Of Mice and Men Essay Questions

 

1. How do being different, and the prevailing attitudes of intolerance, lead

to tragedy in this story? Discuss examples of these issues with any and all

characters in the novel who are different, and as a result, play tragic

roles. Take care to show the relationship between the ways in which each

character is different from normal, and how each character is oppressed by

the intolerance or disregard of others.

 

2. How does Curley's wife suffer from oppression because she is a woman? You

may wish to include areas an analysis such as the importance of marriage,

stereotyping, women's roles and power in society, and the common idea of

women's "evil sexuality" when discussing Curley's wife. You should also

consider why Steinbeck did not give her a name, but chose only to refer to

her as "Curley's wife". Be sure to discuss the position of men related to

women.

 

3. Discuss how the killing of Candy's dog, and his associated feelings,

relate to the death of Lennie, and George's associated feelings. Be sure to

include relevant quotes from characters, including Carlson. You must also

discuss the issue of mercy vs. Lost usefulness. For which of these two

reason did Lennie and the dog die?

 

4. Agree or disagree without the statement that Curley's wife's death was

neither her fault nor Lennie's, but a product of the society they lived in.

 

5. How does the idea of lost hope or hopelessness, futility, pervade this

story? Give examples of characters that have no hope, or have lost it, and

show why this idea is so universal in this book. Explain why the little farm

is a vision of utopia, and why it is impossible to reach. Why do the

characters know they won't get it? You may wish to discuss the symbolism of

the farm representing Heaven. Consider the economic conditions of the time.

 

6. Of Mice and Men has an allegorical quality, with each character

possessing a specific trait that represents something in society. Identify

these traits in the main characters, explain their relevance to the book,

and the book's comment on society. Research "allegory" if you are not

familiar with its meaning.

 

7. Explain the value of relationships in this story, and how this contrasts

to the problem of loneliness. Be sure to include insight about the value of

this idea in society.

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