Of Mice and Men ~ Study Guide

Transcription

1 Of Mice and Men ~ Study Guide Vocabulary directions: For each vocabulary section below there are sentences in which the vocabulary words appear in the text. Read the sentence. Use any clues you can find in the sentence combined with your prior knowledge, and write what you think the underlined words mean in the space provided. Chapters 1 & 2 Vocabulary Chapter 1 1. George stared morosely at the water. 2. But Lennie made an elaborate pantomime of innocence. 3. Lennie hesitated, backed away, looked wildly at the brush line as though he contemplated running for his freedom. 4. Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket. 5. Lennie sat down on the ground and hung his head dejectedly. 6. He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when they are mimicking one another. 7. He looked across the fire at Lennie s anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames. 8. George gestured with his spoon. Chapter 2 1. I ain t so sure, said George skeptically. 2. Damn right he don t, said George, slightly mollified, not if he wants to stay workin long. 3. He said ominously, Well, he better watch out for Lennie. 4. He had drawn a derogatory statement from George. 5. I don t want no trouble, he said plaintively.

2 6. His face contorted with thought. 7. She was suddenly apprehensive. 8. There was gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. 9. Lennie, who had been following the conversation back and forth with his eyes, smiled complacently at the compliment. 10. Carlson stepped back to let Slim precede him, and then the two of them went out the door. Chapters 1 and 2 Questions 1. Identify the following people by telling something important about each one and give a physical description. A. Lennie: B. George: C. Curley: D. Slim: E. Carlson: F. Candy: G. Crooks: 2. Steinbeck introduces two main characters. How are they both alike? How are they different? 3. How can we tell that George needs to take care of Lennie? 4. Describe the dream that George and Lennie share. (Be Specific)

3 5. What did Lennie do to the girl in Weed? 6. What two things does George want Lennie to remember? 7. What is Lennie trying to hide from George and why? 8. Why do you think George takes care of Lennie? 9. Why does Steinbeck give Lennie the last name of Small? 10. Why does Curley challenge George and Lennie? 11. Why is Lennie fascinated with Curley s wife? How does George react to this? 12. How does the boss act towards George and why? 13. What does Slim have that Lennie wants? Chapter Three Vocabulary 1. He reached down and picked the tiny puppy from where Lennie had been concealing it against his stomach.

4 2. Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the other, and held it down. 3. Whit laid down his cards impressively. 4. He subsided, grumbling to himself, threatening the future cats, which might dare to disturb future rabbits. 5. George sat entranced with his own picture. 6. When Candy spoke they both jumped as though they had been caught doing something reprehensible. 7. They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped in to the future when this lovely thing should come about. Chapter Three Questions 1. Slim and George have a long conversation. Slim says it is funny how George and Lennie go around together. What is George s answer? 2. What did Carlson do with his Luger and why? 3. Why does Carlson keep pressing Candy to shoot the dog? Why does Candy refuse? 4. Why does Candy say that he should have shot the dog himself? 5. What will Lennie s job be when they get the land?

5 6. What does Candy want when he hears about George and Lennie s plans? What is he willing to contribute? 7. Why did Curley fight Lennie? Describe the fight in detail. Chapter Four Vocabulary 1. And he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for In the stable buck s room a small electric globe threw a meager yellow light. 3. Crooks scowled, but Lennie s disarming smile defeated him. 4. His voice grew soft and persuasive. 5. She paused and her face lost its sullenness and grew interested. 6. Awright, she said contemptuously. 7. She was breathless with indignation. 8. She appraised him coolly. Chapter Four Questions 1. Why does Crooks like talking to Lennie? 2. In your opinion, how has Lennie been a victim at this point in the novel?

6 3. In what ways are Curley s wife and Crooks alike? 4. Lennie tells Crooks about the land. What is his reply at first? 5. What does Crooks want when he learns that there might really be land? 6. Why did Curley s wife come to the barn? 7. Why did Crooks change his mind about the land after Curley s wife left? 8. Why is George displeased that Lennie is in Crooks room? 9. Steinbeck starts and ends chapter four with Crooks putting liniment on his back. Why does he repeat this detail? Chapter Five Vocabulary 1. She consoled him. Don t you worry none. He was jus a mutt. You can get another one easy. 2. And because she had confided in him, she moved closer to Lennie and sat beside him. 3. Her feet battered on the hay and she writhed to be free; and from under Lennie s hand came a muffled screaming. 4. For a moment he seemed bewildered.

7 5. Then it s all off? Candy said sulkily. 6. He sniveled, and his voice shook. Chapter Five Questions 1. What things does Lennie do or say that show he is mentally retarded? 2. What happened to Lennie s puppy? What is his reaction? 3. What did Curley s wife tell Lennie? 4. Why did Aunt Clara give Lennie a piece of velvet? 5. Why did Lennie kill Curley s wife? 6. What was George s reaction when he found out about Curley s wife s death? 7. Curley does not stay with his wife s body, but instead goes after Lennie. What does this show us about him? Chapter 6 Vocabulary 1. Now Lennie retorted belligerently, He ain t neither. 2. His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis. 3. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.

8 Chapter Six Questions 1. Lennie imagines that Aunt Clara is there, wearing glasses and an apron. She is not happy with his behavior. Why does Lennie think of her, and how does he react to what she says? 2. Then, Lennie imagines a huge rabbit sitting in front of him. What does Lennie think of it, and how do the rabbit s words compare to Aunt Clara s? 3. Why does George recite their dream to Lennie? 4. Describe the setting when George decided to shoot Lennie. 5. Why did George have to shoot Lennie? 6. Who is the only one who really understands what George did? 7. How is the killing of Lennie similar to the killing of Candy s dog? 8. What could have been some other alternatives to killing Lennie?