Lennie Analysis Lennie is described as ‘a huge man,

shapeless of face, with large, pale

eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders;

and he walked heavily, dragging his

feet a little, the way a bear drags his

paws. His arms did not swing at his

sides, but hung loosely.’ Lennie has a

mental disability. He is cared for by

George, his best and only friend. His

name, Lennie small, is given to him by

Steinbeck for ironic reasons. His name

is ironic because he is the complete

opposite. Not only is it ironic, but his

name could suggest he is small

minded and possibly small like a child.

Quotes

‘Lennie … imitated George exactly.’ – He copies George which shows that he looks up to him and George is a farther like figure to him.

"I ain't gonna say nothin'... I ain't gonna say nothin'... I ain't gonna say nothin'." – He has to repeat

things over and over to remember them. He is like a child

“Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages

and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can

hardly cut it.” – Lennie’s dream is introduced. George has to tell him like a farther reading a story to

his child.

‘Lennie smiled to himself. "Strong as a bull," he repeated.’ – Simple minded. Gets amused by minor things like a child. Use of animal imagery here.

Animal imagery is used throughout the novella when referring to Lennie ‘strong as a bull’, ‘snorting

into the water like a horse.’ and ‘his big paw’. A horse is a loyal animal. Lennie is compared to this to

show his loyalty to George. A bull has characteristics of strength.

‘George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame at having forgotten. ’ – Even after

repeating it over and over, Lennie forgets he isn’t supposed to speak. George is also shown to have

authority over Lennie here. This is because all he needs to do is give Lennie a look and Lennie ‘dropped his head in shame’.

‘He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie's paw.’ – Animal imagery. Shows Lennie does not let go. He

does this with the girls dress in weed and later with Curley’s wife’s hair.

"An' live off the fatta the lan'," – Lennie’s dream

‘"Who hurt George?" he demanded.’ – He is very protective over George.

‘Lennie sat in the hay and looked at a little dead puppy’ – Lennie kills the puppy. A development from the mice he has previously killed. This foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife.

‘Lennie began to cry with fright. "Oh! Please don't do none of that," he begged. "George gonna say I

done a bad thing. He ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits."’ – Lennie doesn’t know his own strength. Still only cares about the rabbits.

‘Suddenly Lennie appeared out of the brush, and he came as silently as a creeping bear moves.’ – Animal imagery is used again here.

"George gonna give me hell," he said. "George gonna wish he was alone an' not have me botherin'

him." – He is like a kid. He knows George will be mad.

‘Lennie obeyed him.’ – Lennie trusts George like a child trusts his parent. Makes the reader sympathise for George as he has to kill Lennie.