OMM Plot&Analysis&structure

Question 1

What is the structure of mice and men?

Answer 1

• Three Acts: Two Chapters each
• novel/play: Needed few changes for Broadway
• takes place over three days
• few description of characters, place, action.
• 3rd person objective

Question 2

“When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me”

what does this quote mean? who said this?

Answer 2

Candy said this. He will soon be “useless” because his whole career is based on bodily strength. He is getting old.

Question 3

What are the main conflicts in this book?

Answer 3

Man v Self - George v friendship w/ Lennie
Man v Man - Lennie v Curley
Man v Society - Crooks v Racism

Question 4

Who are the protagonists?

Answer 4

George and Lennie

Question 5

Who are the antagonists ?

Answer 5

Society / Curley / Curley’s wife

Question 6

what are some of the motifs ?

Answer 6

-The Corrupting Power of Women
( women’s enticing sexuality tempts men to behave in the ways they would)

-Loneliness and Companionship
(Many of the characters admit to suffering from profound loneliness. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novella when he reminds Lennie that the life of a ranch-hand is among the loneliest of lives)

• Strength and Weakness
  physical strength beyond Lennie’s control, as when he cannot help killing the mice. Physical strength is not the only force that oppresses the men in the book. It is the rigid, predatory human tendencies, not Curley, that defeat Lennie and George in the end

Question 7

What is the tone of this novella?

Answer 7

Fatalistic, moralistic

Question 8

What is the significance of the pool?

Answer 8

Sanctuary free from society

Question 9

what is the significance of the bunkhouse ?

Answer 9

place of violence (where men stay)

Question 10

what is the significance of crook’s room?

Answer 10

Retreat of oppressed; manifestation of discrimination

Question 11

what is the significance of the Barn？

Answer 11

Cradle of life & death (corruption of environment)

Question 12

what is the significance of the Dream Farm?

Answer 12

George & Lennie’s friendship

Question 13

what does the rabbit symbolize?

Answer 13

Represent self-sufficiency, but are nothing but a child’s fantasy.

Question 14

what does the mouse represent?

Answer 14

represent the false hope of a safe space for Lennie

Question 15

how does OMM relate with naturalism?

Answer 15

Provides the canvas on which Steinbeck can paint his story.

• the setting is realistic,
• the characters are common
• the point of view is objective.

Question 16

How does Steinbeck describe Lennie in the book?

Answer 16

Lennie is often being described as an animal. a.k.a the human beast.

Question 17

What is wrong with the morality in this novella.

Answer 17

Each character has their own view of morality. Which makes the society a total chaos.

Question 18

how is christianity different?

Answer 18

-Proverbs 21:2 “Each man will go his own way”
-Prescient foreshadowing of our culture?
-99% & 1%
-View of God is contrary to our beliefs
View of the future both relevant and wrong