Name: ___________________________________________

Date: ____________

Period: _____

Discussion Questions
Of Mice and Men
Directions: You will be expected to keep an ongoing journal with answers to at least fifteen discussion
questions from the novella. I will provide you with the discussion questions at the start of each week. They will
be collected for grading at the end of each week. I suggest that you complete a few each day as you read.
However, I understand that you each have other classes and extracurricular commitments. Therefore, you can
manage your time and complete them as you wish throughout the week. However, they are due Friday of each
week. You need to answer a total of ten discussion questions out of the forty-one questions. This is to give you
freedom in choosing which you would like to answer. Be sure to mark the number of each that you select to
answer in your journal. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Chapter One (Due: Friday February 6th)

1. Name two details about the setting of the story introduced in chapter one. Describe what mental image
this creates for you in at least three sentences.
2. Describe the two men introduced on page 4. Why do you think that Steinbeck chooses to introduce the
physical appearance of the characters before introducing their personalities? Explain your reasoning.
3. A binary opposition is a literary technique utilized to make two things stand out in contrast with one
another. Evaluate the relationship between George and Lennie. Explain in what ways George and Lennie
are set in a binary opposition (opposing one another).
4. Vernacular language is the fancy term for the common or everyday language spoken by a certain group
of people. Vernacular language is very similar to dialect. However, vernacular language can fall under a
dialect of a particular cultural region. Locate three areas in the text where George and Lennie use
vernacular language that many rail riders used on ranches. Indicate the page numbers where you locate
these words or phrases.
5. You jus stand there and dont say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we wont get
no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, were set (Steinbeck 8). George tells Lennie not
to speak when they go to the ranch and apply for temporary jobs. George believes that Lennie is a good
worker, but his language (the way he speaks) is an indicator of his intellect. There is a notable
correlation between language (dialect) and social class. Analyze this passage and explain what you think
this may be saying about George and Lennies positions in society.
6. From what you have read so far, Lennie gets compared to animals. He is described as dragging his feet
like a bear and acting like a terrier reluctant to give his master a ball. What do you make of this?
Elaborate on the implications involved in comparing Lennie to an animal. Point out how this would
correspond with the theory of the tripartite soul and the Great Chain of Being.
7. What does Lennie have in his pocket? Is it dead or alive? Who used to give Lennie them? Does he mean
to kill it? If you had to pick one word to describe Lennies actions, what would it be? (innocent,
ignorant, careless, heartless, etc.) Explain your reasoning.

8. Lennie wants ketchup with his beans, but George explains that they do not have any ketchup. Situate
this concept of wanting something that is not present within the time frame of the Great Depression. If I
were to ask you what ketchup symbolizes, what would you say? Explain how ketchup symbolizes access
or desire in relation to the struggles of the Great Depression time frame.
9. Define ideal. In your own words, define the American Dream. George remarks to Lennie, Whatever
we aint got, you want. Argue why this quote could represent the American Dream ideal.
10. You have all heard the saying, Read between the lines. Language is a lot more complicated than
surface level readings. There are often different levels of conversations, potential dialogues between the
reader and the text that lend to multiple interpretations of a text. The surface level is explicit. When we
read the words literally, we are reading at the surface level. The deeper level is more implicit. When we
read words figuratively, we are delving into multiple interpretations that are not explicitly stated. Infer
about what happened in Weed. Give an example of an explicit reading of a quote from the text, then an
implicit reading of the same text. How are they similar? How are they different? In your answer, be sure
to clarify the difference between what an explicit reading of the text is and what an implicit reading of
the text is.
11. When I think of the swell time I could be having without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace
(Steinbeck 13). Explain your definition of peace. Do you think George would have peace if Lennie were
gone? Why or why not?
12. The Declaration of Independence ensures every individuals right to: (1) life, (2) liberty, and (3) the
pursuit of happiness. Define each of these rights in your own words. Then, sketch a symbol or
illustration accompanying and signifying each right. You should have three definitions and three
sketches (unless you draw one sketch with three components).
13. Lennie choked with pride Is pride a fault or a virtue? Or both? Does it depend on the situation? Justify
your answer and convince me that your perspective is valid.

Chapter Two (Due Friday February 6th)

14. When George asks about the previous guy who had his bed in the bunkhouse, the swamper tells him that
Whitney just quit, the way a guy will just said, Gimme me time, one night, the way any guy
would (Steinbeck 20). What does the swamper imply when he says this? Do you think people come and
go often? Why do you think this might be? Give at least two reasons.
15. A connotation is an idea of feeling a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Language falls into a hierarchy of importance based on social values. Some words have prestigious
connotations. Other words have derogatory connotations. List two words in the text that have
connotations. Explain what type of connotation each of these words has and how these connotations
were influenced by the social use of the word.
16. Authors sometimes give characters names that correspond with a quality they possess or ironically
emphasize a quality that they lack. What is Lennies last name? Is this a reflection of his true appearance
or an ironical inclusion on behalf of Steinbeck? Why?
17. There are differentiations between different types of knowledge. Some forms of knowledge are valued
over others. Choose one of the following sets of knowledge and explain the relationship between the
two. Which one is more valued? In addition, which of the two would Lennie be paired with? Is there a
stigma attached to these labels in relation to others? Is it a positive or negative stigma?

