Of Mice and Men. Summary Sheet. Section: Pages to.

Transcription

1 Of Mice and Men Summary Sheet Section: Pages to. What has happened in this section? What have we learnt about the past? What have we learnt about the future? What do we learn about life at the time of the story?

2 Unlikely Friends Read the two conversations below and then answer the questions at the foot of the page. CONVERSATION A PERSON 1: When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace. PERSON 2: You want I should go away and leave you alone? PERSON 1: Where the hell could you go? PERSON 2: Well I could. I could go off in the hills there. Some place I d find a cave. PERSON 1: Yeah? How d you eat. You ain t got sense enough to find nothing to eat. PERSON 2: I d find things. I don t need no nice food with ketchup. I d lay out in the sun and nobody d hurt me. PERSON 1: I been mean, ain t I? PERSON 2: If you don t want me I can go off in the hills an find a cave. I can go away any time. PERSON 1: No look! I was jus foolin. Course I want you to stay with me. CONVERSATION B PERSON 1: if you get in any kind of trouble, you remember what I told you to do? PERSON 2: If I get in any trouble, you ain t gonna let me tend the rabbits. PERSON 1: That s not what I meant. You remember where we slep last night? Down by the river? PERSON 2: Yeah. I remember. Oh sure I remember! I go there an hide in the brush. PERSON 1: Hide till I come for you. Don t let anybody see you. Hide in the brush by the river. Say that over. PERSON 2: Hide in the brush by the river, down in the brush by the river. 1. What are your impressions of these two men? Try to think of as many words as you can to describe them. 2. What do you think is the connection between the two men? Why does PERSON 1 seem to be looking after PERSON 2? 3. The first man makes sure that the second knows what to do if something goes wrong. Why do you think he is so worried? Can we learn anything about the men from the way they talk?

3 What makes an interesting opening? This is a difficult question to answer in some ways, because there is no single correct answer. It would however, be true to say that there are a number of common elements that are often to be found in interesting story openings. Read section one of the novel again and as you do so, complete the table below. Write down any examples of each feature that you can find. If you can, try to use quotations. Elements that make for a good opening Interesting characters that you want to find out more about. An interesting or unusual setting that is likely to capture the interest of the reader. In some ways the story may be straightforward easy for the reader to get involved with. Dramatic and exciting events are an excellent way of grabbing the reader s interest. Hints about exciting and important events that have taken place in the past. Questions are posed about the future that the reader will read on to answer. Evidence from Section One of Of Mice and Men that supports these points

4 Of Mice and Men Three Minute Review Spend three minutes listing as many points as you can remember about the opening of Of Mice and Men. Use the points below to help you, if necessary: How exactly does the novel begin and where? Who are the characters? What do they look like and what is the personality of each of them? What is the relationship like between these two men? What do we know about the past of these men? What has gone wrong? List as many facts as you can about the opening. What can you remember?

5 Of Mice and Men Exploring Chapter One Complete this worksheet and it will help you to begin the development of your ideas about the opening chapter. 1. The novel begins with a long section of descriptive writing. Read over this carefully and then consider the following: What mood does it create? What disturbs this mood and what might the significance of this be? 2. Think carefully about the way in which the character of Lennie is described in the opening pages. Why do you think it is that he is described a s being like a horse and a bear? 3. What is our first impression of the character of George? You should think particularly about the nature of his relationship with Lennie. 4. A good opening to a novel needs to pose questions that the reader wants to have answered. Think about the opening. Can you think of four questions that you would like answered about these men and what happened to them in the past?

6 Of Mice and Men Section One Quotations 1. Find a quotation that indicates that the arrival of George and Lennie disturbs the peace of the countryside. 2. Find two quotations that describe the physical appearance of the two major characters. 3. Find a quotation that indicates that George feels responsible for looking after Lennie and telling him what to do. 4. Find a quotation that reveals Lennie s childish nature and the way in which he does not think through the consequences of his actions. 5. Find the line that George says and which indicates Lennie has got them into trouble in the past.

