Of Mice & Men
By John Steinbeck
New Procedure
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Read a chapter
Then fill out the “Note-Taking and Summarizing” chart.
Turn in for a HW grade.
Format
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Question – Characters, Where, question
Predict – what will happen next?
Connect – to yourself, to a situation, to a book, to a film
Summarize – 5-7 sentences about the chapter.
Reflect – Themes?
Ch 1 - Question
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Characters: George & Lennie
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Where? Near Soledad, the Salinas Valley in Northern
California. In a wooded area next to a pond.
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Question: Why is George looking out for Lennie? Are
they related? What exactly happened in the town of
Weed?
Predict
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I predict that Lennie will open his big mouth when they
meet the boss.
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I predict that eventually Lennie will get in trouble and
come back to this place.
Connect
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George speaks to Lennie like a child, making him throw
away the dead mouse, but then Lennie tries to sneak it
back. So this reminds me of how I interact with my own
son often, like the other night when he told me that he
had brushed his teeth, but when I asked to smell his
breath, he admitted that he hadn’t.
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But it’s also a two-way relationship, because having Lennie
to care for gives George’s life more meaning than the
ordinary solitary ranch hand – “Cause I got you to look
after me, and you got me to look after you.”
Reflect
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A theme of the book is going to be about how caring for
another human being brings meaning to our lives.
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Another theme will be about hopes & dreams & plans for
the future, because their dream right now seems too
good to come true (live off the fat of the land, not work
on rainy days, cream on the milk so thick you can hardly
cut it, green rabbits – millions of ‘em).
Of Mice & Men – Chapter 2, p. 17-37
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Characters: George & Lennie, Candy, Candy’s dog, boss,
Curly, Curly’s wife, Slim, Carlson,
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Where: The bunkhouse on the ranch
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Question: Are George & Lennie related? Why do they
travel around together?
Predict
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I predict that Lennie will open his big mouth when they
meet the boss – he does but it’s not a big deal.
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I predict that eventually Lennie will get in trouble and
come back to this place – George & Lennie rehearse this
idea again.
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I predict that Curley & his wife will get Lennie in trouble.
Connect
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This scene reminds me of the first day of college, moving
in and meeting new roommates. I remember my mom
getting really upset over some trivial things (like George
does, suspecting lice). She thought my dorm was across
Route 18, & my room was in the basement. The people
you meet are what you need to watch out for.
Summary
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George & Lennie have arrived at the ranch and shown to
the bunkhouse by Candy. They are introduced to the
boss. George tells the boss that they are cousins. We
learn later that this is a lie; they are not related by blood.
We are then introduced to Curley, the boss’s son who
likes to pick fights, and Curley’s wife (no name) who is
inappropriately flirtatious. George understands that these
two characters could cause trouble for Lennie, so he
rehearses the idea of going back to the pond in case of
trouble. Other characters are introduced.
Reflect
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Curley’s wife is a stereotype character & a sexist
stereotype – a “tart” who is going to cause trouble. She
doesn’t even get a name.
Is this a defect in the book? Laziness by the author? Or
an effective way to keep the book short, tight, & focused?
Steinbeck uses irony & allusion in Ch 2. Our main
characters are Lennie Small & George Milton.
Irony
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Dictionary definition – DON’T write this down!
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1. A manner of discourse in which hat is literally said is
meant to express its opposite.
2. A result the reverse of what was expected.
3. A situation, event, or pairing in which the main
elements are rationally or emotionally incompatible
because of contrast, but are nevertheless undeniable.
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Intended meaning   Actual meaning
Expectation   Result
Irony - Example
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“I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.”
“Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He ain’t very
small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.
Why is it surprising that Lennie’s last name is Small?
Because he’s huge, & super strong.
But when you think about it, why is his last name actually
very appropriate?
Because mentally, he’s a child.
Irony
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Write this definition down:
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Something that seems surprising when you first look at it,
but when you think about, it’s actually very fitting.
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“Isn’t that ironic?”
