1. Of Mice and Men Questions
Where are the two men at the beginning of the story (what is the setting)?
Describe each of the men.
What is the simile on page 3?
By page 4, describe the personality differences between George and Lennie.
What happened to the two guys when they were in Weed, California?

2. Questions (continued)
6. Why does Lennie have the mouse in his pocket? 7. What are two similes on page 9? 8. Why does Lennie kill mice? 9. What is the example of personification on page 10? 10. Summarize the specifics of what happened to make George and Lennie have to run (pages 11-12).

3. Questions (continued)
11. What does it mean on page 13 that Lennie has “sensed his advantage”? What is his advantage? 12. Summarize how George and Lennie are different than other ranch workers. 13. What is George and Lennie’s goal?

4. George Prompt
What do you think of George so far as a character? Why is he so mean to Lennie? Why do you think he bothers to even travel with Lennie?

5. Questions (continued)
14. What is the most distinguishing trait of the old man?
15. Why does George get angry on page 18?
16. What type of negative social reality exists on the ranch?

6. The use of the N-Word
In the novel, the use of the N-word can be controversial because many find the word to be offensive. Some even believe the word should be removed from the English language. What are your thoughts on the use of the N-word?

7. 17. Why do you think the old man moves so quickly to the door when the boss shows up at the bunk house?
18. What imagery and description tells us that the old man’s dog is in bad shape on page 24?
19. From the description of Curley on page 25, how can we tell he is going to be evil, or trouble (use three specific examples from the text)?

8. 20. Explain the old man’s reason as to why “Curly ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.”
21. George telling Lennie to hide in the brush again is an example of the following:
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Hyperbole
D. Foreshadowing

9. 22. What is the simile on page 31. 23
22. What is the simile on page 31? 23. From page 31, what descriptions might tell us that Curley’s wife might be flirtatious? 24. What descriptions on 33 let us know that Slim is important on the ranch (3 will do)? 25. What is the verbal irony on page 35?

10. 26. What is Lennie’s main concern with asking Slim quickly about getting a puppy? What does the reveal about Lennie? 27. On page 37, Curley really seems to “see George for the first time.” What does he see in George here? 28. Summarize how George got to know Lennie and why they travel together. 29. What new details come to light about the problem in Weed that were not told originally?

11. 30. What convinces, or pushes, Candy to allow Carlson to take his dog from him?
31. What are two examples of personification on page 48?
32. Under what conditions would you agree with putting a dog or an animal to sleep (this is called Euthanasia)?
33. Do you think Candy’s dog has reached the point where it should have been put to sleep? Explain.

12. 34. What do the guys do on their nights out, according to Whit. 35
34. What do the guys do on their nights out, according to Whit? 35. How do we know Carlson is insensitive? 36. How does George seem to be different from the other ranch workers by page 54? 37. What could the significance be of George’s playing solitaire all the time? What does it symbolize?

13. 38. What mistake has George made on page 57. 39
38. What mistake has George made on page 57? 39. What type of Point of View is used in this novel? Why could it not have been First Person Point of View? 40. What is a synonym for reprehensible in the sentence “When Candy spoke they both jumped as though they had been caught doing something reprehensible”?

14. 41. What are the details George tells Candy regarding the cost of the farm house on page 59? 42. What does Candy offer to George and Lennie (3 things)? 43. Why does Candy want so badly to join them on the farm? 44. What does Candy admit to George about his dog on the bottom of 61?

15. 45. What are the two similes on page 62. 46
45. What are the two similes on page 62? 46. What active, strong verbs are in the first paragraph on 63? (Four verbs) 47. What is the simile on page 63? 48. What two comparisons are made between Lennie and animals on page 63?

16. 49. Why is Lennie always being compared to animals
49. Why is Lennie always being compared to animals? (at least two possibilities) 50. What is the simile on page 65?

17. 51. What are some advantages of being Crooks on the ranch. 52
51. What are some advantages of being Crooks on the ranch? 52. What are some disadvantages of being Crooks? 53. Why is Crooks so excited about talking to Lennie without Lennie’s complete understanding? 54. What do you think of Crooks so far?

18. 55. By page 75, what is Crooks’ attitude towards Lennie, George, and Candy’s future farm?
56. What changes Crooks’ tone, or attitude?
57. By page 78, what are some frustrations Curley’s wife has?
58. What gives Candy the confidence to stand up to Curley’s wife?

19. Explain, using a few examples from what we have read, whether you think John Steinbeck is racist in his presentation of Crooks. (A body paragraph of at least five sentences: topic sentence, 3-4 supporting details, and a conclusion sentence).

20. 59. What is the simile on page 84?
60. What is the example of personification on page 84?
61. By page 88, why did Curley’s wife marry Curley?
62. What is the example of personification on page 89?

21. 63. What are the two similes on page 90. 64
63. What are the two similes on page 90? 64. What is the meaning of the word writhed on page 91? Her feet battered against the hay and she writhed to be free…. 65. What is the simile on page 91?

22. 66. What are the two examples of personification on page 93. 67
66. What are the two examples of personification on page 93? 67. What is the simile on page 94? 68. By the bottom of page 94, what would you do as George in this situation? 69. What is the dramatic irony on page 97?

23. 70. What is the simile on page 99?
71. What does the word woodenly mean on page 103?

24. In a open-ended response (body paragraph), explain whether you agree with George’s decision to shoot Lennie. Use 3-4 supporting details to support your statement.