOR OF
OF MICE AND MEN
Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis
Meet the Author
Meet the Author
of
OF MICE AND
MEN
John Steinbeck
About the Author
John Steinbeck was born February
27, 1902 in Salinas, California.
While growing up, Steinbeck worked
a variety of labor jobs in the Salinas
area, which made a lasting
impression on him.
Steinbeck attended Stanford
University and majored in English,
but left after six years without a
degree.
In 1929, Steinbeck published his first
novel, Cup of Gold. It was not until
1935 that Steinbeck won praise for
his novel Tortilla Flats.
Tortilla Flats won the San Francisco
Gold Medal of the Commonwealth
Club best novel of the year award.
Steinbeck used his writing to show the
plight of the laborers that he observed
during this time.
Steinbeck’s mother was a teacher and his
father was the county treasurer; they
encouraged reading and exploring different
cultures.
Tortilla Flats is a coastal town in
Northern California, just north
of Monterey.
About the Author
Of Mice and Men was published in
1937.
In 1939, Steinbeck published The
Grapes of Wrath; for which he won the
Pulitzer Prize for Literature.
Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men to be read or
performed as a play, and was performed in New
York 207 times.
During World War II, Steinbeck worked
as a newspaper reporter.
In the 1950s, Steinbeck wrote
speeches for presidential candidates.
In 1962 Steinbeck won the Nobel Peace
Prize in Literature.
Steinbeck served as an advisor to
President Johnson in 1964.
Steinbeck died December 20, 1968.
The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded
each year to an author who has written the
most outstanding piece of literary work.
Johnson awarded Steinbeck the United
States Medal of Freedom.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Who wrote Of Mice and Men?
a) John Smith
b) John Steinbeck
b) John Steinbeck
2. Of Mice and Men was published in
a) 1967
b) 1947
3. Steinbeck wrote speeches for
a) students
b) presidential candidates
b) presidential candidates
c) John Jones
c) 1937
c) 1937
c) his mother
Objective
1. EXAMINE THE HISTORICAL
CONNECTIONS
Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis
John Steinbeck’s California
Steinbeck loved the Salinas Valley. With its
rich agricultural fields, and miles of farm
land, it was the ideal place for a young boy
to grow up.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s brought
hard times for many. For farmers, the best
hope for a better life was in California. They
packed what possessions they had, and
looked for work in the agricultural fields or
cities of California. These people are known
as migrant workers.
Salinas is Spanish for “salt marsh”.
If you want to learn more about the Great
Depression, click on the map below.
Steinbeck’s inspiration for many of his
novels came from the Salinas Valley.
Although Steinbeck left the valley
throughout his lifetime he always returned.
Today the valley honors it greatest son by
hosting a National Steinbeck Center in the
heart of the Salinas Valley.
The center honors Steinbeck and his
great literary achievements.
Historical Background
During the 1930s drastic weather changes
turned large areas of the American west
into a dust bowl of barren land.
The farmers who were able to keep their
farms took advantage of the migrant
workers. Working conditions were poor
and the pay was low.
The work was seasonal, forcing a lonely
life and rarely included family. This issue
concerned Steinbeck and most of his
novels are about these social issues.
It was not until the 1960s that the migrant
farm workers organized under Cesar
Chavez and fought for fair wages.
Many farmers lost their farms during
this time, forcing them to become
migrant workers.
Migrant workers are people who move from
place to place. Their pay was $2.50 to $3.00 a
day.
Most of Steinbeck's novels are considered
social novels that explore the hardships of
the farm workers.
Historical Background
Because the time period for Of
Mice and Men takes place during
The Great Depression, it is
important to understand what life
was like during this era.
Great? Well, not in the sense of being wonderful.
Great as in really big and significant.
In 1929 the stock market crashed,
bringing about the Great
Depression.
The stock market is for trading company
stock.
People lost their jobs. Many people
lost their homes and could not
afford to buy food.
About 15 million people lost their jobs during the
Great Depression. Does this sound familiar?
The homeless created Hoovervilles,
communities with homes made
from tin.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Steinbeck’s inspiration for many of his novels came from
a) his mother
b) the Salinas Valley
c) his war experiences
b) the Salinas Valley
2. During the 1930s the American west was turned into a
a) land of cowboys
b) dust bowl
c) large city
b) dust bowl
3. In what year did the stock market crash?
a) 1919
b) 1929
b) 1929
c) 1939
Did You Know...
The title of the novella was taken from a
line in the poem To a Mouse, by Robert
Burns. “The best laid schemes o’ mice
and men/Gang aft-a-gley.”
Burns was a farmer who disturbed a nest of
mice while plowing one of his fields.
This means that no matter how wellplanned a project is, something may
still go wrong with it.
