key ideas Crooks Flashcards
At the start of chapter 4 Steinbeck breaks his rule of having an empty scene and having the characters enter. What could this show?
This could be used to tell the reader that black people were seen as pieces of furniture and were not real humans.
What does Crook’s tattered dictionary and mauled civil code represent?
These items are used as a pathetic fallacy for crooks himself.
Why does crooks have a California civil code for 1905?
Because although he has few rights this could make him more insistent on the rights that he does have, so he used this to look them up.
What is a quote where crooks has been discriminated against?
“They play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black”
Crooks has been able to accumulate many items and the other men on the ranch haven’t. Why is this?
Because he is not itinerant (does not move around)
Give 2 quotes which show crooks insisting upon his rights:
1) “you got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room”
2) “well, I got a right to have a light”
When Lennie appeared in crook’s room “a scowl came on his face” why is this?
He has been forced to think that the men on the ranch are unkind: if he has not been allowed in the bunkhouse they should not be allowed in his room.
What physical features make us feel sorry for crooks?
1) He has a crooked spine from his manual labour
2) He had thin, pain-tightened lips
Why does crooks get defensive over his room?
1) he has to hold on to the one thing that he has
2) sometimes people who are victimised can be more wary and aggressive towards others
Why is the light described as meager and yellow in crook’s room?
It is supposed to not have much energy and not feel very inviting.
When crooks starts talking to Lennie “his tone was a little more friendly” why did he change so quickly?
Because he just wants someone to talk to and has no one to tell his sensory experiences to
Crooks insists on telling Lennie he “ain’t a southern negro” and that his “old man had a chicken ranch”. Why is this?
This means that he is not descended from slaves, which gives him pride, although he is still treated like a slave.
He is telling Lennie he already had what they want now, so they should be treated the same.
He repeats the similar phrases “why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it” and “this is just a nigger talkin’”. Why does he do this?
To show that he know he is less than everyone else because he thinks his opinions and story are not important to Lennie.
When crooks talked about George not coming back to look after Lennie his “face lighted with please in his torture”. Why?
Because he wants Lennie to suffer and understand what he has suffered
What two quotations show that crooks is scared of Lennie?
1) “crooks saw the danger as it approached him” - he is nice but wants Lennie to know how he feels so he mentions george.
2) he “removed his glasses and wiped his eyes” - this shows he is scared (wiping his eyes with fear)
