Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen

RevisionRevision

LennieLennieSuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:►When we first meet him. Chap When we first meet him. Chap

11►How he reacts to the story of How he reacts to the story of

the dream ranch. 60-63the dream ranch. 60-63► Fight with Curley. 66-69Fight with Curley. 66-69► Conversation with Crooks. 72-8Conversation with Crooks. 72-8►Dead puppy and killing of Dead puppy and killing of

Curley’s wife. 89-97Curley’s wife. 89-97►His own death. Chap 6His own death. Chap 6

LennieLennie► Huge man, who walks heavily. Huge man, who walks heavily.

(Chap1)(Chap1)► Often described like an animal: Often described like an animal:

walks like a bear, drinks like a walks like a bear, drinks like a horse, has ‘paws’.horse, has ‘paws’.

► Cunning, like an animal, and Cunning, like an animal, and uses this to get around George uses this to get around George and to get his sympathy.and to get his sympathy.

► Has no memory. Example?Has no memory. Example?► Gets into trouble and loses jobs.Gets into trouble and loses jobs.

LennieLennie► Like a small child who needs the Like a small child who needs the

comfort of stroking furry things like comfort of stroking furry things like mice.mice.

► That got him in trouble in Weed.That got him in trouble in Weed.► Believes in the ‘dream ranch’ and Believes in the ‘dream ranch’ and

looks forward to tending the rabbits.looks forward to tending the rabbits.► Attracted to girls in bright colour – Attracted to girls in bright colour –

like Curley’s Wife and the girl in like Curley’s Wife and the girl in Weed.Weed.

► Not to be trusted on his own.Not to be trusted on his own.► George gives him somewhere to George gives him somewhere to

hide when he gets in trouble.hide when he gets in trouble.

Lennie: Signs of Lennie: Signs of TroubleTrouble

►Has been involved in a Has been involved in a serious incident in Weed, serious incident in Weed, before the start of the novel.before the start of the novel.

► Kills the mice he pets, Kills the mice he pets, because he does not know because he does not know his own strength.his own strength.

► Can’t let go of Curley’s Can’t let go of Curley’s hand. So strong, he can hand. So strong, he can crush every bone. Details?crush every bone. Details?

► Kills his pup. Why?Kills his pup. Why?

Lennie at the EndLennie at the End►Why does he touch Curley’s Wife Why does he touch Curley’s Wife

in the first place?in the first place?► How exactly is she killed?How exactly is she killed?► How does he try to cover it up?How does he try to cover it up?► How does George cover up for How does George cover up for

him?him?►What does Lennie ‘see’ at the What does Lennie ‘see’ at the

end?end?►Why does George have to shoot Why does George have to shoot

him?him?

GeorgeGeorgeSuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:►Our introduction to him in Our introduction to him in

Chap 1.Chap 1.►Arrival at ranch. 19-27Arrival at ranch. 19-27►Conversation with Slim. 40-44Conversation with Slim. 40-44►Talking to Candy about the Talking to Candy about the

Dream Ranch. 62-4Dream Ranch. 62-4►The final chapter. The final chapter.

GeorgeGeorgeWhere can you find evidence Where can you find evidence for all these statements?for all these statements?

► Small, short and quick.Small, short and quick.► Two minds about Lennie: Two minds about Lennie:

knows he needs looking after, knows he needs looking after, but also has a desire for his but also has a desire for his own life.own life.

► Understands Lennie – but Understands Lennie – but maybe not enough?maybe not enough?

► Cautious – does not trust Cautious – does not trust people quickly, e.g. Candy.people quickly, e.g. Candy.

CandyCandySuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:► First meeting. 19-22, First meeting. 19-22,

25-3025-30► The shooting of his The shooting of his

dog. 46-52dog. 46-52► Joining in with the Joining in with the

Ranch dream. 62-5Ranch dream. 62-5► Speaking up to Speaking up to

Curley’s wife. 83-4Curley’s wife. 83-4► Reaction to Curley’s Reaction to Curley’s

Wife’s death. 98-101Wife’s death. 98-101

CandyCandy►He has a job as a cleaner (swamper). He has a job as a cleaner (swamper).

