Of Mice And Men

Front 1

describe George

Back 1

- intelligent
- quick-witted
- dreams or owning own land
- intuitive

Front 2

describe lennie

Back 2

- childlike
- terror of violence
- physically strong
- compared to an animal - strength but innocence too
- obsession for 'petting'
- naïve

Front 3

describe crooks

Back 3

- literate
- black
- cripple
- victim - oppressive violence/prejudice/abuse
- façade of aloofness and reserve
- anguish of loneliness
- intelligent
- aware

Front 4

describe curley

Back 4

- inferiority complex
- aggressive
- humiliated by wife
- professional fighter
- fights unfairly
- authority
- violent

Front 5

describe curley's wife

Back 5

- never named
- seen as an object/temptress/'jail bait' by other characters
- flaunts herself
- dreams of being in films
- desire for admiration and attention
- lonely
- insecure
- vain

Front 6

describe slim

Back 6

- dignified
- charismatic
- natural authority
- gentle
- friendly
- moral
- the 'conscience' of the other characters
- idealised
- royal

Front 7

describe candy

Back 7

- old - not much time left to work
- no hand
- loses his dog - companion
- falls into George and Lennie's dream
- gossiper
- weak
- lonely

Front 8

describe George and Lennie's relationship

Back 8

- pity
- affection
- concern
- authoritative
- George is the 'brains' but Lennie is the work
- strange for the time
- companionship
- not exploiting Lennie - George balances the pros and cons

Front 9

explain the themes of realism and naturalism

Back 9

realism - the harsh times caused artists to want to portray the true culture of these people, not romanticise it.
Naturalism - the idea that a stronger force caused this (fate?) and that men and nature were connected

Front 10

what are four themes/images within the play?

Back 10

- nature
- loneliness
- dreams
- violence

Front 11

give examples of the theme of nature within the novella

Back 11

lennie - 'bear', animal-like simplicity and innocence
ranch workers - unnatural lives, rootless existence
behaviour towards animals - killing candy's dog almost justifies the killing of lennie
Steinbeck uses it to support theme of violence - heron killing snake
nature reflects the strong powerful forces "sank mysteriously unto the dark water again"

Front 12

give examples of the theme of loneliness within the novella

Back 12

drifters - continually searching for something better because they are lonely
characters seek for comfort in other things - George and lennie, candy and dog, crooks and pride (they all lose it in the end)

Front 13

give examples of the theme of dreams within the novella

Back 13

most have dreams but are kept secret to begin with
George annoyed when lennie tells crooks
contrast: curley's wife is desperate to confide even though lennie has no interest/understanding
dream (love, companionship, hope) vs. nightmare (loneliness and drifting)

Front 14

give examples of the theme of violence within the novella

Back 14

unnecessary gratuitous fighting throughout the novella
curley and Carlson thrive on violence
gun is easily available
Carlson provides George with the right method to kill lennie later

Front 15

what earlier events foreshadow the death of Curley's wife?

Back 15

- lennie's obsession with petting animals which leads to death
- what happened at weed
- George's worry about Curley's wife
- geoge's plan for a hinding place if things went bad
- curley's wife's red lips vs. women in weed with red dress (danger)
- nature's violence
- lennie killing the pup

Front 16

what does the title hint at?

Back 16

- its from Burn's poem which says "the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley" = no matter what you are and how well you plan, things will go wrong. G and L plan their future well but it all ends abruptly

Front 17

describe the setting

Back 17

action only occurs in 1 place which is unusual and shows mundane lives. Gives it a sense of identity and tension. Almost feels like we are watching a play