Theme/ Quote Where Technique Effect Link to theme/ character Link within story Link to

character found? context

Themes
Nature “Evening of a hot day started Sec 1 Personification Something positive Nature will always be present. Something positive “Hot day”
versus the little wind to moving Pg 19 “The shade climbed” for future as going Humans come and go. Nature for future could mean dustbowl.
human among the leaves. The shade up. is like “paradise” and a dream that Lennie and
climbed up the hills toward the Connotations of “Evening” Coming to but humans are like “hell" and George’s dream
top.” “Evening of a hot day” an end. “Hot day” reality might come true
dustbowl.
“And then ….came the sound Sec 1 “And then” sudden Makes humans sound Humans have more power Animals feel in “crisp sycamore
of footsteps on crisp sycamore Pg 19 Interruption, change bad as animals get over animals as animals hide danger when they are leaves” very dry
leaves. The rabbits hurried and contrast scared when they hear humans. at that place, Lennie conditions as
noiselessly for cover. A stilted died there and was dustbowl
heron labored up into the air” always compared to
an animal.
“A water snake slipped along Sec 1 Allusion to Bible of Tells the reader there Nature gives humans warnings Foreshadows N/A
the pool, its head held up like Pg 25 snake might be danger in that they just ignore. Lennie’s death.
a little periscope” Simile “like a little the near future.
periscope”
Survival of “He ain’t no good to you, Sec 3 Repetition of “ain’t no Useless things are Only the things that are good Lennie is useful but The condition
the fittest candy. An’ he ain’t no good to Pg 71 good” just not thought and can fight survive. Other cannot fight verbally were really harsh
himself. Why’n’t you shoot about. things are just killed so possibly could die. because of the
him, candy?” Wall Street
Crash therefore
people could
only afford to
look after
themselves.
“A water snake glided Sec 6 Violent verbs “lanced Portrays violence and Survival of the fittest is can Foreshadows N/A
smoothly up the pool…A Pg 140 down, plucked, torture. become very harsh and Lennie’s death.
silent head and beak lanced swallowed” violent.
down and plucked it out by the
head, and the beak swallowed Allusion to Bible, snake Foreshadow
the little snake while its tail came back after coming
waved frantically.” in section 1
Power and “Give the stable buck hell?” Sec 2 Racist term “nigger” said as if it was just a The “nigger” is powerless She shouts at the Racism was not
powerless he asked. “Sure ya see the Pg 40 said as if it was just a normal term so we therefore she can shout at him. stable buck and seen as a bad
stable buck’s a nigger.” normal term can see racism was He is even lower than her. causes trouble for thing it was a
not such a big thing. him could cause normal thing and
trouble for George black people
and Lennie. hardly had any
rights.
“He wore high-heeled boots.” Sec 2 Metaphor “high- Above the rest, has Curley has power and wants Curley might show People during the
Pg 46 heeled” power. He thinks he everyone to know who is not his power to Lennie 1930’s who
can do what ever he of working class. which could cause weren’t of the
likes to people trouble. working class
including not wore high heeled
respecting them. shoes to show
their identity.
Animal “Lennie crawled slowly and Sec 1 Animal imagery An animal crawls not Lennie is compared to an Lennie doesn’t feel N/A
imagery cautiously around the fire until Pg 30 “crawled” a human makes animal. safe there and doesn’t
he was close to George.” Lennie is feeling scared Lennie seem like an like being on his own
like the animals in animal. this fore shadows the
opening paragraphs end.
Lennie cried out suddenly – “I Sec 2 “Place” repetition Shows this place Lennie uses his instinct like Foreshadows Lennie The harsh
don’t like this place, George. Pg 55 makes Lennie feel animals do as he “cried out might get in trouble. conditions forced
This ain’t no good place. I unsafe. suddenly”. people to do
wanna get outta here.” things they didn’t
want to do but
had to do to earn
money to live.
Loneliness A guy needs somebody – to be Sec 4 Repetition of a “guy” Makes the statement The ranch workers are very George and Lennie During 1930
and near him” he whined. “A guy Pg 105 general telling the lonely and hardly have anyone are different as they there was
isolation goes nuts if he aint got reader that nearly to talk to but the stable buck is are not alone so their loneliness as the
nobody. Don’t make no everyone is lonely. even more lonely as he is kept dream might come widespread
difference who the guy is, in a separate room. true. depression
long he’s with you. I tell ya” caused
unhappiness for
lots of people.