A novella is longer than a short story,
but shorter than a novel; a novella has
20,000 to 50,000 words.
Who counts all the words?
In the mid 1990s the New York Times
declared Steinbeck the most popular
American writer.
One of Steinbeck’s novels, East of
Eden, became the #2 bestselling book in
2003 after Oprah Winfrey added it to her
book club.
Quite remarkable, because the book was #
on the bestsellers list when it was published in 1952.
Did You Know?
Before he became a well-known author,
Steinbeck worked as a sales clerk, farm
laborer, ranch hand, and factory
worker.
Besides the Nobel Prize for Literature,
Steinbeck won the United States Medal
Of Freedom and the Pulitzer Prize.
Many of Steinbeck’s characters
reflect his days as a blue collar
worker.
The Pulitzer Prize, is an American award
and is regarded as the highest national
honor.
Notes in the Salinas museum honoring
Steinbeck’s achievements read:
"Steinbeck's writings were publicly
burned in Salinas on two occasions,
and at times he did not feel welcome in
his own hometown. Yet he ultimately
was honored for his achievements”.
The U.S. Postal Service issued a John
Steinbeck Commemorative Stamp in
1979.
Back then the price of a first class
stamp was only 15 cents.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. A novella has approximately how many words?
a) 10, 000 – 25, 000
b) 20,000 – 50,000
c) 25,000 – 55,000
b) 20,000 – 50,000
2. In the 1990s, Steinbeck was declared the most popular American writer
by the
a) Los Angeles Times b) California Times c) New York Times
c) New York Times
3. The U.S. Postal Service issued a John Steinbeck Commemorative
Stamp in ________.
a) 1978
b) 1979
c) 1980
b) 1979
Objectives
1. DETERMINE THE NOVEL’S
GENRE
2. IDENTIFY THE THEME OF
OF MICE AND MEN
Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis
Genre
Of Mice and Men is a fictional
piece of work. In other words, the
characters and the story itself is
not necessarily based on fact.
The story’s genre, or kind of
literature, is considered a tragedy.
In a tragedy, the main character
suffers great sorrow or is brought
to ruin.
A tragedy’s ending is unhappy, yet
has a purpose or meaning. There
is almost always a lesson to be
learned from the events in the
story.
Theme
A theme is the main idea of the
story, or the message the author
wants the reader to understand.
The message is usually about life,
society, or human nature.
In Of Mice and Men, there are
several themes… broken dreams,
friendship, inequality, and
loneliness.
Steinbeck often wrote about
realistic characters that focus on
social issues.
Broken
Dreams
Friendship
loneliness
Inequality
Theme
Broken Dreams: Even though
their lives are difficult, the
characters in Of Mice and Men
have dreams. Their dreams make
life worth living and makes their
unbearable lives, bearable.
Friendship: Steinbeck brings
two unusual characters together in
his novel. An unlikely pair, the
main characters are brought
together by the loss of family, and
the need for work, as well as the
need for friendship.
Broken
Dreams
Theme
Inequality: Sometimes called a
“social conscience novel”, Of
Mice and Men focuses on the
poor treatment of the migrant
farm worker, and the wide
prejudice society holds regarding
these workers.
Loneliness: One of the novel’s
major themes, Steinbeck focuses
on the many sides of loneliness
as he introduces each character
and their personal struggle for
their place in the world.
Theme
The American Dream: When
immigrants first arrived in America, they
dreamed of a better life. People came
to America to escape abuse, bullying,
and/or poverty. They dreamed of
making their fortune; but for many the
dream became a nightmare. Slavery
and the American Civil War, brought
slums and a corrupt political system
that shattered the hopes of the
immigrant.
In 1929 the American dream was
thought to have ended with the crash
of Wall Street and the start of the
Great Depression. But for individuals
the dream survived. Thousands
moved west to California to escape.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. A theme is the___________ in a story
a) protagonist
b) main idea
b) main idea
c) main character
2. In Of Mice and Men, there are several themes… broken dreams,
friendship, inequality, and ___________.
a) poverty
b) war
c) loneliness
c) loneliness
3. When immigrants first came to America they dreamed of making
their________________.
a) homes
b) fortune
c) families
b) fortune
Objectives
1. IDENTIFY THE SETTING IN
OF MICE AND MEN
2. IDENTIFY LITERARY
DEVICES
Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis
The Setting
The setting is the time, place,
and social environment that
surrounds the characters. The
setting is recognized by the
senses–– what the characters
see, hear, feel, etc.
Understanding the setting is
important because it often
reveals the mood of the story.
It can also give the reader
hints about what may happen.
Let’s look at the setting of the
novel.
The time period is the 1930s
near Soledad, California.
Steinbeck describes the
countryside with rich sensory
details that allow the the
reader to visualize the setting.
