Curley's Wife

Question 1

Quote for loneliness…

Answer 1

“I get awful lonely”

Question 2

Describe Curley’s Wife’s appearance when she has died…

Answer 2

“Very pretty and simple and her face was sweet and young” “And the meaness and the planning and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face.” “her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping”

Question 3

Candy says… ‘I think Curley’s married…”

Answer 3

“a tart”

Question 4

When talking to Lennie, CW says ‘You can talk to people, but I can’t talk…”

Answer 4

“to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?”

Question 5

When Lennie stares at CW Steinbeck describes him using the verb…

Answer 5

Fascinated

Question 6

CW met Curley at the…

Answer 6

Riverside Dance Palace

Question 7

CW on her dream…

Answer 7

‘He said he was gonna put me in the movies.” “I coulda gone with the shows”

Question 8

When she dies, what simile does Steinbeck use to comment on CW’s body?

Answer 8

“Flopped like a fish”

Question 9

What happens to light when we first meet CW in the Bunkhouse?

Answer 9

“the rectangle of sunshine in the door way was cut off”

Question 10

Describe three features of CW’s appearance when we first meet her…

Answer 10

“Full, rouged lips” “heavily made up” “her finger nails were red” “She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers”

Question 11

What do you notice about CW’s body language when you first meet her in the Bunkhouse?

Answer 11

“she put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward”

Question 12

How does Lennie react to seeing CW for the first time?

Answer 12

“Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body” “Lennie watched her fascinated”

Question 13

What does Slim call CW when we first meet him?

Answer 13

“Good-lookin’”

Question 14

List three insults George uses to describe CW.

Answer 14

“rat-trap” “Jesus, what a tramp” “jail-bait”

Question 15

What does Curley ‘keep soft’ for CW?

Answer 15

His hand. ‘Glove fulla vaseline’

Question 16

Candy says that Curley’s Wife has…

Answer 16

‘got the eye’

Question 17

Why does Curley’s wife laugh at Candy in Crooks’ room?

Answer 17

Because she doesn’t believe they can achieve the dream. ‘I know you guys’

Question 18

Candy tells CW to do what when he gets angry with her in Crooks’ room?

Answer 18

‘roll your hoop’

Question 19

CW is often referred to as what by the ranch workers?

Answer 19

‘kid’

Question 20

What does CW say to Lennie before she leaves Crooks’ room and why?

Answer 20

‘I like machines’ referring to Lennie hurting Curley’s hand in the fight.

Question 21

What does Candy say to the dead body of Curley’s Wife?

Answer 21

‘You God damn tramp” “Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up” “You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart”

Question 22

What does Slim do when he approaches the dead body of CW?

Answer 22

“went quietly over to her” “felt her wrist” “his fingers explored her neck” “his hand went under her slightly twisted neck” “the spell was broken” - significant because it implies that there was a significant bond, or magic, between Slim and CW.

Question 23

What is the last thing Candy says in Of Mice and Men and the last thing he says to CW?

Answer 23

“Poor Bastard”

Question 24

Why has Steinbeck put CW in the book?

Answer 24

To comment on the way in which women were seen as possessions. To demonstrate that loneliness is lethal. To imply that women were seen as something to use and as sexual objects.