“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 Women were just
 somebody ever’ once in a Pg 110 like” shoes. Makes them one talks to her as they are problems as she has possessions at
while? Think I like to stick in Two rhetorical sympathetic towards scared of Curley. an angry tone. that time and
that house alla time? questions her. where just
supposed to stay
in the “house”.
Friendship “I got you to look after me, Sec 1 Parallelism There are both there They both support each other There friendship is It was really rare
and you got me to look after Pg 32 for each other during and have a strong friendship. one positive thing in at that time to
you,” the happy and the sad the novel and makes have someone
times. the reader believe that was so close.
that their dream
might just come true.
“Hardly none of the guys ever Sec 3 “Hardly none” “hardly Slim finds it very Their friendship is unusual Might mean that as Friendship was
travel together. I hardly never Pg 65 never” contradiction hard to believe and people like it however its “hardly none” that very rare
seen two guys travel together.” however thinks it’s a there could be jealousy. This there friendship especially as
good thing. is shown by crooks. might not last. there was the
great depression.
American “Coulda been in the movies, Sec 5 “coulda” past Her dream is broken What makes all of these George and Lennie’s N/A
Dream an’ had nice clothes – all them Pg 125 it is not possible dreams typically American is dream might not
nice clothes like they wear.” anymore. that the dreamers wish for come true either.
untarnished happiness, for the
freedom to follow their own
desires.
“an’ they’d been a pig and Sec 5 Lots of caesuras Crying as dream is Wished for untarnished George and Lennie’s depression was
chickens ….an’ in the winter Pg 132 now broken. happiness, for the freedom to dream doesn’t come almost
… the little fat stove … an’ follow their own desires true. impossible for
the rain comin’ … an’ jus typically American ranch workers to
settin’ there.” own a farm
The best laid schemes o' Title N/A N/A The dreams and plans never Foreshadows the end. N/A
mice an' men Gang aft a- work out
gley, An' lea'e us nought but
grief an' pain, For promised
joy!
(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 Sec 1 “we are going” its They have full hope Their dream is all about their The dream seems It depression
 jack together and we’re gonna
have a little house.”
Racism “Where the hell is that God
damn nigger?”
Pg 32 future not conditional and passion for their own desires and freedom like achievable from their when it was
dream the American Dream. enthusiasm and gives almost
the story some impossible for
positive attitude to it. ranch workers to
own a farm
Sec 2 Racist term “nigger” Racist terms used as It’s not a theme that is looked She is angry at the Racism was not
Pg 50 “God damn” insulting something usual into a great deal however it is stable buck could seen as a bad
makes reader feel there to show how it was just a mean her anger could thing it was a
sorry for the stable usual thing that people did not result in something normal thing and
buck. really think about. bad. black people
hardly had any
rights.

“This is just a nigger talking, Sec 4 “just” implies He Has no value It’s not a theme that is looked He is not treated very Racism was not
an’ a busted-back nigger. So it Pg 103 why should they into a great deal however it is well whenever he seen as a bad
don’t mean anything, see?” listen there to show how it was just a says something thing it was a
usual thing that people did not people ignore it, he normal thing and
really think about. said about their black people
dream not coming hardly had any
true but they didn’t rights.
listen and got their
hopes up.

Sexism “Curley’s wife” Name possession She is only a property She is graded so low that her When she does open Women were
not independent and name isn’t even mentioned up and tries to tell regarded only as
is only recognized by someone her story a property in
her husband’s name. and feelings she just those times and
gets ignored. had very low
value.
“Why’n’t you tell her to stay Sec 3 “Tell her” its an order He can order her She doesn’t have any freedom When she gets out of Women were
the hell home where she Pg 90 around and she has to she has to stay in the house the house she causes regarded only as
belongs? listen to him trouble. a property in
those times and
had very low
value.
 Characters
George “The first was small and Sec 1 List of features. “sharp” George is clever, He is the leader as he walks in He knows his dreams N/A
quick, dark of face, with Pg 19 quick thinker and front of Lennie. and his dreams are
restless eyes and sharp, strong knows his plans achievable
features. Every part of him “defined”.
was defined.”
“An I ain’t so bright neither, Sec 3 Alliteration “buckin’ Emphasis his He doesn’t boast and regrets He knows he has to Education was
or I wouldn’t be buckin’ Pg 65 barley” “fifty and situation that he is in his life. He is patient do this job to get very hard to get
barley for my fifty and found.” found” at the moment some money so at that time but
doesn’t complain like was valued as he
Lennie said that if he
was educated
than he wouldn’t
be working here.
Lennie “Lennie dabbed his big paw in Sec 1 Metaphor for him “splash” and “back Lennie is like a child unaware This suggests that There were
the water and wiggled his Pg 20 acting like a child but again”. These words of the world and causes Lennie will be the already so many
fingers to that the water arose also for the problems. suggest that Lennie is trouble without meaning to. central causes of problems with
in little splashes; rings responsible for troubles which the Great
widened across the pool to the “splashes” which are spreads “rings” of Depression that
other side and back again.” the effects of the devastation which Lennie’s
trouble that he causes will hurt many problem did
and “back again” people. make a big
shows that Lennie difference.
consistently makes
trouble.
“Lennie nodded to show that Sec 2 Words “nodded” These words show Metaphor for Lennie’s inferior Lennie is a person N/A
he understood.” Pg 42 “understood” that Lennie is less personality and the fact that who takes orders
This quote as a capable of answering because he his mentally from George because
metaphor questions verbally. retarded, he has to rely on he relies on George
This also relate to his George for support. to survive.
animal like features.
Dogs respond in a
similar way.
“I never done nothing Sec 2 “Never done nothing” He is like a child Lennie is an innocent Lennie doesn’t want N/A
George.” Pg 54 not proper order character. to cause trouble even
tough he sometimes

