Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 1 (pages 1-16)

1. The beginning of the novel begins with a rich description of the physical setting. Cite examples of three uses of descriptive language.

2. Identify and give a physical description of George and Lennie.

3. Steinbeck uses animal imagery to describe Lennie. Cite two examples of this.

4. What does Lennie have in his pocket and why? Why does George take it away?

5. What are George’s instructions to Lennie when they arrive at ranch? Why?

6. What trouble did George and Lennie have in Weed?

7. Describe the dream George and Lennie share for their future. Why is it so important to both men?

8. What is George’s response when Lennie offers to go away and live in a cave?

9. What two things does George want Lennie to remember?

10. Is the relationship between George and Lennie one of friendship, or does George only feel obligated to take care of Lennie? What evidence can you find to support either conclusion?

11. Why did George camp overnight instead of going another quarter mile to the ranch?

12. What literary term does Steinbeck use in the last sentence of chapter 1?

13. Find two other examples of Figurative Language in chapter one, and tell what type it is.

Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 2 (pages 17-37)

1.The bunkhouse is described very specifically in the opening of chapter two. Give four examples of specific descriptions of the bunkhouse.

2. Describe the swamper that shows George and Lennie the bunkhouse. Use direct quotes (min 3).

3. According to the swamper, why is the boss angry with George and Lennie?

4. What does George find by his bed that makes him skeptical? How does the old man explain what George found to ease his mind?

5. How does the old man describe the boss? Use a direct quote & page #. What does he say the boss did for Christmas?

6. What do we learn about Crooks the stable buck? (min 4 details) *besides the color of his skin

7. What excuse does George give for Lennie’s mental slowness? What excuse does he give for his interest in Lennie?

8. Describe the physical appearance of Curly, the boss’ son. Use direct quote & page #. Why does Curley try to pick a quarrel with Lennie?

9. Describe Curley’s wife (appearance & personality) Use direct quotes & page #

10. Describe Slim, the jerkline skinner (appearance & personality) Use direct quotes &page #. Is he a man to be trusted and looked up to? Why?

11. What does George tell Lennie to do about Curley’s wife? Use direct quote &page #.

12. What’s ironic about Lennie’s full name?

13. What is similar about the swamper and his dog? (be specific)

14. What did Slim do with some of his puppies and why? What does Carlson suggest to do with one of them and why?

15. Find three examples of figurative language used in chapter 2 and label.

16. Find two examples of foreshadowing in chapter 2. Use direct quote and page #.

Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 3 (page 38-65)

1. At the beginning of chapter 3 what are the other men doing while George and Slim are in the bunkhouse talking? What is Lennie doing?

2. What does George tell Slim that he used to do to Lennie when they were boys? Why did he do it? Why did he finally stop?

3. How does Slim compare Lennie to other men? (be specific)

4. Why does George reveal to Slim what happened to them in Weed?

What is Slims response? (Direct quote & pg #)

5. Why does Carlson initially say he wants to shoot Candy’s dog? (2 reasons)

What is the more humane reason he gives for shooting the dog? (direct quote & pg #)

6. What are Candy’s reasons for not wanting to shoot his dog? (minimum 2)

7. What does Whit show Slim in the pulp magazine? Why would this be important/significant to these men?

8. Where does Whit invite George to go on Saturday night? (name & description)

What is George’s response?

9. Who and why is Lennie sent back in the bunkhouse from the stables?

10. George and Lennie’s dream is described more specifically. How many acres of land are there? Name 5 other things it already has. What will George need to build?

11. Why is Candy interested in their dream? What does he have to contribute? What would his “job” be on their place? Why do you think George agrees to let Candy join them?

12. Why do Whit and Carlson follow Curly out of the bunkhouse?

13. Why does Candy say he shouldn’t have let Carlson shoot his dog?

14. Why does Curly attack Lennie? What does Lennie finally do? Why?

15. Will Curly tell on Lennie and get him fired? Why or why not?

Idioms : An idiom is a phrase or a fixed expression that has a figurative, or sometimes-literal meaning. An idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.

