Of Mice n Men Quotes (2)

Theme/ character

Quote

Where Technique found?

Effect

Link to theme/ character

Link within story

Link to context

Nature versus human

“Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top.”

Sec 1 Pg 19

Something positive for future as going up. “Evening” Coming to an end. “Hot day” dustbowl. Makes humans sound bad as animals get scared

Nature will always be present. Humans come and go. Nature is like “paradise” and a dream but humans are like “hell" and reality

Something positive for future could mean that Lennie and George’s dream might come true

“Hot day” dustbowl.

“And then ….came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air”

Sec 1 Pg 19

“And then” sudden Interruption, change and contrast

Humans have more power over animals as animals hide when they hear humans.

“crisp sycamore leaves” very dry conditions as dustbowl

Allusion to Bible of snake Simile “like a little periscope” Repetition of “ain’t no good”

Tells the reader there might be danger in the near future.

Nature gives humans warnings that they just ignore.

Animals feel in danger when they are at that place, Lennie died there and was always compared to an animal. Foreshadows Lennie’s death.

“A water snake slipped along the pool, its head held up like a little periscope”

Sec 1 Pg 25

“He ain’t no good to you, candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, candy?”

Sec 3 Pg 71

Useless things are just not thought about.

Only the things that are good and can fight survive. Other things are just killed

Lennie is useful but cannot fight verbally so possibly could die.

Violent verbs “lanced down, plucked, swallowed”

Portrays violence and torture.

Survival of the fittest is can become very harsh and violent.

Foreshadows Lennie’s death.

The condition were really harsh because of the Wall Street Crash therefore people could only afford to look after themselves. N/A

“A water snake glided smoothly up the pool…A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically.”

Sec 6 Pg 140

Allusion to Bible, snake came back after coming in section 1

Foreshadow

Themes

Survival of the fittest

Personification “The shade climbed” Connotations of “Evening of a hot day”

N/A

Power and powerless

Animal imagery

Loneliness and isolation

“Give the stable buck hell?” he asked. “Sure ya see the stable buck’s a nigger.”

Sec 2 Pg 40

Racist term “nigger” said as if it was just a normal term

said as if it was just a normal term so we can see racism was not such a big thing.

The “nigger” is powerless therefore she can shout at him. He is even lower than her.

She shouts at the stable buck and causes trouble for him could cause trouble for George and Lennie.

“He wore high-heeled boots.”

Sec 2 Pg 46

Metaphor “highheeled”

Above the rest, has power. He thinks he can do what ever he likes to people including not respecting them.

Curley has power and wants everyone to know who is not of working class.

Curley might show his power to Lennie which could cause trouble.

“Lennie crawled slowly and cautiously around the fire until he was close to George.”

Sec 1 Pg 30

An animal crawls not a human makes Lennie seem like an animal.

Lennie is compared to an animal.

Lennie cried out suddenly – “I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outta here.”

Sec 2 Pg 55

Animal imagery “crawled” Lennie is feeling scared like the animals in opening paragraphs “Place” repetition

Shows this place makes Lennie feel unsafe.

Lennie uses his instinct like animals do as he “cried out suddenly”.

Lennie doesn’t feel safe there and doesn’t like being on his own this fore shadows the end. Foreshadows Lennie might get in trouble.

A guy needs somebody – to be near him” he whined. “A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long he’s with you. I tell ya”

Sec 4 Pg 105

Repetition of a “guy”

Makes the statement general telling the reader that nearly everyone is lonely.

The ranch workers are very lonely and hardly have anyone to talk to but the stable buck is even more lonely as he is kept in a separate room.

George and Lennie are different as they are not alone so their dream might come true.

“Think I don’t like to talk to

Sec 4

Repetition of “Think,

Puts the reader in her

She is always lonely and no

She might cause

Racism was not seen as a bad thing it was a normal thing and black people hardly had any rights. People during the 1930’s who weren’t of the working class wore high heeled shoes to show their identity. N/A

The harsh conditions forced people to do things they didn’t want to do but had to do to earn money to live. During 1930 there was loneliness as the widespread depression caused unhappiness for lots of people. Women were just

Friendship

American Dream

somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?

Pg 110

like” Two rhetorical questions

shoes. Makes them sympathetic towards her.

one talks to her as they are scared of Curley.

problems as she has an angry tone.

“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you,”

Sec 1 Pg 32

Parallelism

There are both there for each other during the happy and the sad times.

They both support each other and have a strong friendship.

“Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I hardly never seen two guys travel together.”

Sec 3 Pg 65

“Hardly none” “hardly never” contradiction

Slim finds it very hard to believe however thinks it’s a good thing.