He is too old and disabled to be a He is too old and disabled to be a ranch hand any more. ranch hand any more.

►He’s a gossip, a good source of He’s a gossip, a good source of information on Curley, the Boss, information on Curley, the Boss, Curley’s Wife, Slim. See pages 21-9Curley’s Wife, Slim. See pages 21-9

►What do we learn about him from his What do we learn about him from his attitude to his dog and his eagerness attitude to his dog and his eagerness to join in with the Dream Ranch?to join in with the Dream Ranch?

Curley’s WifeCurley’s WifeSuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:► First meeting + the First meeting + the

reactions of George reactions of George and Lennie. 32-4and Lennie. 32-4

► The ranch hands think The ranch hands think she’s with Slim – leads she’s with Slim – leads to fight. 56-9to fight. 56-9

►Her visit to Crooks’s Her visit to Crooks’s room. 81-6room. 81-6

►Her death scene. 91-7Her death scene. 91-7

Curley’s Curley’s WifeWife

► She is the only woman on the ranch.She is the only woman on the ranch.► The ranch hands think she is a tart. Can you The ranch hands think she is a tart. Can you

find any evidence of this?find any evidence of this?►What do her appearance and body language What do her appearance and body language

say about her? Page32say about her? Page32►How does Lennie react to her here?How does Lennie react to her here?►Why do we never know her name?Why do we never know her name?►What were her dreams?What were her dreams?► Look in detail at the way she speaks in Crooks’s Look in detail at the way she speaks in Crooks’s

room. What do you learn about her? 81-6room. What do you learn about her? 81-6

CurleyCurley Suitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:►First meeting and First meeting and

Candy’s gossip 26-9Candy’s gossip 26-9►Very brief appearances: Very brief appearances:

38,56-738,56-7►Attack on Lennie. 65-9Attack on Lennie. 65-9►Reaction to his wife’s Reaction to his wife’s

death. 102-4death. 102-4►After Lennie’s death. After Lennie’s death.

113113

CurleyCurleyFind evidence for these statements and explain Find evidence for these statements and explain

them:them:►Only ever makes short appearances.Only ever makes short appearances.► Always looking for his wife. Very possessive of Always looking for his wife. Very possessive of

her.her.► Always aggressive body language – fancies Always aggressive body language – fancies

himself as a boxer.himself as a boxer.► Always asking questions.Always asking questions.►Wears clothes like the Boss: boots, glove.Wears clothes like the Boss: boots, glove.► There is a lot of gossip about him and his wife.There is a lot of gossip about him and his wife.

SlimSlimSuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:► First meeting. 34-6First meeting. 34-6► Conversation with Conversation with

George. 40-46George. 40-46►His part in the shooting His part in the shooting

of Candy’s dog. 50-1of Candy’s dog. 50-1►How he deals with How he deals with

Curley. 65-9Curley. 65-9► After Lennie’s death. After Lennie’s death.

113113

SlimSlim►Look at the paragraph of description on p Look at the paragraph of description on p

34-5. Pick out all the details which justify 34-5. Pick out all the details which justify him being called him being called the prince of the ranch.the prince of the ranch.

►He doesn’t say a lot, but he encourages He doesn’t say a lot, but he encourages others to talk. How does he get George to others to talk. How does he get George to tell him so much about Lennie? 42-5tell him so much about Lennie? 42-5

►Describe how Slim handles the Describe how Slim handles the situationon pages 67-8.situationon pages 67-8.

CrooksCrooksSuitable Incidents:Suitable Incidents:►Short appearance to see Slim. Short appearance to see Slim.

5353►In his room. Chap 4In his room. Chap 4►He is mentioned on pages 21, He is mentioned on pages 21,

30, 10130, 101

CrooksCrooks►The only worker on the ranch to have his The only worker on the ranch to have his

own ‘room’. Why? Why does nobody else own ‘room’. Why? Why does nobody else go there?go there?

►Look at Chap 4 and find out about his Look at Chap 4 and find out about his past.past.

