Key Quotations/Ideas - Lennie

Question 1

How do we know that Lennie has the mindset of a child using section one of the novel?

Answer 1

1)”he dabbed his big paw in the water” so that “rings widened across the pond”.
This has associations with childish behaviour and suggests that he has a mental disability because it is the sort of thing that a child would do the first time they go near water.
2)Lennie often explains how he likes mice, pups and rabbits because they are soft and he enjoys petting them, which is quite childish.
3)When George takes away Lennie’s mouse he starts “blubberin’ like s baby!”
This is a direct comparison to a child and makes us see that he has child-like characteristics.

Question 2

How is Lennie described as gentle and harmless?

Answer 2

1) “smiled happily”
2) “broke into a delighted smile”
3) “looked timidly”

Question 3

What is the significance of Steinbeck using the phrase “Lennie said cleverly”?

Answer 3

Steinbeck uses the opposite of the truth to be ironic it also emphasises that Lennie has the mindset of a child.

Question 4

What is the significance of Steinbeck making Lennie say “I forgot” softly?

Answer 4

Emphasises that Lennie has the mindset of a child because he is easily upset about forgetting something that George said. His voice contrasts with his huge “bear-like” frame. This makes us believe he is harmless or that he thinks himself to be.

Question 5

On page 21 and 24 Lennie “imitated” George. What does this tell us about him?

Answer 5

He is not clever enough to be able to think of the right way to behave so he has to look to George for everything.

Question 6

“Lennie Small”

Answer 6

This is ironic as Lennie is actually quite tall

Question 7

What does the boss think about the relationship between George and Lennie?

Answer 7

He mistakes their friendship for exploitation as he thinks that no one could possible be friends with another ranch worker, especially one like Lennie. This is because the boss has lost some of his humanity due to his position in society.

Question 8

What is the significance of Lennie saying he “didn’ kill” the mouse?

Answer 8

He knows that he did kill but he doesn’t want to admit to this as he acts in a childish manner and also because of his disabilities. This also represents the fact that he is animal like and very strong and capable of hurting or killing things quickly but his mental disabilities mean that he cannot realise this.

Question 9

How is a mouse or a rabbit a symbol for Lennie?

Answer 9

These are innocent creatures which tend to try to go unnoticed in the wild or in a society as they know it is better for them to help them stay away from danger. However, Lennie may seem soft and defenceless but he is dangerous because he does not realise the true outcomes of his actions until it is too late.

Question 10

What is the significance of Lennie picking up a card and saying “both ends the same”

Answer 10

It takes us back to the beginning of their time on the journey to the ranch and this is circular narrative which foregrounds the idea of a typical situation and that the dream will not come true because it is somehow “set in stone” that the workers cannot end up in a better situation at the end of the novel than they were in before the novel.

Question 11

Lennie “bleated with terror”

Answer 11

He is once again being compared to an animal and being displayed with animalistic features in the novel. A sheep is often innocent and scared of things, so the fact that Steinbeck is comparing Lennie to a sheep shows that he can be convincing when he acts scared and like he cannot possibly be capable of hurting anything.

Question 12

Lennie has a “paw”

Answer 12

Metaphor comparing him to an animal again because of his disabilities.

Question 13

Lennie hallucinates and sees a “gigantic rabbit”.

Answer 13

This is suggestive of the fact that Lennie always subconsciously knew that he and George never had a chance for the dream to actually be brought into existence. It also embodies his internal conflict implying that maybe Lennie does have a small amount of control and sense of what is morally and socially unacceptable (such as killing animals and people).

Question 14

Lennie walks “the way a bear drags its paws”

Answer 14

An indication of his condition which shows he has reduced intelligence compared to others like him. The description displays Lennie as someone with the combination of an innocent child-like mind which cannot fully comprehend many of the situations Lennie is in, but also someone with lots of strength who can be dangerous and kill like an animal.

Question 15

“like a terrier”

Answer 15

Steinbeck continues to compare Lennie’s characteristics to those of an animal throughout the novel. He is described as being reluctant but obedient “like a terrier” and this simile refers to his desire to hunt for soft animals to keep in his pocket and stroke while he is walking, however it also shows that he has remained loyal to George throughout their whole journey.

Question 16

Lennie also “dabbled” his “paw in the water”

Answer 16

This shows that he tries to satisfy his needs immediately by acting abruptly without listening to the warnings from George.

Question 17

Lennie is “regarded with horror”

Answer 17

Implies that only the people who come into contact with Lennie’s brute strength are able to realise how dangerous he is and that his strength will cause further problems later in the novel.

Question 18

Lennie crushed Curley’s hand and then needed reassurance from George afterwards.

Answer 18

It suggests that you cannot avoid your destiny. Lennie didn’t want to follow George’s lead but he did anyway reinforcing our knowledge of his condition and mental disabilities. It also stresses Lennie’s childish behaviour and character as he has to be to,s that he did nothing wrong like a little child would need to be told.

Question 19

What does Lennie entering Crooks’s room show?

Answer 19

That Lennie doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand that him and crooks couldn’t be friends as it was unacceptable to society at the time.

Question 20

When Crooks scowls at Lennie, his “disarming smile defeated him”

Answer 20

This is a metaphor showing how Lennie’s supposed innocence and child like behaviour can make Crooks realise how lonely he is and how much he really wants company. This also shows that Lennie maybe never really means to harm someone or be mean to them because all he can understand is simple emotions such as kindness towards others.

Question 21

When Crooks talks to Lennie about

George and says he may never come back, “Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory”

Answer 21

This is because he feels like he has achieved something by making Lennie suffer as this is so hard for people to do due to the fact that when George is around Lennie never really thinks for himself and develops his own ideas and emotions.

Question 22

Crooks talks to Lennie in his room and he listens. How is this significant?

Answer 22

Lennie acts like he is listening although his mental disabilities mean that event though he tries to pay attention he cannot comprehend the situation and is unable to fully understand what Crooks is saying to him.

Question 23

How is the event where Lennie killed Curley’s wife relevant?

Answer 23

Lennie doesn’t have a developed superego so he only thinks about what George would say to him after Curley’s wife is dead, but also Lennie doesn’t let go of her because he doesn’t understand how strong he is and how is really is capable of killing someone even if it is accidental.

Question 24

Is Lennie remorseful after killing Curley’s wife?

Answer 24

No, all he realises is that he has done something wrong and that he will get in trouble with George for it.

Question 25

Before George kills Lennie, he says “And I get to tend the rabbits”

Answer 25

He shouts this happily but he doesn’t realise that he shouldn’t be happy because he doesn’t think about the consequences of what he has done. He thinks that everything is alright because he misunderstands George’s monotonous voice from earlier which was him trying to disguise his emotions, not him trying not to be too happy.