“No, that’s just sarcasm.” “No, it’s just a coincidence.”
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Allusion
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“I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.”
“Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He ain’t very
small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.
Allusion
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“I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.”
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“Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He ain’t very
small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.
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What’s an allusion?
A reference to another book, story, poem, movie, song, or
work of art.
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What if I don’t know the other story or poem or movie?
It’s ok. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It just means
you haven’t gotten a chance to experience it yet. This is
where a teacher should help out.
Allusion
Why do authors use allusions?
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To connect this story with
the ideas and themes of
another story.
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Steinbeck  Milton 
Genesis, the Torah, the
Bible
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Paradise is lost and we can
never go back to the
Garden of Eden again.
Allusion
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The title is also an
allusion.
Steinbeck borrowed a line
from the poem “To A
Mouse” by Robert Burns.
“To a Mouse” by Robert Burns
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https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=cy8lehO7nqg
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Listen & write down any
rhyming words that you
can hear.
Of Mice & Men, Ch 3, p. 38 - 65
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Characters: George & Lennie, Slim, Candy, Candy’s dog,
Carlson, Curley, Whit
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Where? The bunkhouse at the ranch
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Question: How are George & Lennie ever going to afford
to buy their own ranch?
Predict
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I predict that eventually Lennie will hurt or even kill his
new puppy (accidentally).
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I predict that this book with deal with the topic of
euthanasia – the idea of a “mercy killing.” When is it
appropriate to euthanize a dog or other animal? Is it ever
appropriate to euthanize a human being?
Connect
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I remember when I was a kid and our dog Mollie the
collie was put down. My parents dropped my younger
brother & I off at my grandparents. I had the flu, and
because I was sick my parents hadn’t told me about it.
My brother told me, “One hour until doomsday.” I didn’t
understand what he meant. He had to tell me what was
going on. It was strange because as the older brother,
usually my parents told me first. I didn’t get to say
goodbye to Mollie. It was a very emotional day for all of
us.
Summary
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1.
2.
3.
4.
This chapter comes in four segments:
George thanks Slim for giving Lennie a puppy. George gives
a more complete account of his background with Lennie,
including mean tricks he used to play on Lennie.
Carlson convinces Candy that his old dog must be put down.
Carlson takes the dog out to be shot. Later, Candy says he
shouldn’t have “let no stranger shoot my dog.”
Candy overhears George & Lennie talking about the farm
they want to buy. Candy has $350 and offers to go in with
George & Lennie. With this $, George realizes they might
actually be able to do it (up until now it’s been just a fantasy.)
Curley comes in looking for a fight and picks on Lennie, who
doesn’t fight back until George tells him too. Lennie crushes
Curley’s hand. Slim convinces Curley not to tell, not to get
George & Lennie fired.
Reflect
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The episode with Candy’s dog foreshadows the end of the
novel.
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George needs Lennie just as much as Lennie needs George: “I
ain’t got no people. I seen the guys that go around on the
ranches alone. That ain’t no good.”
Despite the trouble, caring for Lennie gives meaning to
George’s life. Without Lennie, the dream won’t work.
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Steinbeck uses more Biblical allusions – George: “If I was bright,
if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’
I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and
not getting what comes up outta the ground.”
Biblical allusion?
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George: “If I was bright, if
I was even a little bit
smart, I’d have my own
little place, an’ I’d be
bringin’ in my own crops,
‘stead of doin’ all the
work and not getting what
comes up outta the ground.”
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Cain & Abel, Genesis Ch 4
Disclaimer
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I teach literature, not
religion.
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What are the connections
between Cain & Abel and
George & Lennie?
Genesis Ch 4
Cain & Abel
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Cain is a farmer
Cain kills Abel
“Am I my brother’s
keeper?”
Cursed
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Fugitive
Vagabond
When he tills the ground,
he doesn’t get to keep it
George & Lennie
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Fugitives from Weed
Wandering vagabonds
“doin’ all the work and
not getting what comes up
outta the ground.”
