OM&M Chapter 1 Key Quotations Flashcards
The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Pg. 19
Description of Georges appearance. Notice the contrast with Lennie’s.
Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. Pg. 19
Description of Lennie’s appearance. Notice how he is compared to a bear. He is compared to an animal a number of times throughout the novel.
Lennie dabbed his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes Pg. 20
Animal comparison. Also shows how Lennie is childish and simple.
Lennie, who had been watching, intimidated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. Pg. 21
Lennie imitates George. He looks up to him and wants to be just like him.
“Might jus’ as well spen’ all my time tellin’ you things and then you forget ‘em, and I tell you again.” Pg. 21
George gets annoyed at Lennie. This time he has forgotten where they are going.
“George… I ain’t got mine. I musta lost it,”…
“You never had none, you crazy bastard. I got both of ‘em here. Think I’d let you carry your own work card?” Pg. 22
This shows Lennie’s desire to do the right thing.
George knows Lennie can’t be trusted and must be treated like a child.
“you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing.” Pg. 23
Instructions from George for their arrival at the ranch.
“I…I,” Lennie thought. His face grew tight with thought. “I… ain’t gonna say nothin’. Jus’ gonna stan’ there.” Pg. 24
Lennie needs basic information to be repeated to him. It is a struggle for him to recall even the most basic instructions.
“God you’re a lot of trouble,” said George. “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail.” Pg. 24
We hear this speech from George repeated a number of times. He loves Lennie but caring for him can be a burden.
“I’d pet ‘em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinch their heads a little and then they was dead - because they was so little. Pg. 27
Lennie’s mouse had been alive but he killed it by accident. He does not mean to do this but is unable to control his own strength.
George’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before. Pg. 31
George uses this story almost as a lullaby for Lennie to calm him.
“Go on George! Tell about what we gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that, George.” Pg. 32
Lennie is able to remember this story word for word. This shows how many times George has told it and how much this dream means to Lennie. The rabbits are the big draw…
“Lennie - 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.”
George has come to expect trouble from Lennie and has a plan, just in case.