Their friendship is unusual and people like it however there could be jealousy. This is shown by crooks.

There friendship is one positive thing in the novel and makes the reader believe that their dream might just come true. Might mean that as its “hardly none” that there friendship might not last.

“Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes – all them nice clothes like they wear.”

Sec 5 Pg 125

“coulda” past

Her dream is broken it is not possible anymore.

George and Lennie’s dream might not come true either.

“an’ they’d been a pig and chickens ….an’ in the winter … the little fat stove … an’ the rain comin’ … an’ jus settin’ there.” The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promised joy!

Sec 5 Pg 132

Lots of caesuras

Crying as dream is now broken.

What makes all of these dreams typically American is that the dreamers wish for untarnished happiness, for the freedom to follow their own desires. Wished for untarnished happiness, for the freedom to follow their own desires typically American

Title

N/A

N/A

The dreams and plans never work out

Foreshadows the end.

depression was almost impossible for ranch workers to own a farm N/A

Sec 1

“we are going” its

They have full hope

Their dream is all about their

The dream seems

It depression

George and Lennie’s dream doesn’t come true.

possessions at that time and where just supposed to stay in the “house”. It was really rare at that time to have someone that was so close. Friendship was very rare especially as there was the great depression. N/A

(The best laid schemes of mice and men Often go wrong And leave us nothing but grief and pain, Instead of promised joy!)

“Someday. We gonna get the

Racism

Sexism

jack together and we’re gonna have a little house.”

Pg 32

future not conditional

and passion for their dream

own desires and freedom like the American Dream.

achievable from their enthusiasm and gives the story some positive attitude to it.

when it was almost impossible for ranch workers to own a farm Racism was not seen as a bad thing it was a normal thing and black people hardly had any rights.

“Where the hell is that God damn nigger?”

Sec 2 Pg 50

Racist term “nigger” “God damn” insulting

Racist terms used as something usual makes reader feel sorry for the stable buck.

It’s not a theme that is looked into a great deal however it is there to show how it was just a usual thing that people did not really think about.

She is angry at the stable buck could mean her anger could result in something bad.

“This is just a nigger talking, an’ a busted-back nigger. So it don’t mean anything, see?”

Sec 4 Pg 103

“just” implies

He Has no value why should they listen

It’s not a theme that is looked into a great deal however it is there to show how it was just a usual thing that people did not really think about.

He is not treated very well whenever he says something people ignore it, he said about their dream not coming true but they didn’t listen and got their hopes up.

Racism was not seen as a bad thing it was a normal thing and black people hardly had any rights.

“Curley’s wife”

Name

possession

She is only a property not independent and is only recognized by her husband’s name.

She is graded so low that her name isn’t even mentioned

When she does open up and tries to tell someone her story and feelings she just gets ignored.

“Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?

Sec 3 Pg 90

“Tell her” its an order

He can order her around and she has to listen to him

She doesn’t have any freedom she has to stay in the house

When she gets out of the house she causes trouble.

Women were regarded only as a property in those times and had very low value. Women were regarded only as a property in those times and had very low value.

Characters George

Lennie

“The first was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined.” “An I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found.”

Sec 1 Pg 19

List of features. “sharp”

George is clever, quick thinker and knows his plans “defined”.

He is the leader as he walks in front of Lennie.

He knows his dreams and his dreams are achievable

N/A

Sec 3 Pg 65

Alliteration “buckin’ barley” “fifty and found”

Emphasis his situation that he is in at the moment

He doesn’t boast and regrets his life. He is patient

He knows he has to do this job to get some money so doesn’t complain like Lennie

“Lennie dabbed his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers to that the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and back again.”

Sec 1 Pg 20

Metaphor for him acting like a child but also for the problems.

Lennie is like a child unaware of the world and causes trouble without meaning to.

This suggests that Lennie will be the central causes of troubles which spreads “rings” of devastation which will hurt many people.

“Lennie nodded to show that he understood.”

Sec 2 Pg 42

Words “nodded” “understood” This quote as a metaphor

Metaphor for Lennie’s inferior personality and the fact that because he his mentally retarded, he has to rely on George for support.

Lennie is a person who takes orders from George because he relies on George to survive.

N/A

“I never done nothing George.”

Sec 2 Pg 54

“Never done nothing” not proper order

“splash” and “back again”. These words suggest that Lennie is responsible for “splashes” which are the effects of the trouble that he causes and “back again” shows that Lennie consistently makes trouble. These words show that Lennie is less capable of answering questions verbally. This also relate to his animal like features. Dogs respond in a similar way. He is like a child

Education was very hard to get at that time but was valued as he said that if he was educated than he wouldn’t be working here. There were already so many problems with the Great Depression that Lennie’s problem did make a big difference.