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But not actual brothers
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C’mon, you really think Steinbeck…?
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WILLIAM GOLDHURST ON THE CAIN AND
ABEL THEME IN OF MICE AND MEN
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Write a letter to Mr. Goldhurst responding to his idea.
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Dear Mr. Goldhurst,
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I just read your essay about the Cain and Abel theme in Of
Mice & Men and I think your essay is ….
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain…
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Candy
Carlson
Crooks
Curley
Curley’s wife
Aunt Clara
Clara (the madam in town)
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Why so many names that start with C?
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Of Mice & Men, Ch 4, p. 66 - 83
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Characters: Lennie, Crooks, Candy, Curley’s wife
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Where? Crooks’s room
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Question: How do race relations affect the characters’
relationships? It is the 1930s, California, and Crooks is
African-American.
Prediction
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Lennie won’t care about race. He’s childlike and innocent.
He probably doesn’t understand the racial tension that
exists.
Connect
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When I was 5 years old, I came home from kindergarten
and told my mother: My best friend’s name is Michael,
just like me. In fact, we’re exactly alike. We both love
football and we’re both really fast and we both want to
grow up to play wide receiver in the NFL. Do you know
the only way to tell us apart? He’s black and I’m white.
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Little kids don’t care about race. Racism is taught to
them. Lennie, being childlike, is innocent of racism.
Summary
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In this chapter, we get more information about Crooks, the
only African American character in the novel. He lives alone in
a small, neat room off the barn. He has a crippled spine. He
keeps to himself to avoid any trouble.
Lennie wanders in & lets slip about the plan to buy a farm.
Crooks is skeptical. Then Candy arrives & explains they
almost have the $. Crooks asks if he can go in with them too.
Then Curley’s wife enters, asking how Curley got hurt, and she
realizes Lennie did it. When Crooks orders her to leave his
room, she threatens to get Crooks lynched.
Crooks says he was only kidding about going in on the farm.
Reflect
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For a moment, the dream to buy their own ranch almost
expands across racial lines, to include Crooks. But then
Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his place in this society, a
very tenuous place in a society very dangerous to him.
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Crooks’s defense mechanism is to isolate himself, to
remain a loner. To him, this seems the safest, wisest
course.
Vocab of Of Mice & Men
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Use a dictionary or your phone to look up the definitions
in your assigned chapter.
Do only the exercise that corresponds to your chapter.
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Teach your words to the rest of class.
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Do the crossword at the end. Turn in the crossword at
the end of class.
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These words (for all 6 chapters) will be on Friday’s test.
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Of Mice & Men, Ch 5, p. 84-98
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Characters: Lennie, Curley’s wife, Candy, George, Curley
& the other minor characters
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Location: The barn
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Question: In this chapter, do we get enough background
on Curley’s wife to sympathize with her? To make her
more than just a sexist stereotype?
Prediction
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Steinbeck will manipulate the scene so that Lennie
remains innocent.
Connection
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I don’t like the part on p. 95 where Candy blames the
victim and scolds the corpse of Curley’s wife. Steinbeck
is encouraging us to blame it on Curley’s wife and think
that “she got what was coming to her.”
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It reminds me of law school studying criminal law and
criminal procedure and the discussion of rape cases. The
film The Accused with Jodie Foster was also out at the
same time, so there was a lot of discussion in the media
about blaming the victim in cases of rape and sexual
assault.
Summary
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Lennie is in the barn, nervous because he has killed his
puppy. Curley’s wife arrives. She discusses her back
story: She met a guy who told her she could be in the
movies, who told her he would write her a letter. When
no letter arrived, she accused her mother of stealing it.
So she ran off and married Curley, whom she knows is a
jerk. She invites Lennie to stroke her hair, and when he
won’t stop, she screams. Lennie puts his hand over her
mouth to make her stop and breaks her neck.
Candy discovers the body. Informs George. Curley vows
to shoot Lennie’s guts out – to kill him slowly & painfully.
