American Survey "Of Mice and Men" Study Guide

Chapter One

1. Describe the incident that caused Lennie and George to leave their last place of work.
2. Describe Lennie and George's dream for the future.
3. State the two main reasons why George didn't want Lennie to have a mouse.
4. The author John Steinbeck compares Lennie to two different animals. Name these
animals and state the author's reason for the similes.
5. The author calls Lennie's hands "paws". Why is this an effective comparison?
6. In your own words, describe the relationship between George and Lennie. Do you think
George treated him very well? Explain.
7. Why do you think George stayed with Lennie and looked after him?

Chapter Two
1. Who is Candy (the Swamper)? Explain.
2. Who is Slim? Explain.
3. Who is Curley? Explain.
4. Name the three lies which George told his new boss? Explain.
5. What was the main reason why Curley didn't like Lennie?
6. What were the two main reasons why Carlson wanted Candy's dog to be put to sleep?

Chapter Three
1. What type of relationship is developing between Slim and George and what secret does
he tell Slim?
2. In what way is Lennie like a kid rather than an adult? Give an example.
3. Who is Crooks? How did he get his name?
4. Who shoots Candy's dog?
5. How did Curley hurt his hand?
6. What story did he promise to tell about his injury? Why would he agree to go along with
this lie?

Chapter Four
1. Why didn't Candy go into town with the rest of the men?
2. What does the manner in which Crooks is treated by the rest of the ranch hands say
about prejudice or racism in the 1930's?
3. Why do you think Lennie walked into Crooks bunk, even though the other men at the
ranch never went near there?
4. Why do you think Crooks teased Lennie?
5. How did Curley's wife know that Lennie was the one who broke Curley's hand?
6. What is so symbolic about Crooks at the end of the scene changing his mind about
working on Lennie and George's farm?
Chapter Five And Six:
1. Explain how and why Lennie's dog died?
2. Where were George and the men while Lennie was in the barn?
3. Explain the scene where Lennie killed Curley's wife? Tell why and how he did it etc.
4. Why isn't Curley's wife named? Remember to support your answer.
5. Why did she marry Curley, if she didn't love him? Explain your answer.
6. Who found Curley's wife and how did he initially react?
7. Why did George tell Candy not bring the others into the barn until he was far away?
8. Besides the dog and Curley's wife, what else died that day in the barn? Explain your answer.
9. Explain the scene where George shoots Lennie. Tell in detail and include how he did it.
10. What do you think happened to George? Candy? Their dreams?