►Think about why he wants to hurt Lennie.Think about why he wants to hurt Lennie.►What gives him the confidence to ask to What gives him the confidence to ask to

be part of the Dream Ranch? How is his be part of the Dream Ranch? How is his confidence shattered?confidence shattered?

ThemesThemes►LonelinessLoneliness►DreamsDreams►Itinerant WorkersItinerant Workers►MisfitsMisfits►PrejudicePrejudice►Loyalty/FriendshipLoyalty/Friendship

LonelinesLonelinesss

‘‘Guys like us, that Guys like us, that work on work on ranches, are ranches, are the loneliest the loneliest guys in the guys in the world. They got world. They got no family. They no family. They don’t belong no don’t belong no place.’place.’

► George George has Lennie – but he’s has Lennie – but he’s not a proper companion.not a proper companion.

► Lennie Lennie also has a succession of also has a succession of ‘pets’.‘pets’.

► CandyCandy: relies on his dog; is : relies on his dog; is eager to join in with dream eager to join in with dream ranch; wishes someone would ranch; wishes someone would shoot him when he gets old.shoot him when he gets old.

► CrooksCrooks is only allowed to is only allowed to socialise when playing socialise when playing horseshoes. Alone because of horseshoes. Alone because of his colour.his colour.

► Curley’s wifeCurley’s wife – no female – no female company, no one to talk to, company, no one to talk to, hates her husband. Loneliness hates her husband. Loneliness leads to her death.leads to her death.

DreamsDreams►Owning their own place is the answer to a lot Owning their own place is the answer to a lot

of characters’ dreams, because they are of characters’ dreams, because they are always on the move and can never make always on the move and can never make friends or start a family. Candy and Crooks are friends or start a family. Candy and Crooks are eager to join in with the dream George and eager to join in with the dream George and Lennie have. 62-4 Crooks had a better life Lennie have. 62-4 Crooks had a better life when he was a child. 77when he was a child. 77

►George has his own dream of what he would George has his own dream of what he would do without Lennie. 11do without Lennie. 11

► Curley’s dreams of being a boxer are realised Curley’s dreams of being a boxer are realised but ironically do him no good.but ironically do him no good.

► Curley’s Wife dreams of being in the movies Curley’s Wife dreams of being in the movies and married Curley on the rebound from the and married Curley on the rebound from the guy ‘in pitchers’. 93-4guy ‘in pitchers’. 93-4

►Dreams make the hard life they lead bearable.Dreams make the hard life they lead bearable.

Misfits Misfits and and

PrejudicPrejudicee

Most Most characters characters

are are outsiders in outsiders in their own their own

wayway..

► Lennie Lennie is backward.is backward.► CrooksCrooks is black. is black.► Candy Candy is disabled and old.is disabled and old.► Curley’s WifeCurley’s Wife is the only woman. is the only woman.► CurleyCurley is short. is short.

► They are the ones most involved They are the ones most involved in dreams.in dreams.

► How are they treated by the How are they treated by the society around them?society around them?

► How do they compensate?How do they compensate?► What would the future hold for What would the future hold for

them?them?

Loyalty Loyalty and and

FriendshipFriendship‘‘because I got because I got

you to look you to look after me, after me,

and you got and you got me to look me to look after you.’after you.’

► George sticks with Lennie and George sticks with Lennie and protects him, even though he protects him, even though he sometimes hankers after a different sometimes hankers after a different life. Others think that he must be life. Others think that he must be swindling him out of his pay.swindling him out of his pay.

► At least Lennie is a companion.At least Lennie is a companion.► Candy is so keen to be friends and Candy is so keen to be friends and

belong that he offers his life savings.belong that he offers his life savings.► Curley’s wife looks for friendship Curley’s wife looks for friendship

and companionship from the ranch and companionship from the ranch hands, but it is misinterpreted and hands, but it is misinterpreted and leads to her death.leads to her death.

► Crooks is suspicious of relationships Crooks is suspicious of relationships and only lets down his guard briefly.and only lets down his guard briefly.