16. Define the following idioms: read the context and decide what they mean

“Me and Lennie’s gonna roll up a stake” (pg50) –

“Lookin’ for his old lady” (pg 53) –

“You’re yella as a frog belly” (pg 62) –

17. Find three more idioms with page #’s and define.

Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 4 pages 66-83

1. Crook’s room is described specifically at the beginning of chapter 4. Give three examples of these specific descriptions. Why has Crooks been able to accumulate more personal items that the other ranch hands?

2. Describe Crooks. (Physical appearance & personality) use specific quotes

3. Why does Lennie venture into Crooks’ room? What does he want?

4. What reason does Crooks first give for Lennie not being welcome in his room?

5. Why was Lennie in the barn to begin with? Where is George?

6. What does Crooks say about George that angers Lennie?

7. According to Crooks, why does a person need a companion? Use quote & pg #

8. Describe two specific memories Crooks shares of his childhood.

9. According to Crooks, what do ranch hands blow their money on? (Min 2)

10. How often does Candy come to Crooks’ room?

11. Explain what Steinbeck meant when he said on page 75 “It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger.”

12. What does Crooks offer Candy as they are talking about their “dream?”

13. Who appears in the room looking for Curly?

14. Explain what Curly’s wife meant when she says, “They left all the weak ones here” on pg 77.

15. What does Candy tell Curly’s wife happened to Curly’s hand? Does she believe him? Why/Why not?

16. What is revealed about Curly’s wife AND how she feels about Curly? What was her dream before she married Curly?

17. When Curly’s wife insults the three men who stands up to her? What does he tell her? (List 3 specific details)

18. What does Curly’s wife notice about Lennie’s face? What does she realize? How do you know?

19. Why does Curly’s wife threaten Crooks? What does she threaten to do? How does he respond to her?

20. Explain and elaborate what Crooks meant when he said on page 82 “You guys comin’ in an settin made me forget.”

Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 5 (page 84-98)

1. Give two examples of figurative language used in the first two paragraphs of chapter 5. Write the example and the term (do NOT use Imagery)

2. What has Lennie done and what is he worried about?

3. Who joins Lennie in the barn? How does he react?

4. How does Curly’s wife show that she is not as contemptible as she seems?

5. Why does Curly’s wife become angry with Lennie?

6. What does she reveal to Lennie that she hasn’t told anyone before?

7. Why did she marry Curly?

8. Why does Curly’s wife offer to let Lennie stroke her hair? What happens when he does? Be specific (step by step)

9. What does Lennie do? (With the girl? With the puppy? Himself?)

10. Who finds the body? What does he do first?

11. What does Candy seem most worried about? What is Georges reaction?

12. Why does George leave, then return to the scene of the crime?

13. What is Curly’s reaction? (who does he blame? What does he want to do?)

14. Why does Slim believe Lennie is to blame? (2 reasons)

15. What does Carlson have that is missing? Who do they think has it?

16. How does George keep the men from finding Lennie right away? How do we know that this is not where Lennie would have gone?

17. What are Candy’s instructions?

18. What are Whit’s instructions?

19. What are George’s instructions?

Of Mice & Men Chapter Questions

You do NOT have to answer in complete sentences, but make sure you answer completely!

Chapter 6 (pages 99-107)

1. Find and quote two examples of personification in the first eight paragraphs.

2. Find and quote one simile in the first eight paragraphs.

3. Find and quote one example of animal imagery in the first eight paragraphs.

4. Explain the image of the heron awaiting its prey and its connection to Lennie and his circumstances.

5. Who is the “little fat old woman” that visits Lennie’s head? What does she tell him? How does he respond to her?

6. What other hallucination does Lennie have? What does he tell Lennie? What do we learn about how George has treated Lennie?

7. How does George know where to find Lennie?

8. Does Lennie know he has done something wrong? How do you know?

9. Why is George calm, almost without emotion, when he talks to Lennie?

10. Earlier in the novel, what foreshadows the final events between Lennie and George?

11. Why does George shoot Lennie?

12. Why does George lie to Carlson and the other men about the events that lead up to the shooting of Lennie?

13. Who realizes what really happened between George and Lennie? How do you know?