Of Mice and Men

Plot Vocabulary Character

Chapter George and Lennie are chased out of Weed. Whilst making
Mood Stereotype Isolation Misogyny A huge man but with a child like understanding of
1 their way to the ranch for work, they set up camp for the
the world. He has a selective, short-term memory
night. We learn about their relationship and their dream Lennie
and always gets in trouble. He looks up to George as
about owning their own ranch. American Small
Atmosphere Personification Segregation a father figure and takes pleasure in hearing of the
Chapter At the ranch, they meet most of the main characters: Candy, Dream dream ranch and the rabbits they will have.
2 Curley, Curley’s wife, Slim and the Boss. George realises that
Curley is potentially a dangerous character and he warns He is the opposite of Lennie both in size and
Novella Itinerant Hostility Pessimistic
Lennie to stay away from Curley’s flirtatious wife. intelligence. He is no saintly hero and, although he loves
George
Chapter Candy’s dog is shot by Carlson because he is old and Lennie, he becomes easily frustrated and annoyed with
Milton
3 suffering. Candy overhears George and Lennie discussing Symbolism Derogatory Futile him. He protects Lennie and kills him to spare him from
their dream of owning a ranch and he offers them all his Curley’s torture.
savings to become involved in it. Curley picks a fight with
Lennie in front of the men. Lennie crushes his hand and Context Slim is the well respected and admired ranch foreman.
humiliates him. He is a wise figure with ‘god-like’ eyes whose opinions
Slim
Chapter Candy, Crooks, Lennie and Curley’s wife are left on the ranch The Wall Street Crash happened in 1929 when the prices on the and decisions the men respect. He decides to shoot
4 as everyone else goes into town. Crooks has a momentary New York Stock Exchange collapsed. Many people blamed the banks Candy’s dog.
hope of being part of the dream until Curley’s wife cruelly for this disaster because they risked people’s deposits on the Stock
belittles him and reminds him of his position as a black man. Market. The consequences of this were difficult to accept because The He is the crippled old ‘swamper’. After his dog is shot,
Roaring Twenties were a boom time of prosperity and the feeling that Candy he makes George and Lennie’s dream become more of
Chapter Lennie kills his puppy. He accidentally kills Curley’s wife by
life was improving again after WW1. a reality by offering them all his savings.
5 breaking her neck when he was stroking her hair. Curley and
the men form a posse to hunt Lennie down. George knows he
has to kill Lennie himself. America was plunged into The Great Depression after the stock Crooks in the ‘negro stable buck’ who is segregated
market crashed. By winter 1932, the country was in the greatest from the white workers because of his skin colour
Chapter George finds Lennie in the brush and as he tells him about
economic depression of its history with over 13 million people and lives close to the animals. At first, he is bitter and
6 their dream ranch, he shoots him in the back of the head.
unemployed and many people starving and homeless. Crooks cynical when Lennie tells him about the dream but finds
himself being drawn into it. His hope for the future is
Themes The Dust Bowl occurred when a series of dust storms in 1930s
destroyed when Curley’s wife crushes his dignity and
threatens his life.
Loneliness Dreams Natural world America caused major damage to agricultural land in some states.
This meant much of the land could not be farmed and as a result
Prejudice Friendship Violence farmers lost their livelihoods and were forced into an itinerant She is the only woman on the ranch and her lack
lifestyle. of worth in the eyes of the men is suggested by the
Survival of the fittest Marginalisation Victims fact she is not named; she is just a possession of her
Curley’s
husband. She is lonely but the men see her a negative
Wife
The weak and the strong Animals Justice The American Dream was the dream of a life that could be better, light and think ‘she got the eye’. Sadly, her dream of
richer and more fulfilling for everyone. People dreamed of having becoming a movie star ends with her death at Lennie’s
their own land and being independent after the effects of the hands.
Assessment Objectives Wall Street Crash. America had always been seen as the ‘land of
Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate opportunity’ where any dream could be achieved through hard work. Curley is a violent bully and the son of the Boss. His real
AO1
relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. reason for hunting down Lennie is in revenge for the
Curley
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ As a result of the economic and agricultural problems, many farmers humiliation of having his hand crushed, rather than for
AO2 migrated to California as people thought it provided a better chance the death of his wife.
presentation of ideas, themes and settings.
of employment. George and Lennie are examples of these migrant
Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts;
workers who move from ranch to ranch looking for work and having Carlson shoots Candy’s dog and is a representative
AO4 explain how texts have been influential and significant to self, Carlson
to accept low wages. This was a very insecure and unstable way of life. figure of the tough, unfeeling men on the ranch.
and other readers in different contexts and at different times.