The Setting
The story Of Mice and Men takes
was
placeJohn
on aSteinbeck
ranch in Soladad,
in the
Salinas Valley of central California.
In the 1930s the area was rich in
agricultural crops, such as “green
gold” or lettuce, sugar beets, and
beans. Farm workers piled crops
on tractor beds and delivered the
crops to nearby packing houses.
Today, the Salinas Valley is still
known for its agricultural products
and is the third most productive
agricultural county in the state
producing over two billion dollars
in gross sales.
Salinas
Valley
The Setting
The Great Depression was in full
swing during the time period in
which Steinbeck sets his novel.
After the crash of the stock
market in 1929, thousands of
people made their way to
California to escape from the
farmlands in the Midwest.
In Steinbeck’s novel, the main
characters make their way from
town to town working as migrant
farm workers, dreaming of
owning a little house and small
piece of land.
Setting
Sections 1, 5 and 6 in the novel
take place along Salinas River.
The story ends where it begins,
bringing the story full circle.
Sections 2 and 4 take place on a
ranch where the main characters,
George and Lennie, find work.
Several events take place in the
bunkhouse on the ranch. The
bunkhouse is where the reader
learns a lot about the characters.
A bunkhouse is a building on a
ranch for workers to sleep in. It
isn’t very fancy.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. The Story Of Mice and Men takes place on a ranch in Soladad
a) Los Angeles
b) Soladad
c) Sacramento
b) Soladad
2. In the 1930’s the area was rich in
a) cattle
b) gold
c) agricultural crops
c) agricultural crops
3. In Steinbeck’s novel, the main characters make their way from town to
town working as migrant
a) tax collectors
b) sales men
c) farm workers
c) farm workers
Literary Devices
Metaphor
Metaphors are a form of figurative
language. They are phrases that
represent one thing as another or in other
words, a symbol.
Metaphors in literature to bring life to the
writer’s words. Metaphors are used to
help the reader “see” the relationship
between two objects or actions.
In Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the
card game of solitaire that George plays in
the bunkhouse.
Solitaire, means alone. It is a metaphor
for the loneliness of not only George, but
for many of the novel’s characters. It is
also a metaphor for George's wish be free
of the responsibility of Lennie.
Literary Devices
Allusions
An allusion is a reference in
literature to a well-known person,
event, place, or thing in history.
The title of Steinbeck’s novel is an
allusion.
Of Mice and Men
references the poem written by
Robert Burns in 1787 entitled, To A
Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her
Nest With The Plough, where he
writes: “The best laid schemes o'
mice and men/Gang aft agley [often
go wrong]/And leave us nought but
grief and pain/For promised joy!”
Literary Devices
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing hints about what is
going to happen in a story.
It isn’t difficult to figure out what
is going to happen in Of Mice and
Men. After all, Steinbeck gives hints
throughout the entire novella.
While reading the story, there are
many hints or clues that will help
the reader foretell the story’s end.
Put your detective skills to work;
look for these clues while reading
the story.
Climax
The moment in a story that
determines the outcome.
Rising Action
A series of events or struggles that
the protagonist experiences leading
to the climax, or turning point in the
story.
Introduction (Exposition)
Introduces the characters, setting
and conflict in a story.
Falling Action
The event(s) following the climax
that lead to the resolution.
Resolution
The outcome of the story; all the
loose ends are resolved.
Climax
Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s
wife.
Rising Action
The confrontation between Curly
and Lennie in Section 3.
Introduction (Exposition)
Sections 1 and 2 give a rich
description of the setting and
introduces the characters.
Falling Action
The men hunt for Lennie while
George also looks for him.
Resolution
George’s decision to “save” Lennie.
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Metaphors are a form of figurative __________.
a) thought
b) language
c) motion
b) language
2. The title of Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men references a Robert
Burns ____________.
a) novel
b) essay
c) poem
c) poem
3. Which literary device hints about what is going to happen in a story?
a) metaphor
b) allusion
c) foreshadowing
c) foreshadowing
Objective
1. IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERS
IN THE STORY
Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis
Who’s Who in the Novel
Characters are the people in the story. There are many different kinds of characters
in a story, just like there are many different people in the world.
A protagonist
is a main
character
who is a “good”
person.
An antagonist
is a person
(or thing)
who works
against the
protagonist.
The Characters
George is one of the main
characters in the story and its
protagonist. Although not related
to Lenny, he is Lenny’s caregiver
and traveling companion.
Lennie is one of the other main
characters in the story and a
protagonist as well. He is a
gentle man who although is
mentally challenged is a loyal
friend to George.
The Characters
Candy is a swamper, or bunk
house hand. He is a lonely, older
man who was once a valued farm
hand.
Curley is the angry, bullying son
of the boss, who constantly
picks on Lennie. He is also the
story’s antagonist.