 Book Smarts versus Hands-On Learning

Theoretical versus Practical Application
Academic Education versus Vocational Training
18. Georges last name is Milton. John Milton was one of the astounded English poets of the seventeenth
century. His most well known work was Paradise Lost, an account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of
Eden and the downfall of man. How might the story of mans downfall parallel with the story of the
American Dream? Explain your answer thoroughly. Be sure to include the words: paradise, loss, and
downfall in your response.
19. When is it okay to lie? Define what a lie is in your own words. What is the qualifying difference
between a white lie and a big lie? Was the American Dream a lie? Why or why not? Is an ideal a lie, in
your opinion? Why or why not?
20. Why does Curley pick on Lennie according to the old swamper? Consider the defense mechanisms
discussed in class. Choose which defense mechanism Curley is employing by picking on Lennie.
Explain your answer.
21. Explain what the Gold Rush was. When did it take place? Express in at least three sentences how the
search for gold ties into your conceptual understanding of the American Dream.

Chapter Three (Due Friday February 13th)

22. Judge whether intelligence is the gaining of wisdom or the loss of innocence? Or both? Is innocence the
same thing as ignorance? Or is there freedom in not knowing or understanding? Which is it? Explain
your answer.
23. When George is telling Lennie about their dream. Candy joins in. What does Candy offer to do? How
much will the house and small ranch cost? Why does it cost so little? In a short paragraph, write the
backstory of why the couple has to sell their ranch. What feelings might the ranch sellers be
experiencing? Be creative and use the narrative writing skills you acquired last semester.
24. What happens to Candys dog? Who does it? Why is Candy against this plan? What would you have
done and why? Explain your answer thoroughly.
25. Candy tells George that he should have taken care of the dog himself. Why do you think he says this?
Analyze and explain how friendship and responsibility tie into this scenario.
26. Slim and Candy enter the bunkhouse and Curley is apologizing to Slim for over-accusing him of being
with his wife. Curley then tries to assert his power over Carlson, but fails to do so. Yet, Lennie is still
smiling to himself about being able to tend the rabbits one day. What happens next? What does Curley
do to Lennie? What does Lennie do to Curley? Who tells Lennie it is okay to fight back? Postulate why
you think George tells Lennie it is okay to fight back?
27. Slim clears up the situation between Lennie and Curley by explaining that everyone would have a
mutual understanding that Curley got his hand caught in what? Why does Slim do this? How does this
change the group mindset towards Curley?

Chapter Four (Due Friday February 13th)

28. Why did Crooks have more possessions than many of the other hands? In your own words, define
capital. Explain how Crooks has social capital in his status. What limitations/labels limit Crooks
attainment or agency in other forms of social capital? In other words, how is there a double standard in
social capital between labels and time devoted to a business?
29. Explain the difference between friendship and acquaintanceship. Crooks says, I seen it over an over- a
guy talkin to another guy and it dont make no difference if he dont hear or understand Its just the
talking. Its just bein with another guy. Thats all (Steinbeck 69). Critically consider this quote. Is this
a reflection of friendship or acquaintanceship? Explain your answer. How would you classify George
and Lennies relationship?
30. Books can be good company, but what do books lack that humans have? Crooks says, Books aint no
good. A guy needs somebody- to be near him (Steinbeck 71). Do you agree? Why or why not?
31. Personality seems to be understood on a spectrum placed between two extremes. Introverted versus
extroverted, emotional versus rational, etc. When Curleys wife reminds Crooks that she could have him
lynched, it says, Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego- nothing to
arouse either like or dislike (Steinbeck 79). Is personality the opposite of indifference? Why did Crooks
act this way? Was Curleys wife justified in saying this in your opinion?
32. Compare and contrast how Curleys wife is similar to and different from Crooks, Lennie, and Candy.
How would you rank each individual, if you had to put him or her in order according to social
class/status (according to amounts of social capital)? What does your order suggest about hegemony or
the hierarchy of social structure?
33. Curleys wife represents the stereotypical young housewife trapped in the domestic sphere. She is lonely
in the house and unsatisfied in her marriage to Curley. Yet, she is a threat to the other ranch hands,
because she is a woman (and the boss sons wife). Explain how Curleys wife and Crooks might feel
the same way. What labels prevent their agency and freedom within society?
34. At the end of chapter four, Crooks says that what Curleys wife said brought him back to reality. As
George, Candy, and Lennie head back to the bunkhouse, Crooks tells Candy to forget everything he said
about wanting to help out when they got their own land. Crooks accepted the reality- the present reality
and rejected falling for the futuristic dream. Explain the difference between reality and idealism. Do you
personally think it is more important to be a realist or an idealist? Why?
35. The chapter begins and ends with Crooks putting liniment on his own back and taking care of himself.
What could this metaphorically be suggesting? What is the liniment? Is it important that a cycle is
indicated? Is it important that he is helping himself?

Chapter Five (Due Friday February 20th)

36. What happens at the start of chapter five? What bad thing did Lennie do initially? Who comes in and
finds him in the barn? Do you think this is a foreshadowing of something worse about to happen or do
you think this is the climax? Explain your answer.
37. Curleys wife is never given a name in the text. Do you think this is significant? If you had to
summarize Curleys wifes idea of the American Dream, what would your synopsis be? Write it. Use at
least one piece of textual support. Remember to use correct MLA in-text citations after each quotation.

38. Why does Lennie touch Curleys wife and then panic? Do you blame Curleys wife or Lennie for the
incident? Explain your position thoroughly.
39. Who finds Curleys wife in the barn after the encounter with Lennie? Where has Lennie gone? When
George finds out, what does he say they should do? Do you think Lennies punishment should be
imprisonment or death? Why?

Chapter Six (Due Friday February 20th)

40. Indicate where Lennie goes after the incident? List the two visions that visit Lennie before George
arrives. Clarify whether the visions were positive or negative towards Lennie. Is George mean to
Lennie? Explain why you believe that George acts the way he does.
41. How does the story end? Would you have kept that ending or created another ending if you were the
author or persuasive editor? Is the American Dream achieved or attained in this novel? What message do
you think Steinbeck was offering to the audience?