2. John Steinbeck  Grew up in California, some of his family in farming  In the summers worked as a laborer  Of Mice and Men published in 1937  "I was a bindlestiff myself for quite a spell. I worked in the same country that the story is laid in. The characters are composites to a certain extent. Lennie was a real person. He's in an insane asylum in California right now. I worked alongside him for many weeks. He didn't kill a girl. He killed a ranch foreman. Got sore because the boss had fired his pal and stuck a pitchfork right through his stomach. I hate to tell you how many times. I saw him do it. We couldn't stop him until it was too late." (Parini 27)

3. Lennie as an Animal  Lennie is often compared to an animal whether it be a bear, dog, or other creature. Why would Steinbeck compare him to an animal?

4. Dreams  They dream of having their own land and it’s a motivator  For some like Crooks it reflects his childhood  For others it’s something permanent  Lennie dreams of having rabbits, something George promises for good behavior  Curly’s wife dreams of companionship and of being an actress in Hollywood  Material comforts  Why does George talk to Lennie about their dream while he shoots him?  Are these dreams reached?

5. Loneliness & Friendship  The men in the novel are all lonely, it’s only George and Lennie who travel together  Don’t know people for long  Don’t own anything to call their own  Lennie and George  George feels guilty for the way he treated Lennie in the past  Lennie’s greatest fear is having to live without George  George is often angered by his burden  Crooks feels lonely because no one can understand him  Curley’s wife is always looking for companionship

6. Lennie & Candy’s Dog  How are Lennie and Candy’s dog similar? How are they different?