Of Mice & Men

By John Steinbeck

“Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”

Learning Objectives:

The relationship between Lennie & George.

Curley’s Wife’s loneliness.

Curley’s wife’s failed dreams.

Chapter V

Why does Lennie get angry with the puppy

after killing it?

What does the fact that he’s now killed the puppy tell us about the impossibility of his dream?

Lennie

‘The whole country is full of mutts’ (Curley’s

Wife)

What might be the double meaning of a line like this?

‘Seems like ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live.’

Why is this important?

Lennie and Curley’s Wife

‘I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’

Why is this line particularly important to tell us about her character. Also why does it suggest that she is in a worse position then the others.

Why does she hurry through the story?

Lennie and Curley’s Wife

Summarise Curley’s Wife’s dream.

Curley’s Wife’s Dream

How do Curley’s wife and Lennie find common

ground?

Explain the significance of the dog finding it?

Explain the significance of Steinbeck’s description of the body.

What is the effect of sound and time slowing down?

Curley’s Wife’s Body

What should George have known?

George and Lennie’s relationship:

‘’We can’t let ‘im get away. Why, the poor bastard’d starve.” And he tried to reassure himself. “Maybe they’ll lock ‘im up an’ be nice to ‘im.”

George and Candy

“You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we,

George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?”

Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew.

Why could the dream never continue?

Why does George change his mind?

“You God damn tramp”, he said viciously. “You

done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.”

Candy & Curley’s Wife

How is violence again shown to be central to

their society?

What is Curley’s only instinct?

What does this tell us about him?

How does Slim react?

Violence

How do the hallucinations help develop his

character?

What do they show us about the inner workings of his mind?

Lennie’s Hallucinations

George shook himself. He said woodenly, “If I

was alone I could live so easy.” His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis. “I could get a job an’ not have no mess.” He stopped. “Go on,” said Lennie. “An’ when the enda the month come—” “An’ when the end of the month came I could take my fifty bucks an’ go to a . . . . cat house—” He stopped again. Lennie looked eagerly at him. “Go on, George. Ain’t you gonna give me no more hell?” “No,” said George.

Explain this section

“I ain’t gonna let ‘em hurt Lennie. Now you listen.

The guys might think I was in on it. I’m gonna go in the bunk house.’’

“Jesus Christ, Lennie! You can’t remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever’ word I say.”

“No,” said George. “No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.

George and Lennie

Did George have to kill Lennie? Why/Why not?

George & Slim