7 6. Find a quotation in which George outlines the life that he would be able to enjoy if he did not have to think about Lennie. 7. Find a quotation that indicates that Lennie has a childish ability to manipulate his parent. 8. Find the quotation that indicates what it is that George and Lennie gain from their relationship with one another. 9. Find a quotation that indicates what life will be like for the men if they achieve the dream. 10. Find a quotation that indicates that George is afraid that something may once again go wrong. Underline these quotations in pencil in your copy of the novel and then write a brief note in pencil explaining what each of the is about.

8 Of Mice and Men: Character Studies The bunk-house was a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were white-washed and the floor unpainted. Task 1 Answer the following questions about the second chapter of the novel in full sentences and in as much detail as possible. Remember a sentence starts with a capital letter and ends in a full stop. The first answer has been started for you. 1) What makes George suspicious of the bed he has been given and what does he do about this? George is suspicious of the bed that Candy has given him because 2) George describes Lennie as being, Strong as a bull (p.23). How does this link to the previous images we have had of Lennie? 3) The boss thinks that George is up to no good, because of the way he answers for Lennie. What does he think George is up to and what does this tell us about the character of the boss?

9 4) When Curley first appears he takes an immediate dislike to Lennie. Read p26-7 and explain how he shows this in the space below. 5) Candy tells George that Curley is a good boxer and that Lennie should watch out. How does George react to this? 6) George plays the card game Solitaire (Patience) on many occasions in the novel. What kind of game is this and what do you think its significance might be? (p30)

10 7) Read pages 32 and 33 of the novel carefully. How is Curley s wife described and what are the reactions of George and Lennie to seeing her for the first time? 8) When we meet Slim he is described as being, the prince of the ranch. Summarise the description on pages 34 and 35 in your own words. 9) What does Carlson want to do to Candy s dog? What does this tell us about Carlson s character? 10) The chapter ends with reappearance of one character. Why is this significant?

11 Of Mice and Men Section Two Quotations 1. Find a quotation that suggests the way in which the workers lead a lifestyle without many possessions and luxuries. 2. Find one quotation that indicates George s streetwise and at times suspicious nature. 3. Find a quotation that indicates the way that the boss dresses underlines his position as the most important man on the farm. 4. Find a quotation in which George attempts to explain to the boss why it is that he travels with Lennie. 5. Find a quotation that demonstrates George s anger with Lennie after the second man has forgotten his promise not to speak to the boss. 6. Find a quotation that indicates the immediate dislike that Curley takes to the sight of Lennie.

12 7. Find the quotation that indicates George believes that Curley would come off the worst if he started a fight with Lennie. 8. Find the quotation from Candy that introduces the reader to Slim and the fact that he is the, prince of the ranch. 9. Find the quotation that describes the physical appearance of Curley s wife and which underlines the way in which she is viewed physically in the novel. 10. Find one quotation that describes Slim and which builds on the picture that Curley created of his character and which establishes his position. 11. Find one quotation that indicates the physical frailty of Candy s dog and the cruel attitude of Carlson towards the old swamper.

13 Of Mice and Men Chapter Three Look back at chapter three of the novel and then answer the following questions on it, in as much detail as possible. George explains his reasons for travelling with his best friend Lennie, in great detail near the start of the third chapter, in conversation with Slim. Re- read this conversation and write down the various reasons in the table below. Reasons why George travels with Lennie: Slim thinks that Lennie is a nice fella, but in chapter 3 we begin to learn more about the potential problems that Lennie s strength might cause. 1. How does Lennie react when George tells him that the cats might disturb the rabbits on their ideal farm? 2. What happens at the end of the chapter when Curley picks on Lennie instead of Slim?

14 Of Mice and Men Section Three Quotations 1. Find a quotation from chapter three in which Slim questions George about why he travels with Lennie, as this is so unusual in the workers on the ranch. 2. Find one quotation from chapter three in which George begins to explain to Slim his changing relationship with Lennie. 3. Find a quotation from chapter three in which George confides in Slim what it is that took place in Weed information we have been waiting for since the opening. 4. When Carlson starts to insist that Candy should kill his dog, find the quotation where Candy explains why he is reluctant to kill his companion. 5. Find a quotation from Whit in which it is revealed that the men on the ranch all hold Slim in awe and believe he may be able to better Curley in a fight. 6. Find a quotation in which George again outlines the dream that they have the future, but on this occasion with a greater degree of enthusiasm.

