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1、Of Mice and Men Pre-Reading Questions1. What does it mean to “work the land”?2. Do you have certain times and places when you feel “close to the land”? Discuss.3. How important is it going to be for you to have a place you can call your own some day? 4. Do you feel that you have your own place today
2、? Where/what is it? How do you feel about it?5. How important will it be to have a piece of land?6. What are some reasons people have for living a life of “wandering”?7. What are migrant workers? (Use prior knowledge, perhaps from your history class, to answer this question)8. How have they been mis
3、treated? 9. What laws do we have today to protect the rights of migrant workers and their children?10. Have you ever known a retarded adult? What problems do they face?Of Mice and Men Introductory NotesRelatively unknown before the publication of this novel, John Steinbeck quickly began a public fig
4、ure. First published in February 1937, the book sold 117,000 copies in less than one month. Steinbecks shyness and need for privacy made the spotlight of the literary circle somewhat difficult for him. Tired of the constant social gatherings in his honor, Steinbeck finally got away for a well-earned
5、 holiday in Europe. There he included this in one of his letters: “I just need to get away from being John Steinbeck for a little while”.Steinbeck became a Nobel Prize winner a few years before his death in 1968. Since its publication, over fifty years ago, Of Mice and Men has become a permanent fix
6、ture of American literature.Setting:South of San Francisco in the Salinas Valley of California; during the Depression of the 1930s; three specific locations along the banks of the Salinas River near the ranch, in the ranch bunk house, and in the barn.Background:George Milton has cared for his slow (
7、and presumably mentally retarded) friend, Lennie Small, since the death of Lennies Aunt Clara. They travel together as migrant field workers so that one day they will have enough money to live on their own and be their own bosses. Unfortunately, every time they have a job, Lennie gets into some trou
8、ble which forces them to run away. This time they are running from a town called Weed because Lennie was accused of raping a girl from another town. The book begins with the two of them hiding from the angry townspeople. Lennie has a tendency to kill small, soft animals by accident. Because he is un
9、aware of his own strength, there are repeatedly severe problems.Major Characters:George Milton: the small sharp-witted ranch hand who travels with Lennie. George is a typical, realistic hand who uses his mind to anticipate the future. George has restless eyes and sharp, strong features with every pa
10、rt of him defined. He always has to bail Lennie out of trouble. Lennie Small: Lennie is a mentally retarded man who needs Georges constant attention and care; he has a short attention span and acts similar to a child. Because of his mental limitations, Lennie can never understand or anticipate the c
11、onsequences of his actions. Lennie is unnaturally large and has a shapeless face. He drags his feet when he walks and lets his arms hang. He has an infatuation with anything soft and furry. He acts impulsively which gets he and George into trouble numerous times. Slim: Wise, tall, thin and quiet, Sl
12、im is both respected and admired. Everyone seeks his approval, even Curley, who seems to have contempt for everyone else on the ranch. The others give into Slim because his word is the law. He is the voice of reason. Slim is the kind of man that George hopes to become one day. Carlson: A ranch hand
13、who serves as the character foil for Slim. He has a lack of concern for other peoples feelings and doesnt take time to understand them. He is an insensitive person who cares nothing for others. Carlson is the type of man George hopes to avoid becoming. Candy: A ranch hand who wants to join the dream
14、 of George and Lennie. He has one friend and long time companion, his dog. Because he is an old man and missing a hand, he is ostracized and discriminated against. He offers his life savings to George and Lennie to help finance their dream. Candy represents what will ultimately happen to all ranch h
15、ands: they will get old and have no place to go. Crooks: Crooks is a proud and independent man who functions as the stable worker. Also an outcast on the ranch, he has a place of his own and stays there by himself. He also wants to be part of George and Lennies dream and says that he would work for
16、free. Besides George, he is the only one who understands Lennie and befriends him. He looks past Lennies mental handicap and Lennie looks past Crooks physical handicap (his crooked, disfigured body). Curley - Curley is the bosss evil son and a small, vicious bully. He wears high-heeled boots and spu
17、rs to prove he isnt a laboring man. He believes himself superior to everyone and he attempts to intimidate those larger than he. Curleys wife-There isnt much known about her. In fact she isnt even given a name and is referred to only as Curleys wife. Because Curley doesnt pay much attention to her,
18、she is lonely and attempts to seduce the ranch hands. Themes:The American Dream: George and Lennie dream to be able to own of place of their own and be their own bosses. Also, everyone has a dream for which they strive. The poor ranch hands wish to be their own bosses and to actually have stability.
