Opposites

Question 1

Lennie’s kindness to crooks vs Crooks taunting Lennie

Answer 1

• ‘smiled helplessly in an attempt to make friends.’
• ‘Crooks face lighted with pleasure in his torture.’
• The contrast between Lennie being happy and friendly due to being free of the concept of social barriers vs Crooks who is unhappy and offensive towards Lennie due to him being conscious of the social barriers
• Steinbeck shows through this contrast that the utopian world without racism is one that we should strive for. And that a world with racism isn’t because it is abusive and will only result in torture. Steinbeck wants us to have the same pure attitude as Lennie does, being blind of stereotypes and treating others normally.

Question 2

Shown through the Lennie’s isolation to others in the dark barn compared to light outdoors

Answer 2

• ‘a little dead puppy that lay in front of him’ ‘sun sliced in through the cracks’
• ‘shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering’
• represents the dark side to the life of neurodivergent people during Great Depression

Question 3

When the George and Lennie’s dream is first brought up vs. when it was last mentioned

Answer 3

• It’s always repeated ‘Rhythmically’ as if Georges ‘has said them many times before.’ When talking about the dream at start
• “sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta.” To leave Lennie happy before death
• Both times are to manage Lennie’s behaviour but to also fuel himself with hope
• First time mentioned it portrays this purely, with happy intentions for the future
• last it portrays the irony, still managing Lennie and trying to convince themselves the future will be okay. Creates an emotional moment through dramatic irony. We know that’s not the case sadly