Of Mice and Men

Chapter 3 Discussion Everybody Needs Somebody

 Everybody Somebody

Needs Free write

Trace the similarities that are developed between Candy and his dog and George and his companion. Consider: the amount of time they have spent together, the way they view the limitations of their companions the way they defend their companions, and any other points of similarity you see.

Chapter 3 Discussion
Plot points: What happened that made George stop playing dirty tricks on Lennie? Why does George agree to let Candy come with them to their dream farm? Why does Curley agree not to get Lennie fired for crushing his hand? Who makes the final decision on whether or not Candys old dog should be shot?

Discussion Ideas
Back to the opinion activity: How are some of those controversial topics being tackled in our story?

Of Mice and Men

Chapter 5 Discussion

Did you catch that?

Death is the beginning and the ending event in the chapter, but the killing of Curleys wife is regarded with a lack of emotion by the characters, even less than the killing of the puppy or the shooting of Candys dog earlier in the book. Why do you think this is so? Why is the the question of right and wrong, never really an issue when her body is discovered?

Plot Questions
What two pieces of information does Curleys wife share with Lennie? How and why does Lennie kill Curleys wife? When George asks Slim about just trying to catch Lennie instead of killing him, what advice does Slim give George?

Overall Discussion
How would we handle this situation today? How do we further our understanding of Lennie as compared to an animal? Do we sympathize we Lennie? George? What about Curley?