1. Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck

3. Items to Consider: What’s in a Name? George and Lennie are the only two characters with last names. Lennie’s last name is a contrast to his physique, possibly alluding to his cognitive disability. George’s last name might be a reference to a great English poet, John Milton, who wrote Paradise Lost, the epic poem discussing Lucifer’s fall from heaven, a classic story of the internal struggle between good and evil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnw9VWqJjM http://www.paradiselost.org/5-sum-short.html

4. Items to Consider: What’s in a Name? Curley’s wife is referenced only by her connection to her husband. This makes “less” than all of the other characters, for her name is only a title, a title that, in the 1930s, did not amount to much. This, along with her appearance, makes us believe that she is a “tart”. But, is she? Consider why we might not be seeing her correctly: we cannot be sure, as an audience, that Curley’s name is “real”. It might just be a reference to his curly hair! If this is off, might Curley’s wife just be an innocent victim? Trapped by a violent man, on a lonely ranch, dreaming of what might have been?

5. Items to Consider: What’s in a Name? The majority of the names used throughout the novel, might be nicknames, not actual names the characters grew up with. Candy: a kind old man, someone who is very “sweet” to everyone? Slim: described as “ageless” and “majestic”, “the prince of the ranch” (pg. 33); might this be a reference to his physique or attitude? Crooks: has a “crooked back” (pg. 20); um… do I really need to go on?

6. Items to Consider: Archetypes Curley and his wife are at the top of the financial hierarchy. How they treat others is indicative of how the rich address society. Why would this attitude be expected in the 1930s? George and Lennie are operating on the fringe of society. What they say and do connects to the “common working man”. Imagine what the papers will say about the incidents at the end of “Chapter 5” and the entirety of “Chapter 6”.

7. Items to Consider: Archetypes Candy and his dog are elderly and physically disabled. They are at the “end of the line”. How society treats both of them is a symbolic indication of what the future holds in store for the aged and infirmed. Crooks is the only black/African- American character. To have a “broken back” is to be unable to do anything. And, yet, Crooks is on par with or above most other men. His single appearance in “Chapter 4” with Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife gives us insight into Black America.

8. Items to Consider: Archetypes Curley’s wife is clearly the only woman on the ranch. The descriptions of her physically seem to match what others suggest she is. Is there truth in appearance? She wanted more for her life but kept running into people that held her back. Women in the 1930s? Slim is an authority on all things but generally never decides or acts. His silence gives Carlson consent to shoot Candy’s dog. He gave Lennie the pup! Is this what mercy and generosity amount to?

9. Being Crippled: All of the primary characters in the novel are crippled in one way or another. What does this mean?

11. THEMES: What is John Steinbeck saying about life (in general or life during the Great Depression)?