March 2011: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The title

What is important about the title? What is the famous reference?

Your reactions

What are your feelings after reading this novel?

Likeable?

Do you find the characters likeable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?

Migrant workers

Why does George say the migrant workers who travel from farm to farm are the loneliest people in the world?

Themes

Many critics consider this one of the greatest short works of fiction of all time. Why do you think they say this? Discuss the themes in this short book: the importance of relationships, responsibility to others, the difference between right and wrong, the evil of opression and abuse. What can we learn from Steinbeck's book?

The ending

Why does George kill Lennie? Is Slim right when he says, "You hadda, George."?

Visions

When we see Lennie at the pool why does Steinbeck have him imagine Aunt Clara and the rabbit? What does this tell you about Lennie? Is George right when he says, "He never done this to be mean?" Why does Lennie do it?

The pup

What happens when Lennie is alone in the barn in chapter five? How did he kill the pup? What does this tell you about how Lennie responds to what is right and wrong?

Lennie

Does Lennie really believe what he does is wrong? What does he think about what he does?

Mice

What does the mouse in the first chapter tell you about Lennie? What does it tell you about the relationship of George and Lennie? How does George try to keep Lennie from getting in trouble?

Old Dog

Why do you think Steinbeck included the scene with the killing of the old dog in the story?

George and Lennie

React to the relationship between George and Lennie. Do you know people that have that kind of relationship?