Key Events:
Key Events:
 The next day, George and Lennie arrive at the ranch where the bunkhouse is described and they meet
other characters (Candy and his dog, the Boss, Curley, Curley’s wife, Slim and Carlson). Crooks (“the
negro stable buck”) is described but not introduced yet.
 Candy is an aging ‘swamper’ who’s lost his right hand. He is afraid of being seen as useless and no longer
needed.
 The Boss is suspicious of George and Lennie’s arrangement – it was unusual for men to travel together.
 Curley is the Boss’ son and is an aggressive ex-boxer. He tries to start a fight with Lennie. George warns
Lennie to stay away from him (hint of trouble to come).
 Curley’s wife appears at the bunkhouse door. She is pretty and flirty. She is pretending to look for Curley
but looks concerned when told Curley’s looking for her. George warns Lennie to stay away from her too.
 Slim is a skilled mule-driver and clearly respected. He’s impressed with George and Lennie’s friendship.
 Carlson (another ranch hand) suggests Candy kills his old dog and raises one of Slim’s new puppies.
Key Events:
The opening setting is described – it is a utopia.
George and Lennie are introduced. It is clear that Lennie has learning difficulties.
Lennie’s love of soft things is shown through a dead mouse that he pets and talking about rabbits.
There is a hint of trouble as George mentions a situation in Weed.
George loses his temper when Lennie wants ketchup with his dinner. He makes a speech about Lennie’s
ungratefulness and how easy life would be without him.
 Lennie is crafty and plays on George’s guilt (as a result George feels bad for losing his temper).
 George tells Lennie his favourite story – their American dream to have their own farm.
 They settle by the river for the night. George tells Lennie to remember this place and to return there and
hide if any trouble occurs (more hints of danger to come).
Important Quotes:
Important Quotes:
Important Quotes:
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 “The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight” (p.3)
 “The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features” (p.4)
 “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face…dragging his feet a little, the way a bear
drags his paws” (p.4)
 George – “You ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither” (p.8)
 Lennie – “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (p.15)
 “Someday – we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres
an’ a cow and some pigs and – ” “An’ live off the fatta the lan’,” Lennie shouted. “An’ have rabbits ” (p.16)
 “Lennie – if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here
an’ hide in the brush” (p.17)
 “The walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted…two shelves for the personal belongings of the
occupant of the bunk” (p.19)
 The Boss – “Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy” (p.24)
 “Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys” (p.28)
 “She smiled archly and twitched her body. “Nobody can’t blame a person for lookin’ she said.” ” (p.33)
 Lennie – “I don’ like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outta here” (p.34)
 Slim – “His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love” (p.35)
 Carlson – “Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?” (p.37)
 Men return from work – George talks proudly when Slim discusses how strong and quick Lennie was at
bucking barley.
 George confides in Slim about him and Lennie (how George used to treat Lennie and events in Weed).
 Slim has given a puppy to Lennie – Lennie tries to hide the fact he’s smuggled it into the bunkhouse.
 Carlson complains about Candy’s dog. Candy is pressured and eventually gives in. Carlson takes the dog
outside and shoots it. Candy is clearly upset.
 Crooks arrives for Slim and they leave to do some work in the barn. The remaining men gossip about
Curley’s wife and ‘old Susy’s place.’
 Curley appears looking for his wife and full of jealousy he heads to the barn. Carlson and Whit follow.
 George talks about their dream to Lennie and Candy overhears – he joins them with his savings.
 The men return – Curley apologising to Slim but full of anger attacks Lennie. George yells at Lennie to
fight back and he breaks Curley’s hand. Curley’s forced to agree that he won’t get George or Lennie fired.
