Name: Period: Date:

Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck

Questions: Chapters 5 and 6

DIRECTIONS: WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES AND RESTATE THE QUESTION IN YOUR ANSWER.

Chapter 5

  1. Describe and instance where it is obvious that Lennie is influenced by George and the other men on the ranch.
  2. How is the conversation between Lennie and Curley’s wife similar to the conversation between Lennie and Crooks in Chapter 4?
  3. Why does Lennie panic, and what happens as a result of his panic?
  4. What similarity can be found in the death of the puppy, in the beginning of the chapter, and in the death of Curley’s wife?
  5. What incidents earlier in the book foreshadow the killing of Curley’s wife? (Think about another time when Lennie got in trouble with a girl.)
  6. Why is the dream of the ranch dead?
  7. Candy angrily addresses the body of the dead girl. If this is an allegory, what Biblical woman might the wife represent? Explain.
  8. How do you suppose George is going to stop the men from lynching or shooting Lennie?
  9. What do the men suppose happened to Carlson’s gun? Why is this so hard to believe?

Chapter 6

  1. How did George know where to find Lennie?
  2. Why isn’t George mad at Lennie?
  3. Again, the point is made that on the ranch, they will have each other to look after. Why is this point mentioned so often?
  4. What action does George take, and why does he do this?
  5. What earlier action foreshadowed George’s action? (Hint: Why didn’t he want to let someone else do it? Think back to another situation like this in the book.)
  6. What is the last comment in the novel? Why is this important (what does it show)?
  7. Why do you suppose George shoots Lennie? (as maybe opposed to taking him and running to another ranch)