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‘Of Mice and Men’ Sample Exam Essay Question

The Title Time Frame

The title of the novella is from a poem called Ode to a Mouse by the
Scottish poet, Robert Burns. It is a pessimistic poem as it describes • The events of the novella take place over 3 full days.
how easily hopes and dreams can be destroyed. The lines, • It opens with George and Lennie camping on a Thursday night on their way to the ranch.
‘The best laid plans of mice and men • On Friday evening, Candy’s dog is shot, and Lennie breaks Curley’s hand.
Gang aft agaly’ • On Saturday, the men go into town and the ‘weak’ characters are left behind.
remind us of how none of the characters will ever achieve their hopes • On Sunday afternoon, Lennie kills Curley’s wife. In the evening George shoots Lennie
and dreams and adds to the depressing message of the novella.

You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this question.

Show how John Steinbeck uses the character of Crooks to highlight some aspects of American society in the 1930s. [20 marks]

John Steinbeck uses the character of Crooks to highlight several aspects of American
society, including the racism and prejudice against black people, the loneliness of most Steinbeck portrays the realisation that the American Dream is nothing but an illusion through Crooks as he is willing to join in
Americans, who wandered from job to job, and also the realisation that the American with the dream with Lennie and Candy. However, when Curley’s wife enters the room, he tells the others he was ‘just fooling’
Dream, whatever version they have, will never come true, but will instead be destroyed. showing that because Crooks has been subject to racism and prejudice for the majority of his life, it is easier for him to accept
Firstly John Steinbeck uses the character of Crooks to show the racism against the black the fake nature of the American Dream. I think that whilst Crooks was able to forget that he was discriminated against, due
people who had recently been released from slavery. This is evident from the start of the to the company that was present, Lennie, ‘a dum-dum’ and Candy ‘a lousy old sheep’, he was able to believe in the dream.
book when Candy tells George that Crooks ‘gets it’ from the Boss every time the Boss is However, it was shattered as soon as reality pervaded the room in the form of Curley’s wife, who has her own dream, that
angry. Crooks is unable to do anything about it because he is a black man with a crippled she thinks will come true unlike everyone else’s.
back, who, if fired, will be unable to find work with anyone else. This is again displayed Finally, Steinbeck uses Crooks to show the things that the black population of America dreamt about because as Lennie
further on in the novel when Curley’s wife claims that she can ‘get [him] strung up so enters the room, Crooks is reading a book about civil rights and quotes its contents to him at the start of their conversation.
fast it ain’t even funny’ if he gets her ‘into trouble’. This again highlights the fact of racism ‘You have no right being in a black man’s room’ shows that Crooks is considered low down on the social ladder but is also
in American society as it shows that black people were considered as less than married concerned about preserving what little dignity and self respect he has left. He is eager to ensure that people don’t violate
white women; women weren’t thought of highly in American society, but only as objects to his rights. Furthermore, he probably wants to be treated as a normal person, as he accepts the invitation to join the white
admire and possess. Racism is also evident in Candy’s use of the ‘n’ word when referring workers in the bunkhouse at Christmas, even though they prompt pick a fight with him and use him as entertainment.
to Crooks, because, although Candy has no particular objection to Crooks, it shows that
Overall, I think that Steinbeck uses the character of Crooks to show the main problems with American society in the 1930s,
he views Crooks’ position as justified and rightful or else he wouldn’t deign to use that
particularly towards black people and also towards lower class workers and people who didn’t have a lot of money.
language.
Commentary
Steinbeck also uses Crooks to illustrate the loneliness that was felt by the black people
and also the travelling workers in American society who had nothing to do other than The answer remains focused throughout with key words from the question present in each paragraph. There is assured use
wander by themselves looking for work. This is evident in Crooks’ refusal to allow Lennie of relevant detail from different sections of the text and the exploration of the impact of Crooks’ presentation becomes more
into his room, but eventually obliges, which shows that although he resents the idea of confident as the response develops. Here is some detailed reference to salient events and relationships and the times he
people who hurt him, he is still willing to let Lennie in because he wants company and also lives in.
because Lennie is unlikely to grasp the meaning of racism.

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‘Of Mice and Men’ Sample Extract Question

You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on this question.