15 7. Find a quotation in which George is reluctant to tell Candy about the dream, for fear that he will somehow be able to take it away from him. 8. Find a quotation that indicates that George has never really believed that the dream could come true until Candy has offered his financial support. 9. Find the quotation when Candy tells George that he should have killed his own dog and which has obvious implications for the end of the novel. 10. Find the quotation that reveals that Curley is really a coward and will only pick a fight that he believes that he can not lose. 11. Find a quotation that reveals the enormous strength and power of Lennie, as well as the amount of damage that he is capable of causing. 12. Find a quotation that ensures George and Lennie will continue on the ranch and which will ultimately present Curley with the opportunity for revenge.

16 Of Mice and Men Section Four Quotations 1. Find one quotation that suggests that Crooks has a different existence on the ranch compared to the other workers. 2. Find one quotation that indicates the racist attitudes that Crooks is forced to endure on the farm. 3. Find one quotation that indicates that Crooks would like to speak to Lennie and his anger is only a front. 4. Find one quotation that reveals Crooks understands what it is that George gets out of his relationship with Lennie someone to talk with. 5. Find one quotation that indicates Crooks has a vicious side to his nature and he enjoys tormenting Lennie.

17 6. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie could be incredibly dangerous to people if he was angry. 7. Find one quotation that indicates that Crooks does not really believe that George, Lennie and Candy will succeed in their dream of owning land. 8. Find one quotation from Candy that convinces Crooks that George is not just like all of the other workers on the ranch with pipe dreams. 9. Find one quotation where Curley s wife tries to talk to the men about what her life is like and also her dislike for her husband. 10. Find one quotation that reveals Candy s growing confidence now that owning some land of his own seems to be a possibility. 11. Find one quotation that prepares the reader for the meeting between Lennie and Curley s wife that will take place later in the novel. 12. Find one quotation that suggests that George is unhappy with Lennie and Candy and feels that he needs to look after him all the time.

18 Of Mice and Men Section Five Quotations 1. Find one quotation after the death of the puppy that suggests the anger that Lennie is capable of. 2. Find one quotation where we feel sympathy for Curley s wife and understand how lonely she must be. 3. Find one quotation where Curley s wife explains to Lennie that she has dreams for the future that have now been dashed. 4. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie has not been concentrating on the words of Curley s wife and has not understood what she has been saying. 5. Find one quotation that explains how the death of Curley s wife happened. 6. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie is unable to understand the seriousness of what has just happened.

19 7. Find one quotation that encourages us to feel sympathy for Curley s wife and which describes her appearance. 8. Find one quotation from George that suggests he always expected something of this kind would happen one day involving Lennie. 9. Find one quotation that indicates the death of Curley s wife has put an end to the possibility of the men achieving their dream. 10. Find one quotation that reveals Curley s primary concern is on getting his revenge on Lennie, rather than sadness at the death of his wife. 11. Find one quotation from Slim that indicates the action that George will take in chapter six is the right way for him to deal with Lennie. 12. Find one quotation from the end of the chapter that indicates how insignificant Curley s wife is to the men on the farm even in death!

20 Of Mice and Men Section Six Quotations 1. Find one quotation that links the end of the novel to the opening, by setting it in the countryside of the Salinas valley. 2. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie s main concern is what George will think about him after what he has done. 3. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie s state of mind is deteriorating and that he is starting to hallucinate. 4. The hallucinations allow Lennie to give voice to his own feelings of guilt. Find one quotation that indicates this. 5. Find one quotation that indicates that Lennie does not understand how serious what he has done is. 6. Find one quotation where George begins to outline the dream to Lennie, but in way that indicates his lack of belief in it.