Candy “I had him so long. Had him
since he was a pup. I herded
sheep with him.”
“Candy’s face had grown
redder and redder, but before
she was done speaking, ha had
control of himself.”
Curley “His glance was at once
calculating and pugnacious.”
“A head of tightly curled
hair.”
Slim “There was a gravity in his
manner quite so profound that
all stopped when he spoke.”
“His hands, large and lean,
were as delicate in their action
as those of a temple dancer.”
Curley’s “She put her hands behind her
wife back and leaned against the
door frame so that her body
was thrown forward.”
does
Sec 3 Repetition of “I” and His only company is He is very lonely and old The way the pup is People during the
Pg 71 “him” his dog. close, Lennie is close 1930’s had pets
to George and Lennie as companions.
died the same way as
the dog.
Sec 4 “redder and redder” He gets angry with He is helpless but has found He gets angry at her N/A
Pg 112 repetition and colour her but knows not to some hope and doesn’t want to when she dies as
connotation say anything lose that therefore he doesn’t because of her his
say anything to her. dream got destroyed.
Sec 2 “calculating” Suggests Curley Curley has a boxing instinct; Curley is a very alert During this time
Pg 46 “pugnacious” adjectives always weighs up he always looks at people and character, but one people had to be
people, the same as a sees if he would be able to who also seems to be alert in order to
boxer does. beat them in a fight. This is looking for fights survive- every
one of his habits. wherever he goes and man for himself.
whoever he comes
across. This is what
people dislike about
him.
Sec2 “tightly and curled” Suggests that Curley Curley has a wild temper Curley is an N/A
Pg 46 is wound up like a which suddenly unleashes unpredictable
spring that is just when he is unhappy character that has a
about to unleash his violent temper could
destructive power. cause trouble for
Lennie.
Sec 2 “profound” and Suggests that Slim is Slims personality is such that Other people get on
Pg 56 “manner” highly respected. he gets natural respect with him unlike
Curley. It’s Slim that
consoles George.
Sec 2 “delicate” Implies that Slim is a He is a great worker and has He is good at his job In that time
Pg 56 very precise character valuable skills and abilities. and is very gentle but people who were
who takes pride in his firm character. skilled craftsman
work and personality were respected.
Sec 2 “Body” and “thrown” Suggest that she She is very lonely and goes to She could cause Women during
Pg 53 wants people to see desperate measures (showing problems by going to that time had to
everything. off her body) to try and gain desperate measures. use their
attention from other male femininity to
 workers as Curley ignores her. survive.
“The rectangle in the doorway Sec 2 “Rectangle” is a Therefore means She ruins dreams and destroys She could be the In 1930’s many
was cut of.” Pg 53 metaphor for people’s people’s hope and them. source of trouble people had
hopes and dreams and dreams which were which will result in dreams and these
“sunshine” for their blocked out. George and Lennie’s were usually
motivation dreams being totally destroyed
destroyed. because of other
people.
Crooks “a few dirty books on a special Sec 3 “dirty” Suggests that he He is interested in education As he is the only Education was
shelf over his bunk. A pair of Pg 99 “spectacles” reads lots of books black he needs to not that widely
large-gold rimmed spectacles know his rights and available in the
hung from a nail.” therefore he reads a 1930’s.
lot
“his eyes lay deep in his head, Sec 3 “deep” intensity implies that He is very intellectual He says a lot of right N/A
and because of their depth Pg 99 “intensity” he thinks a lot about things like dream not
seemed to glitter with everything in a lot of becoming true but
intensity.” depth. people don’t listen to
him.
Aunt Clara “Aunt Clara, ma’am.” Sec 6 “ma’am” Respect is given to She is a kind person as she She makes Lennie N/A
Pg 142 her. looked after Lennie realize his mistake in
the hallucination.
“her hands on her hips, and Sec 6 Alliteration Like a mother figure She used to care a lot about She gave him mice N/A
she frowned disapprovingly at Pg 141 telling off her child. Lennie but Lennie killed
him.” them foreshadows
death when she
appears again.
Carlson “Now what the hell ya Sec 6 Colloquial language He is friendly with Doesn’t really think a lot Killed the dog, In 1930’s every
suppose is eatin’ them two Pg 149 Curley. about other people Lennie got killed in a man worked and
guys?” similar way earned for
themselves
“luger” Sec 3 A gun Sounds violent Carlson is well prepared for The same gum used N/A
Pg 74 self-defense. for both the dog and
Lennie
Whit “but he did not surrender his Sec 3 “his hold” Its his possession He thinks of himself He takes care of his People only had
hold on it.” Pg 73 possession and values few possessions
them. so looked after
them.