Of Mice and Men – Worksheet 3

Of Mice and Men – Worksheet 3 - Characters
George, Lennie
Analyse the passage pp. 4-6 (Everything of a … Jesus Christ you’re a crazy bustard).
1. Describe George and Lennie. Compare them.
2. George and Lennie take very different approach to drinking the water. What does each man’s approach
say about his character?
3. Lennie is often compared to an animal. Find two examples and explain them.
Candy
Analyse the passage on p. 19-22 (The wooden… a year)
1. In what ways does Steinbeck present Candy as weak / old?
2. Candy points out how clean the previous occupant of George’s bunk was. What does this tell us about
Candy, and what is George’s reaction? Does Candy defend anyone else in the extract, and why?
Analyse the passage on pp. 46-48 (Candy threw … at the ceiling.)
3. Why is Candy so reluctant to have the dog put down?
4. What does the approach of the other men towards the dog tell us about them?
5. Later on, Candy says “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger
shoot my dog.” (p. 61) Why do you think he changes his mind?
Curley
Analyse the passage on pp. 26–28 (At that moment… little guys)
1. Describe Curley character, appearance and behaviour.
2. What is George’s attitude towards Curley?
Analyse the passage on p. 62-64(Slim said… looking at Lennie)
3. After confronting Lennie, why do you think Curley agrees he “won’t tell”? What has he got to lose?
Curley’s wife
1. Why do you think she doesn’t have a name?
2. As the only woman on the farm, what does Curley’s wife suffer from?
Analyse the passages on p. 77-78 (After … else) and pp. 86-88 (Her face … from the rest)
3. What is the relationship of the men to her? What do they think about her?
4. How does she feel? What dream does she have? Is it realistic? Why, why not?
5. Compare the way she is described in the scene when we first see her (p. 32 – Both men … ain’t ya?)
and in death (p. 91 – Curley’s wife … were parted).
Crooks
Analyse the following passages: p. 68 (well,… stink to me), p. 72 (Crooks said gently … gets sick), pp. 79–
80 (Crooks stood up… voice was toneless)
1. Crooks represents the relationship between the black and white people in America as a whole. How is it?
How do the other workers on the farm treat him? Is it somehow connected with his personality?
2. Why does Curley’s wife treat him in such a cruel manner?
Slim
1. Analyse the passage on pp. 34-35 (A tall man… dancer). Characterise Slim and the way he is treated by
the other men.
2. How does he behave towards George and Lennie?
3. Is he a believable character in the book? Why, or why not?
4. Why did Steinbeck include such an idealistic character?