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“George spoke proudly. “Jus’ tell Lennie what to do an’ he’ll do it if it don’t take no figuring” ” (p.40)
“Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever’thing he likes. Just wants to feel it” (p.42)
“I didn’t mean no harm, George. Honest I didn’t. I jus’ wanted to pet ‘um a little” (p.44)
Candy – “The old man squirmed uncomfortably. “Well – hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a
pup. I herded sheep with him.” He said proudly” (p.45)
Slim – “That dog ain’t no good to himself. I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple” ” (p.46)
“She’s gonna make a mess…She’s a jail bait all set on the trigger” (p.52)
The dream – “This thing they had never really believed in was coming true” (p.60)
“Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held. Blood ran down Lennie’s face” (p.63)
Significance of Chapter:
Significance of Chapter:
Significance of Chapter:
Key Events:
Key Events:
Key Events:
This chapter introduces many themes (such as friendship, dreams and innocence). By describing the
setting as a utopia it highlights the charm of George and Lennie’s friendship as well as the dream that they
share. Even though the setting is beautiful there are hints of danger (such as the dead mouse and the
rabbits running away when they hear footsteps). Steinbeck uses a lot of nature and animal imagery
(usually through similes) to create a powerful picture of the men but this also hints at danger as most
animals in the novel die (such as Candy’s dog and Lennie’s puppy). Steinbeck uses colour connotations
(e.g. “yellow sands”) to emphasise the heavenly setting and pathetic fallacy (e.g. “sunlight”),
personification (e.g. “leaves whispered”) and alliteration (e.g. “deer that come to drink in the dark”) to
create an effective atmosphere. These language features are found throughout the novel.
 Introduced to Crooks’ room where Crooks is described in more detail.
 Lennie has appeared at his doorway and Crooks is annoyed. However, Lennie’s innocence defeats
Crooks and he starts to enjoy the company.
 Crooks cruelly suggests that George might not come back from town and enjoys emotionally torturing
Lennie until Lennie becomes threatening.
 Candy enters the room and Crooks is secretly pleased to have more company.
 Crooks mocks their dream until he realises it’s possible and shyly asks to join (although he takes it back)
 Curley’s wife appears, refuses to leave and talks about her unhappiness and loneliness. She teases and
threatens them.
The description of the bunkhouse shows how hard the lives of the men are – they have few comforts or
belongings. By talking about killing Candy’s dog, Steinbeck shows how the weak are not tolerated by the
world when times are hard. Nearly all the characters face the reality that they will not be looked after by
those with power. Curley’s wife is deliberately not given a name – she belongs to Curley. Women in the
novel are described as either sex objects or carers of men. Female sexuality is seen as a trap to ruin men;
they are a temptation leading to man’s fall (just like in the garden of Eden). They prevent men from
reaching their utopia. The men long for peaceful, untroubled lives in the company of other men. By
showing George and Lennie’s fear of trouble and promises to stick closer together as well as Slim’s
appreciation of their bond, George and Lennie’s impressive and rare friendship is emphasised.
It’s Sunday and Lennie is alone in the barn while the men are competing in a horseshoe tournament.
Lennie has accidently killed his puppy. He is upset and worried that George will be angry with him.
Curley’s wife appears. Convinces Lennie to talk to her and starts telling her story (her dream).
Lennie continues to talk about his rabbits and his love for soft things. Curley’s wife invites Lennie to
stroke her hair. He gets excited, holds on and frightens her. In their struggle, Lennie breaks her neck.
 Lennie runs to the brush. He remembers that George said to hide there if he was in trouble.
 Candy discovers Curley’s wife’s body. He brings George to the barn. It’s clear that their dream is over.
 The men set off to look for Lennie. Curley is out for revenge and blood.
 This end chapter returns to the setting of chapter one (utopia).
 Lennie appears. He’s proud at remembering to hide there but starts having unpleasant visions (Aunt
Clara and a gigantic rabbit).
 George arrives. He’s quiet and won’t give Lennie “hell” until Lennie insists on it.
 George starts telling Lennie about their dream. The men can be heard in the distance. George shoots
Lennie in the back of the head as Lennie looks into the distance imagining their farm.
 The men arrive. Slim takes George away to get a drink. Curley and Carlson look after them and wonder
why they’re behaving in that way.