Look closely at the way George speaks and behaves here. What does it reveal about his character? [10]

George said, ‘What was it you wanted to see me about?’ Candy pointed at Curley’s wife. George stared. ‘What’s the matter
At the start of the extract Steinbeck presents the character of George as a quick thinker
with her?’ he asked. He stepped closer, and then he echoed Candy’s words. ‘Oh, Jesus Christ!’ He was down on his knees
as when he realises that Curley’s wife is dead, despite his exclamation of ‘Oh Jesus Christ!’,
beside her. He put his hand over her heart. And finally, when he stood up, slowly and stiffly, his face was as hard and tight as
he makes a speedy recovery and acts fast, immediately getting ‘down on his knees beside
wood, and his eyes were hard.
her’. His methodical approach to checking to make sure she was dead is demonstrated by
Candy said, ‘What done it?’ the declarative sentence ‘He put his hand over her heart’ and reflects his calm, measured
George looked coldly at him. ‘Ain’t you got any idear?’ he asked. And Candy was silent. ‘I should of knew,’ George said attitude towards the bad news.
hopelessly. ‘I guess maybe way back in my head I did.’ George’s character is also presented as rather distant, as he removes all emotion from his
Candy asked, ‘What we gonna do now, George? What we gonna do now?’ face, ‘his face was as hard and tight as wood, and his eyes were hard’. This presents him as
quite cold and implies that he is almost resigned to the fact that Lennie has killed Curley’s
George was a long time in answering. ‘Guess… e gotta tell the…guys. I guess we gotta get ’im an’ lock ’im up. We can’t let ’im wife and has already accepted it. He looked ‘coldly’ at Candy and this adverb suggests
get away. Why, the poor bastard’d starve.’ And he tried to reassure himself. ‘Maybe they’ll lock ’im up an’ be nice to ’im.’ that he has put up a protective façade or shield to try to hide the fact that he is affected
But Candy said excitedly, ‘We oughtta let ’im get away. You don’t know that Curley. Curley gon’ta wanta get ’im lynched. by the incident. However, his true feelings are exposed as he admits in defeat ‘hopelessly’
Curley’ll get ’im killed.’ that ‘I should of knew’, even stating ‘I guess maybe way back in my head I did’, which also
suggests that he already had an idea of the events that would occur, presenting him as
George watched Candy’s lips. ‘Yeah,’ he said at last, ‘that’s right, Curley will. An’ the other guys will.’ And he looked back at
perceptive and also emphasising his relationship with Lennie as he knows him well.
Curley’s wife.
It is evident that George cares deeply for Lennie as he hesitates, demonstrated by the
Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. ‘You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live
use of ellipsis, ‘Guess…we gotta tell the…guys’ which implies that he doesn’t want to ‘lock’
nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?’
Lennie up. His concern for Lennie shines through, ‘Why, the poor bastard’d starve’, which
Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew. George said softly, ‘– I think I shows he cares for his well being. The fact that he ‘was a long time in answering’ before he
knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe admits that ‘we can’t let him get away’ suggests that his real feeling won’t allow Lennie to
we would.’ escape.
‘Then – it’s all off?’ Candy asked sulkily. George is also presented as defeated as he speaks ‘softly’ and his dedication to Lennie is
George didn’t answer his question. George said, ‘I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some shown at the end of the extract as he says ‘sharply’ that ‘I ain’t gona let ‘em hurt Lennie’
lousy cat house. Or I’ll set in some pool-room till ever’body goes home. An’ then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll and this dialogue shows how defensive he is of his friend, even when Lennie is clearly in
have fifty bucks more.’ the wrong, which also portrays him as loyal.

Candy said, ‘He’s such a nice fella. I didn’t think he’d do nothing like this.’ George’s insistence that ‘Lennie never done it in meanness’ could suggest his denial of the
gravity of the incident yet he is not delusional and realises that ‘there ain’t no way out’. He
George still stared at Curley’s wife. ‘Lennie never done it in meanness,’ he said. ‘All the time he done bad things, but he never
moves on from the event quickly, forming a plan which reflects his intelligence. He orders
done one of ’em mean.’ He straightened up and looked back at Candy. ‘Now listen. We gotta tell the guys. They got to bring
Candy ‘Now you listen’ and his use of an imperative shows that he knows how to assert his
him in, I guess. They ain’t no way out. Maybe they won’t hurt ’im.’ He said sharply, ‘I ain’t gonna let ’em hurt Lennie. Now you
power.
listen. The guys might think I was in on it. I’m gonna go in the bunk house. Then in a minute you come out and tell the guys
about her, and I’ll come along and make like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won’t think I was in on it?’ Commentary
Candy said, ‘Sure, George. Sure I’ll do that.’ A totally focused response with detailed coverage of the extract. Integrated quotations
are used effectively in the analysis of language. Comments are evaluative, perceptive and
‘OK. Give me a couple minutes then, and you come runnin’ out an’ tell like you jus’ found her. I’m going now’. George turned
cogent.
and went quickly out of the barn.