- This novel is about the strange couple of George and Lennie. Lennie is an enormous man who suffers from a mental disability. He does not realize how physically strong he is and often ends up killing the animals that he "pets." George is the opposite of Lennie. George is small and more intelligent. They keep each other company, it is mostly George looking out for Lennie. George constantly mentions how much easier is life would be without Lennie. They often get into trouble for things that Lennie does. Together they dream of owning their own land someday where Lennie may keep rabbits. They find work in another ranch and mkae friends with candy and Slim. Curly, their boss' son is an angry man who takes advantage of his power on the ranch. His wife is known to be a "tart' and a big flirt with the other men on the ranch. As the novel progresses, Curly tries to pick a fight with Lennie and tries to get him and George fired. At the climax of the novel, Lennie accidentally kills Curly's wife. Lennie leaves frightened at what he has done. George then finds Lennie and begins to talk to him about the piece of land they dreamed of. George puts a gun to Lennie's head and shoots him.
2.Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
- I think the main theme of the novel is loneliness. Mostly all of the characters in the novel are lonely: Curly's wife, Candy, etc. I think that Lennie and George stay together, not because they are great friends, but because they are lonely.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The tone of the novel varies. I found some of the parts to be slightly funny and humorous.
- "You can jus' as well go to hell," said George. "Shut up now."
- This is George telling Lennie this. I am not sure if the author meant it to be funny but it made me laugh.
The tone can also be very hopeful. This is the case when George and Lennie are talking about their dreams of owning their own land and being able to farm it.
- "Let's have different color rabbits, George." "Sure we will," George said sleepily. "Red and blue and green rabbits , Lennie. Millions of 'em."
The tone is also depressing and serious towards the end of the novel when George kills Lennie.
- "The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger."
4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone. Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.
- This novel is filled with a lot foreshadowing. There are many events that show what may happen later on in the novel. For example, when Candy's dog is shot because it is suffering. This foreshadows Lennie's death in the hands of George.
- The author uses irony too. "An' I got you. We got each other, that's what, that gives a hoot in hell about us," Lennie cried in triumph." Lennie is happy because he and George have each other. Little does Lennie know that George is about to kill him.
- The point of view I think is also very important. If this novel were to have been written through either characters point of view, less information would be given on their loneliness. With an omniscient narrator, the reader gets a full description of what is going on.
- There is also some symbolism found in the novel. George and Lennie's dream of owning their own land someday can also be representative of the American Dream and the theme of loneliness. Lennie and George need each other to be able to fulfill this dream of theirs. "We'll have a cow," said George. "An' we'll have maybe a pig an' chickens....an' down the flat we'll have a....a little piece of alfalfa..."
- There is also a lot of indirect characterization, especially at the beginning of the novel. it is through this kind of characterization that the readers learn Lennie has a mental disability. It is also through this characterization that we learn neither of the protagonists like to be alone
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