Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Menby John Steinbeckby John Steinbeck

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Study GuideStudy Guide

All questions and answers All questions and answers MUST relate to the text MUST relate to the text

NOT the movie!NOT the movie!

#1 Question#1 Question

►According to the old man, why was the According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?boss mad at George and Lennie?

#1 Answer#1 Answer

►The boss is angry because he was The boss is angry because he was expecting George and Lennie to arrive expecting George and Lennie to arrive the night before.the night before.


►What does George find in the box by What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?his bed and what does he assume?

#2 Answer#2 Answer

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


►Describe the “Stable Buck.” What Describe the “Stable Buck.” What physical attributes does he have?physical attributes does he have?

#3 Answer#3 Answer

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


►What is Lennie’s last name?What is Lennie’s last name?

#5 Answer#5 Answer

►Lennie’s last name is SmallLennie’s last name is Small


►What does the boss suspect George of What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him doing to Lennie? What makes him think this?think this?

#6 Answer#6 Answer

►The boss suspects that George is The boss suspects that George is trying to take advantage of Lennie, trying to take advantage of Lennie, and trying to steal his pay.and trying to steal his pay.

►The boss thinks this because George is The boss thinks this because George is talking for Lennie.talking for Lennie.


►What reason does George give for What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?taking care of Lennie?

#7 Answer#7 Answer

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

#8 Question #8 Question

►What is George’s last name?What is George’s last name?

#8 Answer#8 Answer

►George’s last name is Milton.George’s last name is Milton.

# 9 Question# 9 Question

►Who is Curley?Who is Curley?

#9 Answer#9 Answer

►Curly is the boss’s son. Curly is the boss’s son. ►The old man describes Curley as The old man describes Curley as

someone who picks fights with both someone who picks fights with both big men and small ones, but, whether big men and small ones, but, whether he wins or loses, always comes out on he wins or loses, always comes out on top.top.


►What does the swamper tell George What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand?about Curley’s left hand?

#10 Answer#10 Answer

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


►Describe Curley’s Wife. Use Text Describe Curley’s Wife. Use Text evidence.evidence.


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


Why does she SAY she came into the Why does she SAY she came into the bunkhouse?bunkhouse?

What do the men THINK is her reason?What do the men THINK is her reason?


►Curley’s wife said she came into the Curley’s wife said she came into the bunkhouse looking for her husband.bunkhouse looking for her husband.

►The men think she has a wandering The men think she has a wandering eye, which means that she is looking eye, which means that she is looking at other men even though she has at other men even though she has only been married for two weeks.only been married for two weeks.


►Describe Slim using text evidence. Describe Slim using text evidence. ►What is his job on the ranch?What is his job on the ranch?


►“…“…long, black, damp hair…”long, black, damp hair…”►“…“…wore blue jeans and a short denim wore blue jeans and a short denim

jacket.”jacket.”►“…“…moved with a majesty only achieved moved with a majesty only achieved

by royalty and master craftsmen.” by royalty and master craftsmen.” ►“…“…the prince of the ranch…”the prince of the ranch…”►Slim’s job is to drive the mules and Slim’s job is to drive the mules and

keep the men working.keep the men working.

#14 Question #14 Question

►What did Slim do to four of his pups? What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?Why?


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


►What does Lennie want George to ask What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?Slim?


►Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have one of the puppies.can have one of the puppies.

Additional Vocabulary for Additional Vocabulary for TestTest

►Gesture – hand movementGesture – hand movement►Skeptical – unsure about somethingSkeptical – unsure about something►Barley – grain (stacked by the men)Barley – grain (stacked by the men)►Graybacks- liceGraybacks- lice►Tick – mattressTick – mattress►Swamper – handyman; someone who Swamper – handyman; someone who

performs odd jobs - such as cleaningperforms odd jobs - such as cleaning

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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck