OF MICE AND MEN

Chapters 5-6 Vocabulary

Bewilder To confuse or perplex; to lose bearings

“For a moment he seemed bewildered.” Page 45

Console To comfort someone in mental distress; to make

someone feel less sadness

“‘She consoled him. ‘Don't you worry none. He was jus' a mutt. You can get another one easy. The whole country is fulla mutts.’” –Page 43

Earnest Seriousness; a serious and intent mental state

“‘No I ain't,’ Lennie explained earnestly. "George says I ain't. I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof' things.”’ -–Page 45

Hover The action or condition of remaining in suspense; to

stay near a specified point or level

“As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” -- Page 46

Wisps A small bunch/bundle; a small amount of

something

“The resting horses nibbled the remaining wisps of hay, and they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the mangers and rattled the halter chains.” –Page 42

Writhe Twisted; to twist; something made into a

circular shape

“Her feet battered on the hay and she writhed to be free; and from under Lennie's hand came a muffled screaming.” –Page 45

Belligerent Engaged in hostilities; hostile, angry or

aggressive

“Now Lennie retorted belligerently, ‘He ain't neither. George won't do nothing like that.’” -–Page 51

Monotonous Uninteresting, tedious, and lacking in variety;

plain and boring; dull and repetitious

“‘If I was alone I could live so easy.’ His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis.” –Page 52

Gingham A kind of cotton or linen cloth; a cotton cloth that

often is marked with a pattern of colored squares

“She wore thick bull's-eye glasses and she wore a huge gingham apron with pockets, and she was starched and clean. “ –Page 50

Symbolism Using symbols to express ideas or

qualities; a representation of one thing through another

Popular Symbols

Symbolism in Of Mice and Men

There are many symbols in Of Mice and Men

Both characters and settings symbolize different things in the book

Symbolism in Setting The Bunkhouse Conflict

Crook’s Room Repression

The Dream Farm George and Lennie’s friendship; Happiness; A form of a heaven for the two characters

Archetypes A form of symbolism; the original pattern

or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies; a perfect example of something

Character Archetypes Curley’s Wife – Repressed by males;

she brings conflict Eve Archetype

Slim – Leader; his word is almost like law

King Archetype

Crooks – Persecuted against; isolated Discrimination archetype