The Characters
Curley’s wife is a young, pretty
woman who has made the wrong
choice in whom she should
marry, and dreams of leaving the
farm, and Curley.
As the supervisor of the mule
team, Slim is respected by the
other characters. He is a kindhearted man who supports
George in his decision to care
for Lennie.
The Characters
Injured when he was young,
Crooks,
a
stable
hand,
is
nicknamed
for
his
physical
condition,
a
crooked
back.
Because Crooks is black, he is
segregated
from
the
other
characters.
The boss is Curley’s father and
owner of the ranch. He is a
straight-forward
man
who
demands that his ranch runs
smoothly.
The Characters
A mean-hearted man, Carlson is
cruel and unfeeling. He bullies
Candy and Lennie and is a
source of conflict in the story.
Whit is a ranch-hand on the
ranch.
The Characters
Although she does not directly
appear in the novella, Aunt Clara
is Lennie’s aunt who has died,
but often appears to Lennie’s
when he does something wrong.
The best laid
schemes o' mice
and men/Gang aft
agley [often go
wrong]/And leave
us nought but grief
and pain/For
promised joy!
- Robert Burns
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. George is the story’s
a) antagonist
2. Aunt Clara is
a) Lennie’s aunt
a) Lennie’s aunt
b) narrator
c) protagonist
c) protagonist
b) George’s aunt
c) Steinbeck’s aunt
3. The antagonist of the story is
a) Lennie
b) Curley
b) Curley
c) Curley’s wife
Objectives
1. IDENTIFY AND PREPARE FOR
THE ESSAY PROMPT
2. READ AND INTERPRET THE
NOVEL
Bloom's: knowledge, comprehension, analysis, synthesis
Write Away!
Remember that the background to
the story is important. Many migrant
workers left their friends and family
behind. The only way to stay in touch
was by writing letters.
The writing assignment is to pretend
that you are one of the characters
from the story and write a letter to
someone with whom you have lost
touch. Who will you write to... a
family member or dear friend?
The letter should describe your
experiences and observations. Your
ideas should come from the story.
Next, design three postcards that
your character might purchase and
write a message about something
personal.
Use quotes from the story in the
message.
The pictures on the front of the
postcard must relate to the story.
The three postcards should be
prepared during different sections of
the story.
Section 1
George and Lennie walk along
the Salinas River. They stop for
a drink at a green pool near the
river’s edge. George is a strong,
able-bodied man, while Lennie
is enormous. Lennie is mentally
disabled. He asks George
where they are headed.
George sees Lennie’s hands
shoved in his pockets. Lennie
is hiding a dead mouse he
keeps with him as they walk.
Once again, George explains
that they are going to work on a
ranch. He tells Lennie not to
speak, or their new boss will
think that Lennie is crazy.
George also tells Lennie not to
do the things that he did in the
last town.
Salinas is in central
California.
Steinbeck writes like this so we can see
how different the two men really are.
What did Lennie do in the last town to
make them leave?
Section 1 continued
Lennie pulls the dead mouse out of his
pocket and gives it to George while
remembering a kind woman who use to
give him mice.
The two men eat beans for dinner.
Lennie tells George that he likes his
beans with ketchup. Becoming angry,
George reminds Lennie how he could
do whatever he wanted if it weren’t for
him.
Lennie asks George to tell him the story
he has heard hundreds of times: “Guys
like us, that work on ranches, are the
loneliest guys in the world”. George
explains that someday he and Lennie
are going to have enough money to buy
a small farm and live off the “fat of the
land”.
Before they turn in for the night, George
tells Lennie if there is any trouble at the
ranch, he is to return to this spot and
wait for George to arrive.
The author tells the reader that
this woman is Lennie’s Aunt
Clara who has died.
What does George tell Lennie he could
have if it weren’t for him?
What important theme does this
conversation depict? Is the author
foreshadowing anything here?
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. In the opening of the novel, what river do George and Lennie walk
along?
a) Tigris
b) Salinas
c) Nile
b) Salinas
2. What is Lennie hiding in his pocket?
a) ketchup
b) beans
c) a dead mouse
c) a dead mouse
3. When George and Lennie buy their farm, what are they going to live off
of?
a) ketchup & beans b) the fat of the land c) their inheritance
b) the fat of the land
Section 2
George and Lennie arrive at the
ranch. They meet Candy, an old man
who has lost his hand and works as
the bunkhouse swamper.
Knowing they are a day late, George
and Lennie give the boss their work
slips. Lennie remains silent until he
forgets and begins to talk. George
lets the boss know that although
Lennie may not be too smart, he is
strong and works hard.
George tells the boss that Lennie is
his cousin, and promised his mother
that he would take care of him.
Privately, George tells Lennie off for
talking.
