Question

of mice and men 1. Complete the THINK questions BEFORE the quiz! Each response should be at least three sentences and include a piece of evidence to support your answer. Question 1 Briefly explain the relationship of the two men in the text. How do they feel about each other? How can you tell? Refer to one or more details from the text to support your answer. Question 2 How is the present situation of the men different from the vision they imagine in the future? How do they hope their lives will change in the future? Cite details in the text that support your answer. Question 3 Why do you think Lennie wants George to tell him a story that he already knows by heart? Support your ideas and inferences with details from the text. _________ “QUOTE” (Steinbeck __).

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Answer 1

Question 1
George and Lennie have a close, dependent relationship that mixes friendship, responsibility, and protection. George acts as Lennie’s caretaker and sometimes scolds him, but his actions show deep loyalty: he speaks for Lennie, makes decisions for them both, and worries about Lennie’s safety. This is clear when George reminds Lennie of their bond: “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck, Chapter 1), which shows they rely on one another emotionally and practically.

Question 2
Right now the men are itinerant ranch workers with no home, little money, and an uncertain future; their daily life is defined by loneliness and hard labor. In contrast, the future they imagine is stable and self-sufficient: they picture owning land, escaping the ranch life, and caring for animals — especially Lennie’s rabbits — which promises security and companionship. George’s description of their dream highlights this difference: “An’ live off the fatta the lan’” (Steinbeck, Chapter 1), showing how their imagined future would replace wandering poverty with independence and comfort.

Question 3
Lennie asks George to repeat the story because the ritual comforts him, calms his anxieties, and helps him feel safe; the repeated tale affirms the promise of a secure future he can hold onto. Lennie’s mental disability makes routine and familiar stories soothing, and the dream’s details (like the rabbits) are what he clings to when he’s worried. He often begs George to “Tell about the rabbits” (Steinbeck, Chapter 1), demonstrating that hearing the dream again reassures him and keeps hope alive.