Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck Chapter 2 Study Guide All questions and answers MUST relate to the text NOT the movie!

#1 Question • According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?

#1 Answer • The boss is angry because he was expecting George and Lennie to arrive the night before.

#2 Question • What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?

#2 Answer • George finds a small yellow can in the box which was used to kill lice and roaches. He assumes the bunkhouse is infested.

#3 Question • Describe the “Stable Buck.” What physical attributes does he have?

#3 Answer • The stable buck is an African American man, with the name Crooks. His back is crooked where he was kicked by a horse.

#5 Question • What is Lennie’s last name?

#5 Answer • Lennie’s last name is Small

#6 Question • What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this?

#6 Answer • The boss suspects that George is trying to take advantage of Lennie, and trying to steal his pay. • The boss thinks this because George is talking for Lennie.

#7 Question • What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?

#7 Answer • George explains to the boss that Lennie is his cousin, who was injured as a child so he is not very smart.

#8 Question • What is George’s last name?

#8 Answer • George’s last name is Milton.

# 9 Question • Who is Curley?

#9 Answer • Curly is the boss’s son. • The old man describes Curley as someone who picks fights with both big men and small ones, but, whether he wins or loses, always comes out on top.

#10 Question • What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand?

#10 Answer • The swamper tells George that he keeps a glove full of vaseline on his hand, because he’s keeping that hand soft for his wife.

#11 Question • Describe Curley’s Wife. Use Text evidence.

#11 Answer • She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.

#12 Question Why does she SAY she came into the bunkhouse? What do the men THINK is her reason?

#12 Answer • Curley’s wife said she came into the bunkhouse looking for her husband. • The men think she has a wandering eye, which means that she is looking at other men even though she has only been married for two weeks.

#13 Question • Describe Slim using text evidence. • What is his job on the ranch?

#13 Answer • “…long, black, damp hair…” • “…wore blue jeans and a short denim jacket.” • “…moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen.” • “…the prince of the ranch…” • Slim’s job is to drive the mules and keep the men working.

#14 Question • What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?

#14 Answer • Slim’s dog bears nine puppies. Slim drowns four of them because the mother could not feed them all. Slim keeps the healthiest and biggest five.

#15 Question • What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?

#15 Answer • Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have one of the puppies.

Additional Vocabulary for Test • Gesture – hand movement • Skeptical – unsure about something • Barley – grain (stacked by the men) • Graybacks- lice • Tick – mattress • Swamper – handyman; someone who performs odd jobs - such as cleaning

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck