Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

This year my library book group is having a "Steinbeck Summer."  This is the first of four works we are reading and discussing.

Characters

George Milton Lennie Small   Aunt Clara   Curley wife   Slim Carlson   Candy – wants to go in with George and Lennie to buy farm   Crooks – stable buck, crippled   Suzy and Clara – ran two brothels in town

 

For discussion:

1. Why did Steinbeck never give Curley's wife a name?
2. Why do you think George took care of Lennie and protected him?  Was there something George could have done to help Lennie more?
3. What did you think was wrong with Lennie?
4. What would happen to Lennie in today's world?
5. Why, in the end, did George kill Lennie?
6. How well did Steinbeck develop the characters?  Which did you understand the best?  Which was the most likeable?  The least?
7. This novella is on the High School English Advanced Placement summer reading list.  Why?  What do you think today's students will learn from this book?
8. Was there any character or event you particularly related to?  Why?
9. The various themes mentioned as being addressed in this book are friendship, racism, loneliness and prejudice against the mentally ill.  How well did Steinbeck address these issues?  How might the novella help readers view these themes differently?
10. This novella was written in 1937.  Why it is considered a classic?  How does it relate to today's society?

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