1. Of Mice and Men
Revise and memorise the points for each topic and you are halfway there!
Loneliness
• All of the characters are lonely!
• Links to the historical context of the Great Depression where people
were forced to move and unemployment was a massive problem – men
often had to travel alone to find work.
• The characters have hopes and dreams as a way to ‘escape’ from their
loneliness. Their hopes and dreams also bring them closer together
(e.g. George, Lennie and Candy)
• Some characters have animals as companions (Candy and George)
• At the end of the novel, is there a resolution or are the characters
still lonely?
Animals
• Lennie is described like a bear to show the reader what he is like.
• The killing of Candy’s dog foreshadows and helps to explain the killing
of Lennie. Think especially about Candy’s regret that he doesn’t do it
himself.
• Lennie’s relationship with animals foreshadows what happens with
Curley’s wife.
• Lennie’s relationships with animals could also show his inability to form
bonds with people.
• Some people on the ranch treat animals as entirely functional (e.g.
Slim, Carlson).
• Racoons mentioned at the beginning of the novel are scavengers and
could symbolise the men in the Great Depression.
Hopes and Dreams
• George and Lennie’s dream is especially important and is something
that they share. Does George know that it will never come true?
• Their dream gives Lennie comfort, which is why he always wants to
hear it.

2. • G and L’s dream gives Candy a purpose in life, somewhere where he can
feel useful and wanted.
• Crooks also feels that he can be a part of it, showing he also wants to
belong.
• Everyman at that time had a dream of owning land due to the
historical context of the novel.
• Curley’s wife dreamt of becoming a movie star and being adored, but
the opposite happened – now she’s in a place where she’s feared and
disliked.
• The title of the novel relates to a poem which says that plans often go
wrong. This is definitely the case in Of Mice and Men!
Characters
Lennie
• Described like a bear
• When we first meet him and George, Lennie is following, showing who’s
in charge.
• Lennie doesn’t know his own strength.
• Lennie is not completely stupid, he knows how to manipulate George
(e.g. when he says he’s going to live in the caves).
• Lennie is forgetful.
• The dream keeps him going – his main aim in life is to get to tend the
rabbits.
• People keep calling him a “poor bastard” and they show their sympathy
towards George for having to look after him.
• Curley picks on him because he hates big guys and also because he
knows that Lennie is mentally weak.
George
• Can be mean
• Plays solitare – reflecting his loneliness.
• Feels burdened by Lennie but at the same time, Lennie keeps him
company.
• Is a survivor – knows what to do to get on.
• Strikes up a ‘friendship’ with Slim.
• Is ‘one of the guys’ at the ranch.

3. • Kills Lennie to free himself of the burden and also to free Lennie from
the life he would have had if he had continued to live.
Curley’s Wife
• Lonely
• Childish
• Provocative (uses looks to gain attention)
• Had a dream which was crushed
• Exerts her authority when she feels threatened (with Crooks and
Lennie)