Candy over hears the private
conversation. George admits he lied
about Lennie being his cousin, but
scolds Candy for listening to their
conversation.
A swamper is someone who
cleans up, like a house keeper.
During the Depression, the government
issued work slips that allowed workers to
earn about fifteen dollars (thirty hours at
forty eight cents an hour) and then give the
opportunity to work to way to other
workers.
Why is George afraid to tell the boss the
truth about Lennie?
Section 2 continued
Curley, the boss’s rude son, comes
into the bunk house looking for his
father. Curley picks on Lennie.
Why does Curley choose Lennie to pick
on?
Newly married, everyone thinks that
Curley’s wife is a tart. George warns
Lennie to stay away from Curley.
Shortly after Curley leaves, his wife
walks into the bunkhouse flirting, but
claims to be looking for her husband.
Lennie thinks she is pretty. George
warns Lennie, this time, to stay away
from Curley’s wife.
Carlson comes into the bunkhouse.
Slim’s dog had a litter of puppies; but
because their mother could not feed
so many Slim drowns four of them.
Carlson dislikes Candy's dog, and
suggests that Candy shoot it and take
one of Slim’s new pups.
As the only female in the novel,
Steinbeck does not even give her
a name. Why do you suppose he
did this?
This event helps to foreshadow coming
events in the story. What might this be
foreshadowing?
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Who is the first person George and Lennie meet at the ranch
bunkhouse?
a) Candy
b) Curley
c) Slim
a) Candy
2. Lennie thinks Curley’s wife is
a) pretty
b) a tart
a) pretty
c) too talkative
3. What does Carlson think Candy should do to his old dog?
a) give it a bath
b) give it away
c) shoot it
c) shoot it
Section 3
George goes back to the bunkhouse
with Slim and gives George a puppy
to give to Lennie. Slim finds Lennie
and George’s relationship unusual.
George explains how he came to
know Lennie and Aunt Clara. George
explains that he took Lennie when
Aunt Clara died. George tells Slim
that he once teased Lennie until he
told Lennie to jump in a river. When
Lennie jumped, he promised himself
to never tease Lennie again.
This section takes the reader back to one of
the book’s themes. What does this say
about the quality of friendships during this
era?
Imagine coping with a metal illness during
this time. Those who suffered were usually
locked up in an insane asylum.
Feeling comfortable, George tells
Slim what happened in the last town,
but explains that Lennie has never
hurt anyone.
Lennie enters the bunkhouse hiding
his new puppy. George warns Lennie
that if he is not careful, he might hurt
the pup.
Who can blame Lennie? No one can resist
a puppy. This is also foreshadowing. Isn’t
Steinbeck clever?
Section 3 continued
Candy enters the bunkhouse with his
old, smelly dog. Carlson complains
about the smell. He tells Candy to shoot
the dog and put it out of its misery.
Feeling pressured, Candy gives in, and
Carlson takes the dog out and shoots
it.
George discusses Curley's wife with
the other workers while playing cards.
They agree that Curley's wife is trouble.
Angry, Curley comes in to the
bunkhouse looking for his wife, again.
When she is not found, Curley leaves.
Lennie comes in; Slim tells him not to
play with the puppies anymore.
Lennie asks George to retell the story
about the rabbits and the home they
plan to buy. Happily, George retells the
story about the house they will one day
have.
This entire scene foreshadows upcoming
events. Discuss what you think might
happen next.
What is it about Curley’s wife that the men
do not like?
Why is owning a piece
of land so important to
George?
Section 3 continued
Over hearing the story, Candy tells
George he knows of a little
farmhouse that is for sale. He
offers six hundred dollars toward
the house if he can join in.
George figures that if they work
hard, they would have enough
money to buy the land in a month.
Suddenly, all three men realize
their dream may come true sooner
than
they
thought.
Candy
promises to do his share.
Curley comes to the bunkhouse
with Whit, Carlson and Slim. As
usual, he is upset about his wife,
and picks an argument with Slim.
Angry, Curley punches Lennie
who looks to George for help.
George tells Lennie to fight back
and Lennie crushes Curley’s hand.
What does this passage symbolize?
What does Steinbeck want the reader to
believe at this point in the story?
Does Curley deserve Lennie’s actions?
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. What does Slim give George to give to Lennie?
a) candy
b) a new jacket
c) a puppy
c) a puppy
2. What does Candy shoot in this section?
a) his dog
b) his foot
a) his dog
3. Lennie crushes
a) the puppy
b) Candy’s hand
c) the bunkhouse wall
c) Curley’s hand
c) Curley’s hand
Section 4
Lennie shows up at Crooks’ door,
trying to make friends. Angered by
his sudden appearance, Crooks
yells at Lennie telling him he has
no right to disturb him. Lennie
turns to leave, but Crooks asks
Lennie to stay.
