Study Questions

1. a. Curley: small guy, boss’s son, cocky, always picking fights, thinks he’s a great fighter. Picks fights with big guys because if he wins he looks really good and if he loses people think the big guy should have picked on someone his own size.

b. Crooks: black, outcast (because of racism), lonely, acts mean on the outside (to protect self), family used to have a farm, smart and has lots of books, really cynical but even he gets excited about the dream of the farm once the guys talk about it enough

c. Candy: old, lonely, only one hand, no friends, old dog, should have shot the dog himself, had money and is really excited about the dream

3.One of the central themes of the novel: the American Dream can never be a reality, only a dream

Even though they were so close, they couldn’t make it. The world is so cruel and terrible at this time period, that dreams can never come true

4. Doesn’t even have her own name, just Curley’s wife, è less of a person.

· People don’t respect her, doesn’t even have her own identity.

· A general statement about women’s roles.

· No mother in the book. Even his dad, the boss, doesn't get a name.

· Just one woman who is trouble and is always manipulating men or flirting, can’t have a normal conversation, because she doesn’t know how.

· You can see why she’s so desperate for attention, no even wants to know her name

· Not an admirable character, but she has a miserable life too.

· So lonely

· She’s discriminated against also, just like Crooks. He has to live alone, she doesn’t get a name à neither has friends

· Her response to being lonely and discriminated against, is to be mean, nasty and cruel

5. Curley’s wife’s looks: pretty, but she dresses to flirt, not respectably. She thinks her beauty is all she has to offer the world. Every conversation is a flirtation because she never learned anything else.

9. Lennie could kill without meaning to:

• Accidentally kills mice every time even though he really likes them
• Crushes Curley’s hand
• Accidentally kills the puppy
• Story of when he can’t let go of the woman’s dress in Weed

13. Aunt Clara scene: he’s hallucinating/dreaming

• He’s not only slow mentally, but he is crazy
• He does not fully understand what he has done wrong or what reality is
• A guilty conscience and insanity

10. Lennie’s mind: scared, just wants Curley’s wife to be quiet, so worried that George will be mad,

• His only sense of right and wrong is that
  George will be mad
• Like a 4 year old
• No attempt to hurt her
• Just wants her to stop screaming