Of Mice and Men

Notes

Chapter 3

Similes

• “You’re yalla as a frog belly.” (62)

• “Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier.” (62)

• “Curley was floppin’ like a fish on a line.” (63)

Idioms

• Goo-goos =silly young men (idiots) (53)

• Hoosegow =jail (56)

• Yella-jackets/ants in his pants =restless and nervous (51)

Allusions

• Walking bow legged (52)– walking with your knees turned out – typically meant you contracted a STD

Symbolic relationships

Candy and his dog• Dog follows Candy• Candy loves dog• Candy is used to dog• Candy takes care of

the dog• Candy/dog been

together a long time• Dog gets shot in back

of his head……

George and Lennie• Lennie follows

George• George loves Lennie• George is used to

Lennie• George takes care of

Lennie• George/Lennie been

together a long time

Theme: Loneliness

Conversation between George and Slim (39)

• loneliness changes people

• loneliness can make people mean

• Most ranchers are lonely

• Because Lennie and George have each other, they are not lonely

Theme: Dreams vs. Reality

• They describe the place of the dream and Candy wants a part of it

250.00 hand50.00 bank50.00 end of the month350.00100.00 George and Lennie450.00…… 600.00 TOTAL

• “The thing they never had really believed in was coming true.” (60)

• Dream of a ranch is becoming a reality because of Candy’s money

Foreshadowing

1. “So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk…” (41)

– What other references to red have we seen?– In literature, red frequently represents love, lust,

fear, danger, destruction2. Candy’s dog

-Candy finally gives in to the pleas of Carlson to put an end to his dog“’I ought to of shot that do myself, George,. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.’” (61)

Foreshadowing cont…

3. Curley’s wife: “George said, ‘She’s gonna make a mess. They’s gonna be a bad mess about her. She’s the jail bait all set on the trigger.” (51)

4. Lennie crushes Curley’s hand: “’I didn’t mean no harm, George’” (65).

The others are going to lie about it.

We know that Curley is jealous and mean.