Why is Crook’s so angry about
Lennie’s sudden appearance?
Why is Crooks really upset with Lennie
showing up at his door?
Everyone but Crooks, Candy, and
Lennie leave for town. Lennie and
Crooks talk, but neither is really
paying attention to one another.
Curious, Crooks asks Lennie what
he would do if George left him or is
hurt. Frighten by the comment,
Lennie becomes angry. Crooks
tries to explain that he wasn’t really
talking about George, he was really
talking about himself.
Lennie can’t possibly understand
what Crooks was talking about, but
it certainly frightens him.
Section 4 continued
Lennie tells the stable hand about
the dream of owning land. Candy
comes in, and Crooks tells Candy
how ridiculous their plan is. Candy
explains just how close they really
are. Crooks offers to help them out if
he can be included.
Curley's wife comes looking for
Curley. She tells them that she
knows Curley didn't get his hand
caught in a machine. Candy calls her
a floozy and that she is not wanted
around there. Crooks tells her to
leave; she calls him a insulting name
and how she could get him lynched
rather easily.
George returns to the farm and finds
Lennie in Crooks’s room. George
scolds Lennie for telling Crooks
about their plan to buy a house.
Why does Crooks really
think the dream is crazy?
Why does Curley’s wife treat Crooks so
rudely?
George is angry, but why does he really
scold Lennie?
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Lennie shows up at whose door?
a) Candy’s
b) Crooks
b) Crooks
c) Curley’s
2. Who offers to help George, Lennie and Candy buy their land if he can be
included?
a) Slim
b) Crooks
c) Curley
b) Crooks
3. How does Curley’s wife treat Crooks?
a) with respect
b) with kindness
c) rudely
c) rudely
Section 5
While in the barn playing with his
new puppy, Lennie accidentally
kills it.
Lennie decides to tell George that
the puppy was dead when he
came into the barn, but knows
that George won’t believe him.
Lennie is angry at the puppy for
dying, thinking George will not
allow him to tend rabbits on their
land.
Curley's wife enters the barn.
Lennie tells her that George does
not want him to talk to her. She
tells Lennie that she knows that
he was the one who crushed
Curley's hand. She shares how
lonely she is. She also admits that
she doesn't like Curley very much
and wishes that she could be a
movie star.
This entire scene also foreshadows
upcoming events and begins to highlight
another theme.
Broken
Dreams
What is it with Lennie and those
rabbits?
Look how Steinbeck gives us insight into
the heart of Curley’s wife; even if it is for
only a moment. Which theme does this
scene address?
Section 5 continued
Curley’s wife continues talking to
Lennie. He tells her that he likes to pet
soft things. She says her hair is as soft
as velvet and lets Lennie touch it, but
he messes it up.
What is Steinbeck trying
to show us about these two
characters in the passage?
She becomes frightened and screams.
Scared, Lennie covers her mouth. She
struggles, and in his effort to keep her
quiet, Lennie breaks her neck. Knowing
he has done a bad thing, Lennie covers
her body with hay and leaves the barn
with the dead puppy.
Candy comes to the barn looking for
Lennie and finds Curley's wife. He
finds George and shows him the body.
George tells Candy to find Lennie and
lock him up.
Candy warns George that Curley will
have Lennie lynched if he does not get
Lennie away.
This is the climax of the story. Did you
expect it?
Stop a minute and discuss with the
class what you think might happen
next. What are George’s options?
Section 5 continued
George tells Candy to go to the
bunkhouse and tell the men that
Curley’s wife is dead. George will
act like he doesn’t know anything.
The men go to the barn. Curley
instantly blames Lennie for the
murder. George says that they will
look for Lennie and lock him up.
Slim tells George that no matter
what has really happened, Curley
will want to kill Lennie.
Carlson tells the men that his gun is
missing. Curley grabs his shotgun
and rounds up the men.
George begs Curley to leave Lennie
alone, but Curley is too upset to
listen to what George has to say.
All of this is leading to the
resolution of the story.
Can you predict what
might happen?
Is Slim right?
Now who do you suppose took Carlson’s
gun?
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. While in the barn playing with his new puppy, Lennie accidentally
a) losses it
b) hides it
c) kills it
c) kills it
2. Lennie also accidentally kills
a) Candy
b) Crooks
c) Curley’s wife
c) Curley’s wife
3. Who does Curley instantly blame for his wife’s death?
a) Candy
b) Crooks
c) Lennie
c) Lennie
Chapter 6
Lennie talks to himself repeating
that he didn't forget George's
instructions to go hide by the
river. He tells himself that he
should find
a cave live there,
alone.
A woman with thick glasses,
wearing an apron, appears to
Lennie. This vision of Aunt Clara
scolds Lennie for getting George
into so much trouble.
