Lennie Quotes

Question 1

Dreams:
He is excited and emotionally soothed when listening about the dream.

Answer 1

‘Lennie pleaded, “Come on, George. Tell me. Please, George. Like you done before.’…’Lennie was delighted.’

Question 2

Dreams:
His personal dream is to tend rabbits.

Answer 2

“how long’s it gonna be till we get that little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’—an’ rabbits?”

Question 3

Dreams:
George uses their dream as an incentive / form of blackmail to moderate Lennie’s behaviour.

Answer 3

“I can let you tend the rabbits all right. ‘Specially if you remember as good as that.”

“But you ain’t gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won’t let you tend the rabbits.”

Question 4

Dreams:
He lives in constant fear of George denying him his dream.

Answer 4

“George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain’t gonna let me tend no rabbits.”

Question 5

Relationship with George:
George literally and figuratively offers guidance to Lennie.

Answer 5

“They had walked in single file… and even in the open one stayed behind the other.“

Question 6

Relationship with George:
Despite their differences, their social circumstances unite them.

Answer 6

“Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats… Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders.”

Question 7

Relationship with George:
George acts as a role model / father figure to Lennie - Lennie wants to be like him and he constantly seeks his approval.

Answer 7

“Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly…looked over to George to see whether he had it just right.”

Question 8

Relationship with George:
He is affectionate towards George; he would willingly give up something he desires (ketchup) for him.

Answer 8

“But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it.”

Question 9

Relationship with George:
In a tirade, George indicates that Lennie causes problems by getting into trouble, but he still always helps him.

Answer 9

“You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.”

”You crazy son-of-a-bitch. You keep me in hot water all the time.”

Question 10

Relationship with George:
George anticipates problems with Lennie, so he puts in a contingency plan to protect him from harm.

Answer 10

“…if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush…Hide in the brush till I come for you.”

Question 11

Relationship with George:
Lennie’s greatest fear is disappointing George, and he often asserts his innocence and good behaviour.

Answer 11

“George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame at having forgotten.”

“I ain’t done nothing, George…I been good, George.”

Question 12

Relationship with George:
Lennie is incapable of defending himself or functioning without George and he always turns to George when he is in need.

Answer 12

“In a panic, Lennie looked at George for help.”

“Lennie was looking helplessly to George for instruction.”

‘Lennie looked helplessly at George…“George,” he cried. “Make ‘um let me alone, George.”…“Make ‘um stop, George.”’

Question 13

Relationship with George:
George defends Lennie’s actions.

Answer 13

‘“Lennie was jus’ scairt,” he explained. “He didn’t know what to do.”’

‘“Lennie never done it in meanness,” he said. “All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of ‘em mean.”’

Question 14

Relationship with George:
He frequently and deliberately disobeys George’s instructions and guidance, often with disastrous consequences.

Answer 14

“Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice.”

‘“You wasn’t big enough,” he said. “They tol’ me and tol’ me you wasn’t. I di’n’t know you’d get killed so easy.”’

Question 15

Relationship with George:
In the final chapter, Lennie hallucinates and feels guilty about the negative impact he’s had on George.

Answer 15

“you don’t never take no care. You do bad things.”

“You never give a thought to George”

Question 16

His mental state:
Like an animal, Lennie often acts on instinct and impulse.

Answer 16

“flung himself down…snorting into the water like a horse.”

Question 17

His mental state:
He takes childish delight in simple things.

Answer 17

‘…wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes… “Look, George. Look what I done.”’

“I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof’ things.”

Question 18

His mental state:
He has a limited mental capacity - it takes him a great amount of effort to remember basic things and simple instructions.

Answer 18

“I remember that… but…what’d we do then?… you says… you says…”

‘“I… I …” Lennie thought. His face grew tight with thought. “I… ain’t gonna say nothin’. Jus’ gonna stan’ there.”’

Question 19

His mental state:
He was unaware that George was exploiting him for entertainment.

Answer 19

“he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him…he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out. Clean forgot I told him to jump in.”

Question 20

His mental state:
His mental state makes him childish.

Answer 20

“He’s jus’ like a kid, ain’t he?”…“Sure he’s jes’ like a kid.”

Question 21

His mental state:
His limited mental capacity results in him doing things that are misinterpreted.

Answer 21

”he gets in trouble alla time because he’s so God damn dumb. Like what happened in Weed…He just scared her… He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress.”

Question 22

His mental state:
He is incapable of deceit and unable to hide the truth from George.

Answer 22

‘Lennie made an elaborate pantomime of innocence. “What mouse, George? I ain’t got no mouse.”’

Question 23

His mental state:
He doesn’t fully comprehend the severity of his actions when he kills Curley’s Wife.

Answer 23

“I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing.”

‘The puppy lay close to her. Lennie picked it up. “I’ll throw
him away,” he said. “It’s bad enough like it is.”’

