Of--Mice--and--Men--Novel--Chapter-1.pptx

Summary of Chapter 1

Two men, dressed in denim jackets and trousers and wearing "black, shapeless hats," walk single-file down a path near the pool. Both men carry blanket rolls — called bindles — on their shoulders. The smaller, wiry man is George Milton. Behind him is Lennie Small, a huge man with large eyes and sloping shoulders, walking at a gait that makes him resemble a huge bear.

When Lennie drops near the pool's edge and begins to drink like a hungry animal, George cautions him that the water may not be good. This advice is necessary because Lennie is mentally disabled and doesn't realize the possible dangers. The two are on their way to a ranch where they can get temporary work, and George warns Lennie not to say anything when they arrive. Because Lennie forgets things very quickly, George must make him repeat even the simplest instructions.

Lennie also likes to pet soft things. In his pocket, he has a dead mouse which George confiscates and throws into the weeds beyond the pond. Lennie retrieves the dead mouse, and George once again catches him and gives Lennie a lecture about the trouble he causes when he wants to pet soft things (they were run out of the last town because Lennie touched a girl's soft dress, and she screamed). Lennie offers to leave and go live in a cave, causing George to soften his complaint and tell Lennie perhaps they can get him a puppy that can withstand Lennie's petting.

As they get ready to eat and sleep for the night, Lennie asks George to repeat their dream of having their own ranch where Lennie will be able to tend rabbits. George does so and then warns Lennie that, if anything bad happens, Lennie is to come back to this spot and hide in the brush. Before George falls asleep, Lennie tells him they must have many rabbits of various colors.

1. Of Mice and Men Chapter One

2. Introducing the Characters of George and Lennie Steinbeck opens his novella with some vivid description of a clearing by the river bed in the Salinas Valley, California. The two main characters, George and Lennie , enter into the clearing, simultaneously disrupting and engaging with the clearing’s natural setting.

3. George and Lennie are itinerant (wandering) farmworkers. Look at the description of them on p19. Visually, how are they similar and how are they different?

4. What do we learn about their relationship from the following quotes? ‘ Lennie , who had been watching, imitated George exactly.’ So you forgot that awready , did you? I got to tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ you’re a crazy bastard!’ ‘Think I’d let you carry your own work card?’ ‘ Lennie’s closed hand slowly obeyed.’ ‘Good boy.’

5. Understanding the Text Why does George tell Lennie to keep quiet when they first get to the ranch? What is the significance of George’s reference to ‘the bad things…like you done in Weed.’ When Lennie remembers what happened in Weed, the narrator describes how he ‘exploded triumphantly.’ Why is this an effective choice of words? Do you think that George resents Lennie ? Support your answer with evidence from the chapter.

6. True or False Lennie returns from gathering wood for the fire with a secret mouse. When George demands that Lennie give him the mouse, the narrator compares Lennie to a Labrador. Lennie rejected the rubber mouse that Aunt Clara gave him because it scared him. Lennie likes his beans with Mayonaise . George resents the burden that Lennie represents and sometimes wishes he could be free to live his life as he pleases. Lennie got them both into trouble at their last town, Weed. He tried to stroke a girl’s dress because it felt like a mouse. George feels guilty after ranting on about how Lennie so often gets them into trouble. George offers to leave Lennie and go and live alone in a cave.

7. Answers to True or False True False (a terrier) False (‘It wasn’t no good to pet’) False (ketchup) True True True False ( Lennie offers to leave George)

8. Lennie as an Animal In Chapter One, Lennie is compared to a number of different animals. Find examples of these comparisons and explain their usefulness in Steinbeck’s portrayal of the character of Lennie .

9. Quick Question To what extent can Lennie be described as manipulative in this chapter? Support your answer with evidence from the text. He gonna leave ya all alone …

10. Dreaming What is George and Lennie’s shared dream? What picture of the future does George depict? What is Lennie’s favourite part of the dream?

11. Consolidating Your Understanding What are the main events of the chapter? Suggest 2-3 things about the relationship between George and Lennie . Suggest what you consider to be the most important feature of the chapter and explain your answer.

12. Final Questions: Continue for H/ Wk From reading Chapter One, what do we learn about the relationship between George and Lennie ? How does Steinbeck use language to depict the complex relationship between George and Lennie in Chapter One? How does Steinbeck make us want to read the rest of the story, having completed Chapter One?