1. “Of Mice and Men” - Section Three
CONTENTS
Plot Summary Exercise
Setting the Scene
Dramatic Tension
The Dream Farm
A Plan of the Farm
The American Dream
Animal Imagery
Extension Work

2. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Plot Summary Exercise
Complete the plot summary by filling in the blanks:
George chats to _________ about his relationship with Lennie. He tells him about the girl in _________. Lennie arrives, hiding the ___________ under his coat. Carlson tells Candy he should _________ his dog. Carlson takes Candy’s dog outside. They hear a _______. _________, the stable buck arrives and Slim leaves with him. George and Lennie talk again about the _________. Curley and Slim return. They have been arguing. When Curley sets on him, Lennie crushes his _________.
Slim
Weed
puppy
shoot
shot
Crooks
farm
hand

3. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Setting the Scene
Again, Steinbeck takes great care to set the scene in a very vivid way, almost as though the story is a movie, rather than a novel.
Re-read the description of George and Slim’s conversation, from the start of Section Three to Lennie’s entrance (p.40-44). Steinbeck creates a powerful contrast between the men chatting inside and the sounds of the game outside.
Why do you think he does this?
Why do you think George shares his story with Slim?
Brainstorm your ideas on the next slide.

4. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Setting the Scene

5. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Dramatic Tension
When Candy’s dog is taken away to be shot (p.50-52), Steinbeck creates a high level of dramatic tension in the room. The reader feels very tense, waiting to see what is going to happen.
Find some quotations that develop the level of tension and write them below. The first one has been done for you.
“The silence came into the room.”

6. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
The Dream Farm
In this section, we hear about George and Lennie’s farm again (p.60-61). This time, George describes it in much more detail, enjoying himself as he tells the story.
On the next slide you will find a blank plan of the farm, and a series of images showing the things that George describes.
Drag and drop the images to create your own picture of George and Lennie’s ‘Dream Farm’.

7. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
A Plan of the Farm
Windmill
Vegetable Garden
Shack
Rabbit Hutches
Chicken Run
Orchard
Alfalfa Patch
Pig Pen
River

8. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
The American Dream
George, Lennie and Candy are searching for the fulfilment of ‘the American Dream’. Answer the following questions to show your understanding of this concept.
What do you think the ‘American Dream’ is?
At this stage in the novel, do you think they will manage to fulfil their dream?
Why does Candy want to join their dream?
What does Candy offer them as an incentive to accept him?

9. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Animal Imagery
Re-read the description of Curley’s attack on Lennie, and Lennie’s defence of himself (p ). Steinbeck uses animal imagery here. Find four examples of animal images and write them below.

10. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Animal Imagery
Why do you think Steinbeck uses these animal images in connection with Lennie?
Question
Because they strengthen the sense of Lennie’s power, making him seem animalistic in his reactions. They also suggest that, like animals, his responses are impulsive rather than conscious.
Answer
Where else in the novel have you noticed Steinbeck using animal imagery when describing Lennie?
Question
In the opening section, when we first meet Lennie.
Answer

11. “Of Mice & Men” - Section Three
Extension Work
1. Why does Candy say “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog.”? (p.65)
2. Why does Curley agree to say he got his hand caught in a machine? (p.68)
3. What do you think will happen between Lennie and Curley now?
Questions