Question 24

Loneliness:
He craftily manipulates George, threatening to leave him alone.

Answer 24

“If you don’ want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time.”

Question 25

Loneliness:
When they arrive on the ranch, George begins to leave Lennie alone more often.

Answer 25

‘“Ever’body went into town,” he said. “Slim an’ George an’ ever’body. George says I gotta stay here an’ not get in no trouble.”’

Question 26

Loneliness:
Lennie is forced by Crooks to imagine a life without George.

Answer 26

‘“George gonna come back,” Lennie reassured himself in a frightened voice.’

Question 27

Loneliness:
Lennie lacks the capacity to emotionally engage with Curley’s Wife when she details her loneliness and suffering.

Answer 27

“Lennie sighed deeply.”

Question 28

Physical description:
He is often depicted as an animal.

Answer 28

“he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.”

Question 29

Physical description:
He is unable to control his strength. This, combined with this childlike mentality, proves to be dangerous.

Answer 29

”you’ve broke it pettin’ it…You always killed ‘em.”

“I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead”

”There ain’t no more harm in him than a kid neither, except he’s so strong.”

Question 30

Physical description:
Slim compliments him on his work ability.

Answer 30

“I never seen such a worker…There ain’t nobody can keep up with him. God awmighty, I never seen such a strong guy.”

Question 31

Physical description:
He easily overpowers Curley.

Answer 31

“Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.”

Question 32

Physical description:
He unintentionally kills Curley’s Wife while trying to keep her quiet.

Answer 32

‘He shook her then…“Don’t you go yellin’,”’

“he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.”

Question 33

Interactions with others:
He is intimidated by Curley.

Answer 33

“Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously…Lennie twisted with embarrassment.”

Question 34

Interactions with others:
Lennie is targeted by Curley due to his size.

Answer 34

“He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy.”

Question 35

Interactions with others:
George warns Candy about anyone fighting Lennie and foreshadows their later fight.

Answer 35

”Lennie ain’t handy, but this Curley punk is gonna get hurt if he messes around with Lennie.”

”Lennie ain’t no fighter, but Lennie’s strong and quick and Lennie don’t know no rules.”

Question 36

Interactions with others:
He is unable to recognise the risks and dangers posed by Curley’s Wife.

Answer 36

‘Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body…“She’s purty…“Gosh, she was purty.” He smiled admiringly.’

Question 37

Interactions with others:
Curley attacks him when he mistakes Lennie’s smile for mockery.

Answer 37

‘Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch. Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. “What the hell you laughin’ at?”’

Question 38

Interactions with others:
The vicious attack leaves him hurt and bruised.

Answer 38

“Blood welled from his nose…Blood ran down Lennie’s face, one of his eyes was cut and closed.”

Question 39

Interactions with others:
When Curley is viciously attacking him, he only defends himself after George instructs him to.

Answer 39

‘“Get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it.”…George yelled again, “I said get him.”

“Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it.”

Question 40

Interactions with others:
He is initially unable to emotionally engage with the prejudice and loneliness Crooks suffers - he only responds to things he can relate to.

Answer 40

“If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it.” “Lennie asked, “How long you think it’ll be before them pups will be old enough to pet?”

“Gradually Lennie’s interest came around to what was being said. “George says we’re gonna have alfalfa for the rabbits.”

Question 41

Interactions with others:
Crooks has intellectual power over Lennie and he uses it to emotionally abuse him in the same manner he endures.

Answer 41

“Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture.”

Question 42

Interactions with others:
He initially rejects Curley’s Wife, but is lured into a conversation with her.

Answer 42

‘“I ain’t gonna talk to you or nothing…I ain’t supposed to talk to you or nothing…Jus’ my pup,” he said sadly.’

Question 43

His death:
Curley wants to make Lennie’s death as prolonged and painful as possible.

Answer 43

“I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts…Shoot for his guts. That’ll double ‘im over.”

Question 44

His death:
The cyclical structure of the novel and Lennie constantly making catastrophic mistakes suggests that he will never learn or change - George kills him and breaks the cycle.

Answer 44

“I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing.”

“Ain’t you gonna give me hell?”

“Give ya hell?”

“Sure, like you always done before. Like, ‘If I di’n’t have you I’d take my fifty bucks—‘“

Question 45

His death:
George allows Lennie to die happily, still believing that their dream will come true.

Answer 45

“Look acrost the river, Lennie, an’ I’ll tell you so you can almost see it.”

Question 46

His death:
Lennie’s greatest fear is upsetting or disappointing George, so George reassures Lennie in his final moments.

Answer 46

“No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I
want ya to know.”

Question 47

His death:
George shoots Lennie in the same place that Candy’s dog was shot to give him a merciful death - quick and painless.

Answer 47

“He looked at the back of Lennie’s head, at the place where the spine and skull were joined.”

“Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.”