If you don’t remember
where that is go back to
section 1 and it will tell
you.
Is living by himself a possibility for Lennie?
Lennie cries, and asks his aunt to
forgive him. He promises to go off
into the hills, away from George.
Next, Lennie imagines a huge
rabbit. It also scolds him and tells
him that he could never be trusted
to take care of rabbits.
Why is Lennie having
hallucinations?
Chapter 6 continued
When George finds Lennie in the brush,
Lennie confesses that he has done a
bad thing.
George tries to calm Lennie by
repeating his speech about how they
are different from other men, because
they have each other.
Remorsefully, George tells Lennie to
take off his hat. George begins to tell
Lennie about their dream of owning a
home.
George really understands Lennie.
In spite of their differences they are
truly friends.
Why does George tell Lennie to take off
his hat?
As George speaks, he takes out
Carlson's missing gun. Knowing that
Lennie would be tortured by Curley and
the men from the bunkhouse, George
shoots Lennie in the back of the head.
Curley and the other men hear the gun
shot and find George kneeling over
Lennie’s dead body.
Slim tries to comfort George by saying:
“Never you mind. A guys got to
sometimes".
Unexpected? Not really. If you go back to
other sections of the novella, Steinbeck
continually foreshadows
Broken
this final event.
Dreams
Comprehension Check
Directions: select the best answer to each question
1. Who does Lennie imagine he sees as he is hiding in the brush?
a) George
b) Curley
c) Aunt Clara
c) Aunt Clara
2. The second hallucination Lennie has is of
a) a rabbit
b) Candy
a) a rabbit
3. Who shoot Lennie at the end of the novella?
a) Carlson
b) Curley
c) Curley’s wife
c) George
c) George
K W L
What do you know about Of Mice and Men? Find the K on the chart below
and write down everything you know about Of Mice and Men. Next, in the
column labeled W, write down what you want to learn about Of Mice and
Men. Now that you finished reading the story, identify what you learned in
the L column.
K
W
L
What I KNOW
What I WANT to Know
What I LEARNED
The story is about
mice and men.
Do the mice talk?
A man’s dreams do
not always come
true as planned.
Objective
1. DEMONSTRATE AND APPLY
KNOWLEDGE
Bloom's: knowledge, comprehension, analysis, synthesis
K W L
What do you know about Of Mice and Men? Find the K on the chart below
and write down everything you know about Of Mice and Men. Next, in the
column labeled W, write down what you want to learn about Of Mice and
Men. Now that you finished reading the story, identify what you learned in
the L column.
K
W
L
What I KNOW
What I WANT to Know
What I LEARNED
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Write Away!
Remember that the background
to the story is important. Many
migrant workers left their
friends and family behind. The
only way to stay in touch was by
writing letters.
The writing assignment is to
pretend that you are one of the
characters from the story and
write a letter to someone with
whom you have lost touch.
Who will you write to... a family
member or dear friend?
Next, design three postcards that
your character might purchase
and write a message about
something personal.
Use quotes from the story in the
message.
The pictures on the front of the
postcard must relate to the story.
The three postcards should be
prepared
during
different
sections of the story.
The letter should describe your
experiences and observations.
Your ideas should come from
the story.
Reproducible: Permission granted to teachers to duplicate for instructional use. Reproduction by others for any purpose is prohibited without written permission from Simply-novel.com. © 2010
Directions: Pretend that you are one of the characters from the story and write a letter to someone with
who you have lost touch. Who will you write to... a family member or dear friend? Describe your
experiences and observations. These elements must come from what you have read in the novel. The
letter should be at least two pages long.
Part 1: The Heading. This includes the address of the person you are writing to, and the date. After
the date, skip a line.
Part 2: The Greeting, which always ends with a comma. The greeting may begin with the word
"dear" and the person's name or your relationship to that person. Ex. Dear mom,
Part 3: The body or the main text which includes the message you want to write. In a friendly
letter, the beginning of any new paragraphs is usually indented.
Part 4: The complimentary close is a short expression of just a few words on a single line and
ends in a comma. Indented the complimentary close so it is even with the heading. Skip two for
your signature line.
Part 5: The signature line can be typed or printed. Simply put, it is your name. Handwritten
signature goes above this line and below the close. The signature line and the handwritten
signature are indented to the same column as the close. The signature should be written in blue or
black ink. If the letter is informal, you may omit the signature line as long as you sign the letter.
Postscript or P.S.: If you would like to add a comment after your letter is completed, it is called a
postscript. Begin your comment with a P.S. and end it with your initials. Skip one line after the
signature line to start your postscript.
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_____________________
_____________________
Heading
_____________________
_____________________
Date
Here is a template
of a friendly or
personal letter. The
horizontal lines
represent lines of
type or writing.