Reflect
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How is this tragedy in any way the fault of Curley’s wife?
We feel comfortable blaming her because she’s just a
stereotype, not a fully developed character. Even her
back story about the guy who told her that she “coulda
been in the movies” is a cliché. It doesn’t make us feel
sympathy for her; it make us think she’s stupid if she fell
for that old line. And then we feel no sympathy for her
using her resulting conflict with her mother (thinking her
mom stole the letter from they guy who was going to put
her in the movies) as motivation to marry Curley.
She’s just a prop to move the plot along.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
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Also a theme of
Steinbeck’s The Grapes of
Wrath (1939)
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Great Depression + 9
year drought = Okies
losing their farms, moving
to California
Write a paragraph – Start like this:
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“Am I my brother’s keeper?” is theme of Steinbeck’s Of
Mice & Men as well as The Grapes of Wrath. The idea that
we must reach out and care for our fellow human beings
is illustrated by the diner scene from chapter 15 of
Grapes.
Now add:
1. A brief summary of the scene
2. An analysis of the scene – Explain how it illustrates the
theme.
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Of Mice & Men, Ch. 6 p. 99 - 107
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Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes.
But you’re cursed. You bear the mark of Cain and will
forever wander alone, a fugitive, a vagabond, and when
you till the earth, it will not yield up unto you its strength.
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The inversion: In Genesis, Cain IS NOT being a good
keeper when he kills Abel. In OMM, Steinbeck is trying to
set it up so that George IS being a good keeper when he
kills Lennie.
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Slim said, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda.”
The Karma Review
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Test on OMM tomorrow.
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Do NOT put your name on this paper.
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Karma: What goes around comes around.
May you get as good as you give.
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Rule: Always pass the paper to the same person.
Let’s practice.
Title the review sheet
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Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck
Test Friday, March 22, 2013
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Format: 20 true/false, 20 vocab matching, 5 short answer,
1 open-ended
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Pass the paper.
Answer these questions
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Why is Lennie Smalls an
ironic name for this
character?
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Explain the allusion in the
name George Milton.
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What happened in Weed?
Answer these questions
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According to George, how
are they different than most
guys who work on ranches?
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What’s George & Lennie’s
plan?
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Explain why Of Mice & Men
is a good title for this book
– explain how it relates to
the Robert Burns poem &
the line “The best laid plans
of mice & men often go all
wrong.”
Answer these questions
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Describe the setting of the novel – where does most of
the action take place? What state are they in? What time
period?
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Describe Curley.
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Describe Curley’s wife.
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Describe Candy. Why is he included in George & Lennie’s
plans?
Answer these questions.
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Curley, Curley’s wife, Carlson, Crooks, Candy, Aunt Clara,
Clara – why do so many of these characters have names
that start with C?
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Look back over what’s on the page. Make a correction,
comment, or addition.
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How does Lennie get in trouble at the ranch?
Answer these questions
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Evaluate Curley’s wife. In your opinion, is Curley’s wife just a
stereotype? Or do you feel some sympathy for her? Or is she
an evil character who got what was coming to her?
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What’s the climax of the novel?
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Why does George shoot & kill Lennie?
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Slim says that George “hadda” do it. Do you agree?
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Is Steinbeck arguing that the mentally challenged should be
euthanized? If so, shouldn’t this book be banned? Explain your
answer.
Answer these questions
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Look back over what’s on the page. Make a correction,
comment, or addition.
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How is George like Cain from the book of Genesis?
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Is George his brother’s keeper? Did he do the right
thing?
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Do you agree with critic William Goldhurst that
Steinbeck is trying to reference the story of Cain & Abel
in Of Mice & Men? Explain why or why not.
Answer these questions
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Define these vocab words:
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Belligerently
Monotonous
Scornfully
Sullenly
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Look back over what’s on the page. Make a correction,
comment, or addition.
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Put your name on the page. This is your Of Mice & Men
review sheet. Study this for tomorrow’s test.