Study Guide
Of Mice and Men - Study and Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 1
Comprehension
1.
In what part of the country does the novel take place? Time period?
2.
List words that describe Lennie.
3.
List words that describe George.
4.
To what animal is Lennie compared?
5.
To what animal would you compare George? Why?
6.
Why were George and Lennie run out of Weed?
7.
What things does Lennie do and say that make him like a child?
8.
Where does George tell Lennie to hide if he gets in trouble?
Interpretation
1.
How does Steinbeck convey Lennie's animal-like qualities? (#4 above)
2.
Why does Steinbeck describe the actions of Lennie's hands (foreshadowing their importance) 3.
What is George's attitude toward Lennie in this section? Why does he stay with Lennie?
4.
Explain the connection between Lennie's mouse and what happened in Weed.
5.
Describe George's dreams in this section.
6.
What suggests that the dream of the farm is unrealistic?
7.
Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.
CHAPTER 2
Comprehension
1.
Who greeted George and Lennie at the bunkhouse?
2.
What unusual habits did Whitey have?
3.
Whom did the boss punish because George and Lennie were late? Why?
4.
Why does George answer all the questions directed to Lennie?
5.
How does the boss react to George's friendship with Lennie?
6.
What excuse does George give for Lennie's slowness?
7.
How does Curley react to Lennie's silence?
8.
What does Curley think about George and Lennie's traveling together?
9.
What does the swamper mean by the statement "Curley's pretty handy"?
10.
What uneasy feeling does George have about Curley's wife?
Interpretation
1.
Most of the opening paragraphs of this section consist of a realistic description of the bunkhouse. What detail suggests that the ranch hands have a "romantic" side?
2.
How does the account of Whitey's quitting contribute the book's mood of alienation?
3.
Why is the stable buck set apart from the other men?
CHAPTER 1
Comprehension
1.
In what part of the country does the novel take place? Time period?
2.
List words that describe Lennie.
3.
List words that describe George.
4.
To what animal is Lennie compared?
5.
To what animal would you compare George? Why?
6.
Why were George and Lennie run out of Weed?
7.
What things does Lennie do and say that make him like a child?
8.
Where does George tell Lennie to hide if he gets in trouble?
Interpretation
1.
How does Steinbeck convey Lennie's animal-like qualities? (#4 above)
2.
Why does Steinbeck describe the actions of Lennie's hands (foreshadowing their importance) 3.
What is George's attitude toward Lennie in this section? Why does he stay with Lennie?
4.
Explain the connection between Lennie's mouse and what happened in Weed.
5.
Describe George's dreams in this section.
6.
What suggests that the dream of the farm is unrealistic?
7.
Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.
CHAPTER 2
Comprehension
1.
Who greeted George and Lennie at the bunkhouse?
2.
What unusual habits did Whitey have?
3.
Whom did the boss punish because George and Lennie were late? Why?
4.
Why does George answer all the questions directed to Lennie?
5.
How does the boss react to George's friendship with Lennie?
6.
What excuse does George give for Lennie's slowness?
7.
How does Curley react to Lennie's silence?
8.
What does Curley think about George and Lennie's traveling together?
9.
What does the swamper mean by the statement "Curley's pretty handy"?
10.
What uneasy feeling does George have about Curley's wife?
Interpretation
1.
Most of the opening paragraphs of this section consist of a realistic description of the bunkhouse. What detail suggests that the ranch hands have a "romantic" side?
2.
How does the account of Whitey's quitting contribute the book's mood of alienation?
3.
Why is the stable buck set apart from the other men?