Reading Log for of Mice and Men

Reading Log for Of Mice and Men

Questions: Answer the questions in 3-5 complete sentences.

1.  What is important about the title? What is the famous reference? Was the title misleading?

2.  What are the conflicts in Of Mice and Men? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional)?

3.  What is one theme in the story? How does it relate to the plot and characters?

4.  What is one symbol in Of Mice and Men? How does it develop (they relate to the plot and characters)?

5.  Is George consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?

6.  Is Lenny consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?

7.  Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet? Why?

8.  What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?

9.  The novel has been banned in several schools. Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned?

10.  How essential is the setting to the story? Explain.

11.  What is the role of women in the text?

12.  Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

13.  Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

14.  List five similes used in the novel. Choose three and explain the specific effect/purpose for each. (Do not say that the simile creates a picture in the reader’s mind—they all do this.)

Quotations: Identify the context and explain the meaning/significance of the passage quoted in 3-5 complete sentences

15.  ""Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones."
- John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, Ch. 1

16.  "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. . . . With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don't have to sit in no bar room blowin' in our jack jus' because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us."
- John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, Ch. 1

17.  "We could live offa the fatta the lan'."
- John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, Ch. 3

18.  "Never you mind. A guy got to sometimes."
- John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, Ch. 6