Key Quotations/Ideas - Lennie Flashcards
How do we know that Lennie has the mindset of a child using section one of the novel?
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.
How is Lennie described as gentle and harmless?
1) “smiled happily”
2) “broke into a delighted smile”
3) “looked timidly”
What is the significance of Steinbeck using the phrase “Lennie said cleverly”?
Steinbeck uses the opposite of the truth to be ironic it also emphasises that Lennie has the mindset of a child.
What is the significance of Steinbeck making Lennie say “I forgot” softly?
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.
On page 21 and 24 Lennie “imitated” George. What does this tell us about him?
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.
“Lennie Small”
This is ironic as Lennie is actually quite tall
What does the boss think about the relationship between George and Lennie?
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.
What is the significance of Lennie saying he “didn’ kill” the mouse?
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.
How is a mouse or a rabbit a symbol for Lennie?
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.
What is the significance of Lennie picking up a card and saying “both ends the same”
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.
Lennie “bleated with terror”
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.
Lennie has a “paw”
Metaphor comparing him to an animal again because of his disabilities.
Lennie hallucinates and sees a “gigantic rabbit”.
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).
Lennie walks “the way a bear drags its paws”
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.
“like a terrier”
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.