21 7. Find one quotation that indicates the struggle that George is experiencing in building up to the moment when he needs to shoot Lennie. 8. Find one quotation that indicates George is able to shoot Lennie at the moment when his friend can almost imagine he is living on their ranch. 9. Find one quotation that indicates how desolate George feels when the other men arrive and he can not explain what he has done to Lennie. 10. Find one quotation that indicates Slim is the only man who is able to understand what happened between George and Lennie. 11. Find one quotation that offers some hope for the future and the possible development of a new friendship. 12. Find one quotation from the end of the novel that indicates the complete failure of Carlson and Whit to understand the friendship that existed.

22 Of Mice and Men The Dream Life as a worker on the ranches is not easy. In the first two chapters of the novel we learn about many problems that George and Lennie have to cope with. Look back at these chapters and make a list in the table below of as may different problems as you can think of, including the evidence for each of these. One problem is done for you. Some of the problems for men on the ranch are: 1 They work in an environment that is dominated by men and they rarely see women For George and Lennie though, there is hope for the future. They have a dream and they think they have a good chance of achieving it. Use the table below to write a list of the different elements of this dream and also to explain why each is so important. Part of the Dream They will be working for themselves. Reason it is Important At the moment the men work hard, but the bulk of the profit goes to the ranch owner.

23 Understanding George and Lennie Motives Answer the following questions in character role. 1. When you snap at Lennie and call him names, do you mean it? Why do you put up with Lennie? 2. You tell Lennie what to do if something goes worng. What are you afraid might happen in the future? 1. What do you think of George? How do you feel when he shouts at you? 2. Which part of the dream is most important to you? Why?

24 George s Diary Writing Task Writing the diary should help you to revise the events of the story and also to develop your understanding of George s character. In each entry you should consider how the various events that have happened and the people that he has met, would have made him feel. Use the starting sentence to help you begin each entry. ENTRY 1 THURSDAY NIGHT CHAPTER 1 Lennie and George are on the way to their new job. On the way to the ranch they argue about the dead mouse and this reveals some of the tensions that exist in their relationship. Some past events are referred to, but the chapter ends happily with George telling Lennie about the dream. This takes us up to the end of the first chapter. George is writing in the clearing after Lennie has gone to sleep. Starting Sentence I didn t think Lennie would ever get to sleep tonight. He was too busy thinking about those god-damn rabbits. ENTRY 2 FRIDAY A.M. CHAPTER 2 George and Lennie settle at the ranch, meeting Candy, the Boss and then Curley. George warns Lennie to avoid Curley and they then meet Slim and Carlson. Slim s dog has had puppies and Lennie is ecxited at the prospect of being given one of these. George would be writing about his first impressions of the ranch at dinner. Thinking about the people they have met. Starting Sentence The ranch doesn t seem too bad, but there are a few things that have left me a little worried. ENTRY 3 FRIDAY P.M. CHAPTER 3 George tells Slim the truth about what happened in Weed and explains why exactly he travels with Lennie. Carlson persuades Candy that his dog should

25 die and then kills him. Candy overhears George and Lennie talking about the dream and the three men then talk about their plan to get a place together. Curley then picks a fight with Lennie and the chapter ends with Curley being taken to hospital. This would be written in the aftermath of the fight. This would take us up to the end of the third chapter of the book. Starting Sentence I was right to be worried about that little punk Curley! ENTRY 4 SATURDAY NIGHT CHAPTER 4 George has gone into town and in his absence Lennie goes to see Crooks and talks with him and old Candy. Curley s wife sees these three men. This would be written to coincide with the end of the fourth chapter in which George is virtually absent. His concerns may be building, but he would also be feeling hopeful about the dream. Starting Sentence Went into town with some of the guys from the ranch and left Lennie with old Candy. ENTRY 5 SUNDAY NIGHT CHAPTERS 5 AND 6 Written at the conclusion of the novel, after George has had to kill Lennie. Lennie has killed his puppy and tells Curley s wife his story. He kills the girl and runs off to the bush where George had told him to hide. Candy finds the body and brings George to it. George knows immediately what has happened and when the news reaches the other men, he knows what will happen. He reaches the clearing here Lennie has gone first. When he is there he tells him about the dream once again, before killing Lennie who has a smile on his face as he dies. The story ends with George walking away from the dead body with Slim. Starting Sentence I had no choice but to do it. It was for the best and I just hope he knew that.