Important Quotes:
Important Quotes:
Important Quotes:
Significance of Chapter:
Significance of Chapter:
Significance of Chapter:
 “He had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905…This
room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man” (p.67)
 Crooks – “I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room” (p.68)
 “You got George. You know he’s goin’ to come back. S’pose you didn’t have nobody” (p.72)
 “It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger” (p.74)
 “ “They left all the weak ones here,” she said finally” (p.76)
 “I tell ya I could of went with shows…a guy tol’ me he could put me in pitchers” (p.78)
 “Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs – a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep – an’ likin’
it because they ain’t nobody else” (p.78)
 “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny”
(p.80)
Crooks is a lonely figure. He also has a physical disability which makes him worry that soon he will be
perceived as useless on the ranch (like Candy). As a black man, he is isolated from the other men and this
has made him bitter. Crooks, Candy and Lennie are the three mentally or physically impaired ‘outcasts’ of
the farm but for a moment they can imagine a life of freedom. Curley’s wife is not included because she is
seen as a ‘tart’ however; she is similar to Crooks as they are both intelligent, perceptive and bitter from
their mistreatment. Curley’s wife and Lennie have come into direct contact and her behaviour and
dialogue (“I like machines”) hints that she is keen to have contact with Lennie again.
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By telling their story, George shows how the strong often mistreat the vulnerable. When Candy’s beloved
dog is killed (after even Slim agrees) it shows that there is no protection for the weak. However there are
comforts and the dream becomes more real with Candy’s help, but it is clear that tragic events will
intervene (it will only stay a dream). The story of Weed and Curley’s attack shows how unintentionally
dangerous Lennie can be when confused and frightened (hints at events to come). The way that Carlson
shoots Candy’s dog in a painless shot to the head mirrors the way that George will later shoot his friend
(in the same way with the same gun). Both George and Candy talk about knowing their companions since
they were young and Candy’s comment that he wished he’d shot his dog himself foreshadows the decision
that George makes to kill Lennie himself rather than let him be killed by Curley and the others.
 “ “Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice.” He picked up the pup and hurled it from him…
“Now I won’t get to tend the rabbits.” He rocked himself back and forth in his sorrow” (p.84)
 “She said “what kinda harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live. I
tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself” ” (p.86)
 “I met a guy, an’ he was in the pitchers…He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural.
Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it…never got that letter” (p.87)
 Lennie – “I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof’ things” (p.89)
 “He shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck”
(p.90)
 Candy – “You God damn tramp…Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up…I could of hoed in the garden
and washed dishes for them guys” (p.94)
 Curley – “I’m gonna shoot the guts outta that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand” (p.96)
It is clear that this tragedy was coming. In this chapter, Curley’s wife is described more sympathetically –
she is unhappy, lonely and has broken dreams. Like Crooks, she recognises that Lennie is safe to confide in
but doesn’t recognise the danger. When dead, she is described positively; her seductive nature is replaced
with innocence. It is clear to George what has to be done (Slim clarifies this “s’pose they lock him up an’
strap him down…That ain’t no good” p.96) Killing Lennie himself if the kindest option. With this tragedy,
the dream of their own farm has disappeared. There is no hope for dreams in this harsh world.
 “The beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically” (p.98)
 “But the rabbit repeated softly over and over, “He gonna leave you, ya crazy bastard. He gonna leave ya
all alone. He gonna leave ya, crazy bastard” ” (p.101)
 “Lennie looked eagerly at him. “Go on, George. Ain’t you gonna give me no more hell?” ” (p.102)
 “ ”We got each other, that’s what, that gives a hoot in hell about us,” Lennie cried in triumph” (p.103)
 “Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal
from ‘em” (p.104)
 “No Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know” (p.104)
 “The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger” (p.105)
 “Slim said, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda” ” (p.106)
 “Curley and Carlson looked after them...“Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?” ”
(p.106)
There is repetition in the description of the setting, which shows how much has changed since chapter
one. There is danger around as death comes to those that are unaware (heron and the snake), which is
symbolic of Lennie’s approaching fate. The mood is sorrowful even though Lennie is oblivious. George tells
the dream for the last time and with it, his hope for a different life disappears (will now be just another
man spending his pay on women and alcohol). It is clear that George needed Lennie just as much as Lennie
needed George. The other men only see justice, except for Slim who understands his loss. Carlson and
Curley represent the harsh conditions of a world where the weak are overpowered and bonds of
friendship are not understood.