ENGLISH LITERATURE NOTES

CHAPTER ONE- A HOT EVENING

THE BOOK STARTS WITH GEORGE AND LENNIE RESTING BY A RIVER. IT'S THE END OF A HOT DAY

1. GEORGE AND LENNIE ARRIVE AT A POOL OF THE SALINAS RIVER IN CALIFORNIA

2. GEORGE FINDS LENNIE HAS A DEAD MOUSE HE'S BEEN PETTING

3. THE 'BAD THING' IN WEED IS MENTIONED

4. GEORGE AND LENNIE TALK ABOUT GETTING A FARM OF THEIR OWN WITH RABBITS WHICH WILL LET THEM 'LIVE OFF THE FATTA THE LAN''. THIS IS THE DREAM

GEORGE AND LENNIE ARE LONG TERM COMPANIONS

1. GEORGE LEADS THE WAY. LENIIE WILLINGLY FOLLOWS-COPYING HIM

2. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT- GEORGE IS SMALL-FEATURED AND SLIM. LENNIE IS BULKY. LENNIE LUMBERS ALONG LIKE A BEAR, AND THEN PLUNGES INTO THE STREAM LIKE AN ANIMAL

3. GEORGE IS IN A BAD MOOD WITH LENNIE. THEY'VE HAD A TOUGH FEW DAYS. LENNIE JUST THINKS OF THE PRESENT- SO HE'S HAPPY AND REFRESHED

4. THEY HAVE A SECRET. THEY ARE ON THE RUN FROM LENNIE'S 'BAD THING' HE DID IN WEED

5. LENNIE KEEPS ASKING GEORGE LOADS OF QUESTIONS- HE'S LIKE A DEMANDING CHILD

6. GEORGE IS IRRITATED BY THE QUESTIONS- HE'S LIKE A HARASSED AND IMPATIENT PARENT

THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN- THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBILITIES

1. GEORGE HAS DECIDED TO DELAY GETTING TO THEIR DESTINATION- SO THEY CAN REST A BIT

2. LENNIE WOULD BE HAPPY IN THE FUTURE JUST TO HAVE A FRESH MOUSE TO PET

3. GEORGE SAYS HE WOULD BE HAPPY WITHOUT LENNIE. HE'D HAVE LOTS OF FOOD, DRINK AND GIRLS. HE SEEMS TO BE USING THESE DREAMS TO MAKE LENNIE FEEL GUILTY- THE WAY PARENTS CAN DO. IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY BELIEVES HE WOULD BE HAPPY WITHOUT HIM.

4. LENNIE OFFERS TO LEAVE- HE'D FIND A CAVE AND A MOUSE, LIE IN THE SUN AND BE HAPPY. HE SEEMS TO BE WANTING TO MAKE GEORGE FEEL GUILTY TO