1. Reading Check: Section One Use textual evidence for all answers.
How does the author establish right away that Lennie is dependent on George.
What trouble did George and Lennie have in Weed?
What is the background story of Lennie and mice?
What is the dream that Lennie begs George to tell him? What does Lennie mean by the phrase "an live off the fatta the lan"?
Why are George and Lennie different from the other “guys like us that work on ranches”?

2. Reading Check: Section Two Use textual evidence for all answers.
What is the significance of the fact that the boss gets angry at Crooks for things that aren’t his fault?
Why does the boss suspect George is doing the talking for Lennie? Why does he suspect this? How does the boss react to George's friendship with Lennie?
Why is everybody afraid of Curly (2 reasons)? What is George’s implication about what will happen if he tries to hurt Lennie?
Describe Slim’s first real appearance to George and Lennie.
Why is Lennie’s last name both ironic and symbolic?

3. Reading Check: Section Three Use textual evidence for all answers.
While talking to Slim, what does George ashamedly admit to him about what he did to Lennie as a younger man?
What is the thematic importance of seeing the letter in the magazine, written by someone who once worked on the ranch?
Why are George and Lennie so attracted to the farm they want to buy? Why aren’t they happy with what they’re doing on the ranch?
What is the farm they want a symbol of? Why does this mean they can never achieve it?
Describe, in detail, the conflict between Lennie and Curly.

4. Reading Check: Section Four Use textual evidence for all answers.
In what one way is Crooks’ quality of life actually better than that of the ranch hands?
When Lennie visits Crooks, what does Crooks suggest to Lennie? What almost happens? Why does Crooks do this?
What does Crooks offer to Candy (and Lennie) in regards to the land they want to get? Why?
Curley’s wife reveals the truth about why she is always wandering around the ranch, looking for men. What is it?
What does Curley’s wife think of Candy’s promise that they will get their own land? What does this confirm about men in depression-era situation?

5. Reading Check: Section Five Use textual evidence for all answers.
What has happened to Lennie’s puppy? What does Lennie finally admit to himself about how it happened? What is the dramatic importance of this?
What background story does Curley’s wife tell Lennie? What can we guess is the truth behind the story?
What does Curley specifically state that he will do to Lennie? Why is this important to characterizing Curley?
What must George do? How does Slim contribute to this decision?
What does Curley demand of George, and why?

6. Reading Check: Sections Five and Six Use textual evidence for all answers.
What background story does Curley’s wife tell Lennie? What can we guess is the truth behind the story?
What does Curley specifically state that he will do to Lennie? Why is this important to characterizing Curley?
What is the dramatic importance of the heron eating the water snake? How is this consistent with Steinbeck’s style? How is this event ironic?
What story does Carlson, in his excited ignorance, suggest, that George goes along with? What is Carlson’s final comment, and what does it tell us about him?
What do Slim and George decide to do? What bond do they have?