English Literature: Of Mice and Men Analysis Chapter Two

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Talk about how the original perception of Candy changes.
He seems nice at first, but he's a bit of a gossip and can be quite mean about the other characters.
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What is the original perception of Candy? What does this allow Steinbeck to do?
Candy seems helpful and tells George and Lennie about the other ranch hands. This allows Steinbeck to give the reader some background information about the other characters in the story.
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What is the original perception of most of the ranch hands?
They seem nice enough.
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What is the original perception of Carlson?
He is reasonably pleasant - but insensitive about Candy's Dog. He shows respect to Slim by letting him leave the bunk house first when they go get food.
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How does it come across that the ranchers have a cruel side?
They invited Crooks into the bunk house at Christmas but one of the ranchers picked a fight with him for no reason.
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What does Crooks suffer from the other people on the farm? Why?
Physical and verbal abuse because he's black.
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How is slim originally portrayed different from the other ranchers?
He's interested in the new arrivals - he looks "kindly" at George and Lennie. Everyone else has made George jumpy and defensive but Slim's presence is calming.
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What does the fact Candy doesn't know why the last occupant of his bunk left ("Why..he..just quit, the way a guy will") show?
That the ranchers don't seem to know each other really.
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Why is the boss suspicious?
Because George won't let Lennie answer questions - "What you trying to put over?"
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What does the fact the boss has never seen "one guy take so much trouble for another guy" show?
That he isn't used to kindness or decency.
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Who does the boss also bully? What does this show?
Crooks - he's no less racist than anyone else on the ranch.
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How does it come across that the Boss's son, Curley, is less welcoming?
Because he quizzes Lennie and George in a aggressive way.
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How are Curley's opinions similar to the Boss'?
They're both suspicious of of the way George keeps answering for Lennie.
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Why does Curley say "Oh, so it's that way" when George tells him that he and Lennie are travelling together?
Because he doesn't think it's normal for two men to travel together.
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What does Candy warn about Curley?
That he's a "handy" boxer.
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Who does Curley taken an instant dislike to? What is he described as?
Lennie - he's described as weighing up to him like a fighter. His hands "closed into fists" and he goes into a "slight crouch"
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Why does Steinbeck get George to tell Candy that Curley shouldn't mess with Lennie?
To warn the audience about the dangerous bit of Lennie's personality, like he does with the mouse in Chapter One.
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What does the tense atmosphere and mention of violence make the audience feel?
Uneasy about how Lennie might settle into life on the ranch because he's so unpredictable.
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What is the colour red associated with?
Danger and Sex.
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What does Curley's wife's appearance build up?
The tension and sense of peril.
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Talk about the language that George uses to talk about Curley's wife. Give two examples.
It's very aggressive language - "*****" and "poison"
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What is more likely to be the case when Curley's wife says she is looking for her husband at the bunk house?
That she just wants to talk to other people - she is lonely.
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What is Curley's Wife described as having?
"rouged lips", red fingernails, and "red mules" (shoes) which "red ostrich feathers"
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What juxtaposes to the physical appearance of Curley's wife? How does this make her seem?
She is described as a "girl" and her voice is "brittle" - which makes her seem fragile and vulnerable
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How does Curley's wife stand? What does this show?
She's leaning against the doorpost and tilting her body forwards - this shows that she's aware of her sexuality and its power over men.
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How does Curley's Wife's presence affect George and Candy?
It makes them jumpy
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How does Curley's Wife's presence affect Lennie?
He is fascinated but doesn't realise she could be dangerous.
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How does the fact Lennie is left open-mouthed and calls Curley's Wife "purty" which is led by George warning him to stay away from her make the reader feel?
Uneasy about how Lennie might act around her.
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Why does George become suspicious of Candy?
Because he thinks he is listening in on his conversation with Lennie
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How does George respond when the boss questions him? Why?
He acts defensive and shouts at Lennie for talking to the boss because he doesn't want the boss to find out about what happened in Weed.
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What doesn't George like about Curley?
His aggressive attitude
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What is George disgusted by about Curley?
His gloved hand.
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What is George scared that will happen between Lennie and Curley? Explain.
That Curley will pick a fight with Lennie or that he'll "tangle" with Curley himself.
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What can Lennie do like an animal? Who agrees with him?
Sense that the ranch is a dangerous place - "I don' like this place... I wanna get outta here" George agrees with him.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the original perception of Candy? What does this allow Steinbeck to do?

Back

Candy seems helpful and tells George and Lennie about the other ranch hands. This allows Steinbeck to give the reader some background information about the other characters in the story.

Card 3

Front

What is the original perception of most of the ranch hands?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the original perception of Carlson?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does it come across that the ranchers have a cruel side?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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