19、 Loneliness: Throughout the novel, a main characteristic most of the characters share is being lonely. With the exception of George and Lennie, no man other man feels close with another, especially Crooks. Crooks epitomizes the feelings of loneliness with the following statement, “A guy goes nuts if
20、 he aint got nobody. Dont make no difference who the guy is, longs he with you”.Innocence: This theme manifests itself in Lennies lack of understanding and/or ability to interact with others on the ranch. Some examples: he doesnt understand why he shouldnt enter Crooks room or why Curly does not lik
21、e men looking at his wife.Discrimination: The novel deals with several types of discrimination, but the most notable are seen in the others relationships with Crooks, Candy, and Lennie. Power: Curley symbolizes the aggressive, violent nature of abusive bosses. The pathetic situations of the farm han
22、ds make them the “perfect” objects for his ridicule. Curley takes full advantage of these opportunities. This is especially apparent in his dealings with Lennie. Ironically, Steinbeck makes sure to show the reader that Curleys toughness is only an attempt to compensate for his own weaknesses.Loyalty
23、 and Sacrifice: The concept of loyalty is embodied by George. He is a bright man who could most likely have a successful life; instead he chooses to stay beside his friend Lennie. He has a sacrificed a better life for himself in the name of loyalty to a friend.Major Conflicts:Man vs. SocietyLennie i
24、s a nuisance to most people and George constantly has to get him out of trouble. The townspeople chased George and Lennie out of town because they believed he had raped a girl. He had merely touched her dress.Man vs. HimselfWhen Lennie gets himself into serious trouble, George must make a decision t
25、hat will drastically affect both of their lives. This internal conflict rips George apart as he debates what the “right” thing to do is.Man vs. ManCurley constantly baits Lennie into a physical altercation. Reading Schedule:Day One- Complete Pre-Reading questions; Read Section One; answer all Sectio
26、n One packet questionsDay Two- Discuss Section One packet questions; Read Section Two; answer all Section Two packet questionsDay Three- Discuss Section Two packet questions; Read Section Three; Begin FilmDay Four- Watch of film; Discuss notable quotes from Section 4 and 5Day Five- Watch second of f
27、ilm; Discuss notable quotes from Section 6SECTION ONE 1. How does Steinbeck convey Lennies animal-like qualities?2. Why does Steinbeck describe the actions of Lennies hands?3. What is Georges attitude toward Lennie in this section? Why does he stay with Lennie?4. Explain the connection between Lenni
28、es mouse and what happened in the town of Weed.5. Describe Georges dream in this section.6. What suggests the dream of the farm is unrealistic?7. Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.SECTION TWO 1. Most of the opening paragraphs of this section consist of a realistic description of th
29、e bunkhouse. What detail suggests that the ranch hands have a romantic side?2. How does the account of Whitneys quitting contribute to the books mood of alienation?3. Why is the stable buck set apart from the other men?4. Which character names from this section have symbolic importance? List and exp
30、lain the importance of each.5. Why is the boss suspicious of George and Lennie?6. What explanation of Lennies mental condition is given? Is it accurate? Why or why not?7. What is Candys attitude toward Curley?8. What is Candys opinion of Curleys wide? Does it seem justified?9. What qualities does th
31、e description of Slim suggest?10. What is the significance of Slims and Carlsons remarks about the dogs?11. Give some examples of foreshadowing in this section.SECTION THREE1. What does Georges conversation with Slim reveal about his past treatment of Lennie?2. Why does George trust Slim?3. What is
32、Georges analysis of Lennies attack on the girl in Weed? Does it seem probable?4. Analyze Carlsons reasons for and Candys reasons against shooting Candys dog. How do they touch on the central issues of this novel?5. Why does George decline Whits invitation to visit the brothel?6. Relate Georges descr
33、iption of the farm to the novels theme of a romantic Eden.7. Is the farm a realistic dream?8. What comparison does Candy make between his condition and his dogs? How does this reinforce the theme of responsibility?9. What does Lennies fight with Curley show the ranch hands? What does the description
34、 of this fight suggest about the nature of violence?SECTION FOUR1. What does the description of Crooks room reveal about its occupant?2. Why is Crooks name appropriate?3. Why does Crooks allow Lennie to enter his room?4. How do Crooks words to Lennie about loneliness reinforce this theme of the nove
35、l?5. What is Crooks reaction to the dream of the farm?6. Show how Candys comments to Crooks and Lennie relate the dream of the land to Steinbecks theme of economic exploitation.7. How does the behavior of Curleys wife seem deliberately designed to provoke the men?8. What motives does Steinbeck sugge
36、st for her behavior?9. How is her nature as a destructive character most clearly revealed?10. In what ways does Crooks retreat before her attack?SECTION FIVE1. How is Lennies treatment of the dead puppy typical of his character?2. In what way is Curleys wife also a dreamer? Is her dream any more rea
37、listic than Georges and Lennies?3. How does Curleys wife feel about him?4. How does she entice Lennie into touching her?5. What is the nature of his attack?6. How does Lennie react to what he has done?7. How does Georges reaction to the murder relate to his belief in the dream?8. Compare the reactio
38、ns of Curley and Slim.SECTION SIX1. Describe Lennies state of mind as he goes to hide in the brush.2. The description of Lennies death recalls another event in the novel. What is it?3. What does this parallel reveal about Georges motives?4. Explain Georges last remarks to Lennie.5. Why does George lie about the gun?6. Why does Slim treat George as he does?7. Explain the significance of the last line in the novel.