Lennie is an innocent character.

Lennie doesn’t want to cause trouble even tough he sometimes

N/A

Candy

Curley

Slim

Curley’s wife

“I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him.”

Sec 3 Pg 71

Repetition of “I” and “him”

His only company is his dog.

He is very lonely and old

“Candy’s face had grown redder and redder, but before she was done speaking, ha had control of himself.” “His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.”

Sec 4 Pg 112

“redder and redder” repetition and colour connotation

He gets angry with her but knows not to say anything

Sec 2 Pg 46

“calculating” “pugnacious” adjectives

Suggests Curley always weighs up people, the same as a boxer does.

He is helpless but has found some hope and doesn’t want to lose that therefore he doesn’t say anything to her. Curley has a boxing instinct; he always looks at people and sees if he would be able to beat them in a fight. This is one of his habits.

“A head of tightly curled hair.”

Sec2 Pg 46

“tightly and curled”

Suggests that Curley is wound up like a spring that is just about to unleash his destructive power.

Curley has a wild temper which suddenly unleashes when he is unhappy

“There was a gravity in his manner quite so profound that all stopped when he spoke.”

Sec 2 Pg 56

“profound” and “manner”

Suggests that Slim is highly respected.

Slims personality is such that he gets natural respect

“His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.”

Sec 2 Pg 56

“delicate”

He is a great worker and has valuable skills and abilities.

“She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.”

Sec 2 Pg 53

“Body” and “thrown”

Implies that Slim is a very precise character who takes pride in his work and personality Suggest that she wants people to see everything.

She is very lonely and goes to desperate measures (showing off her body) to try and gain attention from other male

does The way the pup is close, Lennie is close to George and Lennie died the same way as the dog. He gets angry at her when she dies as because of her his dream got destroyed. Curley is a very alert character, but one who also seems to be looking for fights wherever he goes and whoever he comes across. This is what people dislike about him. Curley is an unpredictable character that has a violent temper could cause trouble for Lennie. Other people get on with him unlike Curley. It’s Slim that consoles George. He is good at his job and is very gentle but firm character. She could cause problems by going to desperate measures.

People during the 1930’s had pets as companions. N/A

During this time people had to be alert in order to survive- every man for himself.

N/A

In that time people who were skilled craftsman were respected. Women during that time had to use their femininity to

Crooks

Aunt Clara

Carlson

Whit

workers as Curley ignores her. She ruins dreams and destroys them.

“The rectangle in the doorway was cut of.”

Sec 2 Pg 53

“Rectangle” is a metaphor for people’s hopes and dreams and “sunshine” for their motivation

Therefore means people’s hope and dreams which were blocked out.

“a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunk. A pair of large-gold rimmed spectacles hung from a nail.”

Sec 3 Pg 99

“dirty” “spectacles”

Suggests that he reads lots of books

He is interested in education

“his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity.”

Sec 3 Pg 99

“deep” “intensity”

intensity implies that he thinks a lot about everything in a lot of depth.

He is very intellectual

“Aunt Clara, ma’am.”

Sec 6 Pg 142

“ma’am”

Respect is given to her.

She is a kind person as she looked after Lennie

“her hands on her hips, and she frowned disapprovingly at him.”

Sec 6 Pg 141

Alliteration

Like a mother figure telling off her child.

She used to care a lot about Lennie

“Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”

Sec 6 Pg 149

Colloquial language

He is friendly with Curley.

Doesn’t really think a lot about other people

“luger”

Sec 3 Pg 74

A gun

Sounds violent

Carlson is well prepared for self-defense.

“but he did not surrender his hold on it.”

Sec 3 Pg 73

“his hold”

Its his possession

He thinks of himself

She could be the source of trouble which will result in George and Lennie’s dreams being totally destroyed. As he is the only black he needs to know his rights and therefore he reads a lot He says a lot of right things like dream not becoming true but people don’t listen to him. She makes Lennie realize his mistake in the hallucination. She gave him mice but Lennie killed them foreshadows death when she appears again. Killed the dog, Lennie got killed in a similar way The same gum used for both the dog and Lennie He takes care of his possession and values them.

survive. In 1930’s many people had dreams and these were usually destroyed because of other people. Education was not that widely available in the 1930’s. N/A

N/A N/A

In 1930’s every man worked and earned for themselves N/A People only had few possessions so looked after

them.