Key Quotations/Ideas - Crooks

Question 1

At the start of chapter 4 Steinbeck breaks his rule of having an empty scene and having the characters enter. What could this show?

Answer 1

This could be used to tell the reader that black people were seen as pieces of furniture and were not real humans.

Question 2

Why does crooks have a California civil code for 1905?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What does Crook’s tattered dictionary and mauled civil code represent?

Answer 3

These items are used as a pathetic fallacy for crooks himself.

Question 4

Crooks has been able to accumulate many items and the other men on the ranch haven’t. Why is this?

Answer 4

Because he is not itinerant (does not move around)

Question 5

What is a quote where crooks has been discriminated against?

Answer 5

“They play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black”

Question 6

When Lennie appeared in crook’s room “a scowl came on his face” why is this?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What physical features make us feel sorry for crooks?

Answer 7

1) He has a crooked spine from his manual labour

2) He had thin, pain-tightened lips

Question 8

Give 2 quotes which show crooks insisting upon his rights:

Answer 8

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”

Question 9

Why does crooks get defensive over his room?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Why is the light described as meager and yellow in crook’s room?

Answer 10

It is supposed to not have much energy and not feel very inviting.

Question 11

When crooks starts talking to Lennie “his tone was a little more friendly” why did he change so quickly?

Answer 11

Because he just wants someone to talk to and has no one to tell his sensory experiences to

Question 12

Crooks insists on telling Lennie he “ain’t a southern negro” and that his “old man had a chicken ranch”. Why is this?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

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?

Answer 13

To show that he know he is less than everyone else because he thinks his opinions and story are not important to Lennie.

Question 14

When crooks talked about George not coming back to look after Lennie his “face lighted with please in his torture”. Why?

Answer 14

Because he wants Lennie to suffer and understand what he has suffered

Question 15

What two quotations show that crooks is scared of Lennie?

Answer 15

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)

Question 16

What quote does crooks use to show that George and Lennie’s is a normal story (cross reference)?

Answer 16

“I see hunderds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches”

Because crooks has been on the ranch a long time it must be true.

Question 17

What quote does crooks use to use to pretend he likes being on his own? And why does he “conceal his pleasure with anger”?

Answer 17

“Come on in. If ever’body’s comin’ in, you might just as well.”

He pretends he doesn’t want to be with them because he if he made it obvious he was unhappy it would tell the ranch workers that he is unhappy when he is unaccompanied.

Question 18

What quote from experience does crooks say to foreshadow that George and Lennie’s dream is not going to happen?

Answer 18

“You guys is just kiddin’ yourself.”

Question 19

What 2 quotations show that crooks is pessimistic about the dream?

Answer 19

1) “You’re nuts.” X2
2) “I never seen a guy really do it”

At first he doesn’t believe they can do it until he sees they have enough money and tries to get in on it.

Question 20

What happened when curleys wife came into crooks’ room?

Answer 20

He “retired into the terrible protective dignity of the negro.” - he couldn’t say anything because she would comment on his race, this way his way of isolating himself from white people.

Question 21

What happens when curley’s wife starts to talk to crooks?

Answer 21

1) he “seemed to grow smaller”
2) he “reduced himself to nothing”

He can act big but she can ruin his life by saying he raped her. She is low in society, but still more powerful than him.

Question 22

What two things does crooks say after curley’s wife leaves, as he realises what’s happens?

Answer 22

“What she says is true.” -He feels worse than before because he thought he had companionship but then it was dashed.

“I wouldn’ want to go no place like that.” - curley’s wife made him realise he will never be able to be like candy and Lennie because of his status.

Question 23

At the beginning and the end of chapter 4 crooks is rubbing liniment in his back. What is this called and why is it effective?

Answer 23

This is called a circular and it is a smaller version of how the whole book is written. It shows how someone hopes can be raised and then everything goes back to normal.