Of Mice and Men Character List Flashcards

Study Notes

Author

John Steinbeck, the author, was born near the setting of Of Mice and Men.
He worked as a farm hand in his youth, influencing his writing.

Lennie

A large, childlike migrant worker who loves animals and seeks comfort in soft things.
His dream involves owning rabbits, symbolizing his desire for a safe and simple life.

George

Small and wiry, he is the caretaker of Lennie and is determined to save money to purchase a farm.

Candy

A one-armed handyman known as a swamper; he offers his savings to help buy the farm.
He owns an old dog that symbolizes his own aging and impending obsolescence.

Crooks

A black stable-hand with a crooked back due to an accident, reflecting the era’s racial isolation.
Yearns to join George and Lennie in their dream of owning a farm, seeking companionship and hope.

Curley

The son of the ranch owner, characterized by his confrontational and aggressive demeanor.
Wears high-heeled boots to assert his status and is possessive of his wife, leading him to instigate fights.

Slim

A respected mule driver on the ranch, known for his skills and quiet authority.
He provides guidance to others and offers comfort to George during difficult times.

Carlson

A ranch hand who vocalizes his disdain for Candy's old dog, demonstrating a lack of empathy in the harsh ranch environment.
Owns a gun, signifying the violence and desperation present on the ranch.

Boss

The owner of the ranch, depicted as seemingly fair-minded, but maintains power over the workers.

Clara

Lennie's aunt who cared for him before her death; she showed love by giving him animals to care for.

Previous Job in Weed

George and Lennie’s past employment led to trouble when Lennie was wrongly accused of assaulting a girl after touching her dress.

Milton

The last name of George, providing a personal identity to the character.

Rabbits

Symbolize Lennie's dream and desire for a better life, as he envisions himself tending to them on the new land.

Curley's Glove

Curley wears a glove filled with Vaseline on his left hand, symbolizing his desire to appear tough while maintaining softness beneath.

Solitaire

A card game that George plays during downtime, highlighting moments of introspection and isolation.

Conflict with Curley

Curley mistakes Lennie's smile for mockery, prompting him to aggressively confront Lennie, leading to violent consequences.

Hand Injury

Lennie's immense strength is highlighted when he accidentally breaks Curley’s hand during a confrontation.
Candy’s character is defined by his loss of one hand, adding to the theme of vulnerability.

Crooks’ Perspective

Conveys a cynical view on dreams, explaining to Lennie that many men have come and gone without achieving their aspirations of land ownership.

Tragic Incident

Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife by snapping her neck, an event representing the tragic nature of their dreams.

Friendship Dynamics

Highlights the strong bond between George and Lennie, emphasizing the theme of friendship amidst loneliness, as seen with Curley's wife's frequent visits.

Description

Explore the key characters from John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' through this interactive flashcard quiz. Test your knowledge about the personalities, aspirations, and backgrounds of characters like George, Lennie, and Candy. Perfect for students and fans of classic literature!

Of Mice and Men Character List Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who is the author of Of Mice and Men?

What does Lennie love?

George is small and __________.

Candy is a two-armed ranch handyman.

What race is Crooks?

What is Curley known for?

Who comforts George?

Carlson complains about Candy's __________.

The Boss is Curley's father.

What did Clara give Lennie?

Lennie's job is to tend the __________.

Where did George and Lennie previously work?

What was Curley wearing on his left hand?

George plays the card game poker.

What happened to Curley's hand?

Crooks expresses skepticism about __________.

What happens to Curley's wife?

Lennie and George are not friends.