___________________,
Greeting
________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________.
________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
___________________________.
_________________,
__________________
Complimentary Closing
Signature Line
P.S. __________________
Postscript
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Post Cards
Design three postcards that
your character might purchase
and write a message about
something personal.
Use quotes from the story in
the message.
The pictures on the front of
the postcard must relate to the
story.
The three postcards should be
made during different sections
of the story.
Reproducible: Permission granted to teachers to duplicate for instructional use. Reproduction by others for any purpose is prohibited without written permission from Simply-novel.com. © 2010
Identifying Characters in
Of Mice and Men
Character Chart
What actions tell about the character
George
Lennie:
Candy:
Curley:
Curley’s wife:
Slim:
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Identifying Characters in
Of Mice and Men
Character’s Actions
What Actions say about the Character
Crooks:
Boss:
Carlson:
Whit:
Aunt Clara:
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In the box to the left, list events that Steinbeck creates to foreshadow events in the novella. In the
box to the right, predict what that event might be. A sample is done for you.
Event
Prediction
1. George tells Lennie to return to the bank
of the Salinas river and hide if any thing bad
happens at the ranch.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
7.
7.
8.
8.
Something bad is going to happen at the
ranch.
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Directions: Choose 20 words from the story that you do not know, look up their definitions and record
them below.
Vocabulary Word
1. juncture
Pg. #
1
Definition
A place where two things come together.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Vocabulary Word
Pg. #
Pg.#
Definition
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
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Reproducible: Permission granted to teachers to duplicate for instructional use. Reproduction by others for any purpose is prohibited without written permission from Simply-novel.com. © 2010
Definition
crossroad
Synonym
juncture
junction
Synonym
A juncture is where two
things come together.
disconnection
Antonym
Directions: Create flash cards that include the word’s definition as well as two synonyms
and one antonym.
Reproducible: Permission granted to teachers to duplicate for instructional use. Reproduction by others for any purpose is prohibited without written permission from Simply-novel.com. © 2010
Vocabulary Word
Synonym
Synonym
Definition
Antonym
Directions: Create flash cards that include the word’s definition as well as two synonyms
and one antonym.
Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez was born March 31, 1927 near Yuma, Arizona. He
was named after his grandfather who escaped from slavery on
a Mexican ranch. Chavez' grandparents made their home on one
hundred acres in the Gila Valley, Arizona where they raised
fourteen children. In 1924, Chavez' father, Librado, started his
family here. Librado worked on the family ranch and owned a
store in the Gila Valley. The family lived above the store.
When the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, Chavez’ family lost the store; they moved
to the family ranch. In 1937 a major drought forced the family to leave the family ranch
in Arizona; they left for California to search for work. In California, they became part of
the migrant workers, moving from farm to farm to pick vegetables and fruits.
Chavez struggled in school because his family spoke only Spanish. He dropped out of
school after the eighth grade and worked full time in the fields.
In 1944, Chavez joined the navy and served during World War II. When he returned
from duty, he went back to California, married, and worked in the fields. This time, he
fought for better working conditions and pay for migrant workers.
Cesar Chavez
Chavez joined the Community Service Organization; he traveled throughout
California and encouraged the Mexican-Americans to register to vote and spoke
often to support migrant workers’ rights. Later, Chavez started the United Farm
Workers Association (UFWA).
In 1965, Chavez, with the NFWA, led a strike of grape-pickers in California to demand
higher wages. During this time, Chavez encouraged Americans to boycott grapes. The
strike lasted five years.
In 1968, Chavez started to fast in order to bring attention to the plight of the migrant
workers, which increased public awareness of the working conditions and low pay
for migrant workers. During the 1970s the United Food Workers UFW) gained the right
to represent and organize the field workers. It was in the 1980s that Chavez led a
boycott in protest of toxic pesticides on grapes. He fasted this time as well in order to
gain the public’s attention.
It is through Chavez’ hard work and efforts that migrant worker have better wages and
working conditions.
Chavez died in 1993.
The Great Depression began in the United States, but
affected the entire world. Because of World War I, the
European economy was weakened; the United States
loaned postwar Europe money to help rebuild. Once the
American economy weakened, the flow of American
investments to Europe dried up creating a worldwide
rippling effect.
The countries hit hardest by the depression were those that were most deeply in debt to
the United States. Unemployment in Europe rose sharply, by early 1932 it reached six
million workers. During this time, Franklin D. Roosevelt in became the new president.
Roosevelt introduced major changes in the organization of the American economy which
helped the United States recover from the depression. However, it was not until the
outbreak of World War II when American factories met the demands of oversea orders for
materials needed to fight the war. The depression ended soon after the United States
joined the fighting in World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.