1. By Leah Hungerford, Claudia Brewer and Paul Allen
Of Mice And Men
By Leah Hungerford, Claudia Brewer and Paul Allen

2. Dreams Who has a dream in the novel?
All of the characters in the book except from the boss. But we only find out about some of them.
Candy – to keep his dog alive. ‘I had ‘im too long’. When Candy loses this dream of having his dog alive he latches onto someone else’s dream.

3. Curley – champion boxer and to be taller
Curley – champion boxer and to be taller. For example ‘Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys.’ This shows us that he tries to be intimidating to others larger than himself. Also he is trying to prove the point that even smaller sized people can be threatening.

4. Crooks – to have equal rights as white people
Crooks – to have equal rights as white people. For example ‘If I say something, why its just a nigger sayin’ it’. This shows us that Crooks doesn’t want to be 3rd class and to be equivalent to white men.

5. George, Lennie and Candy – dream is to own a ranch and to ‘live off the fatta the lan’. This shows us that that George is trying to give Lennie the best possible life he can have. Also it gives Lennie something to look forward to even though their dreams are shattered.

6. Curley’s wife – to be an actress
Curley’s wife – to be an actress. She wants to be an actress so she can get attention that she doesn’t get. For example ‘I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’ ‘Maybe I will yet’

7. Why are dreams important?
Dreams are important because they motivate you, they give you hope and strength and something to look forward to. They also give you the strength to carry on with your life and to achieve something great.

8. How realistic are peoples dreams?
None of the characters dreams are realistic which goes back to the Scottish poem by Robert Burns, which is that nothing can go to plan. ‘Gang aft agley’. The dreams in the book cannot be achieved because they are not benefitted enough in the terms of money. However for the boss it is different as he is already living George and Lennies dream.

9. How does the context to the novel link with this theme?
The context links to the theme because most of the characters in the book are poor and do not have very many friends or a proper family and home. Therefore, this influences the theme because they are aiming for something they cant have. As well as this most of the characters have to jump between jobs. George and Lennie have to travel around looking for jobs due to ‘The Wall Street Crash’ and ‘The Great Depression’.

10. What points do you think Steinbeck was trying to make by including this theme?
Steinbeck’s point that he was trying to make was that dreams allow you to keep on living your life in order to succeed and to aim for a better life. Also, because life was difficult at the time it was almost impossible to get what you dreamt for. This stopped all the characters from achieving their dreams and instead receiving great pain.