1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Chapter 2
Study Guide
All questions and answers MUST relate to the text
NOT the movie!

2. #1 Question
According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?

3. #1 Answer
The boss is angry because he was expecting George and Lennie to arrive the night before.

4. #2 Question
What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?

5. #2 Answer
George finds a small yellow can in the box which was used to kill lice and roaches. He assumes the bunkhouse is infested.

6. #3 Question
Describe the “Stable Buck.” What physical attributes does he have?

7. #3 Answer
The stable buck is an African American man, with the name Crooks. His back is crooked where he was kicked by a horse.

8. #5 Question
What is Lennie’s last name?

9. #5 Answer
Lennie’s last name is Small

10. #6 Question
What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this?

11. #6 Answer
The boss suspects that George is trying to take advantage of Lennie, and trying to steal his pay.
The boss thinks this because George is talking for Lennie.

12. #7 Question
What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?

13. #7 Answer
George explains to the boss that Lennie is his cousin, who was injured as a child so he is not very smart.

14. #8 Question
What is George’s last name?

15. #8 Answer
George’s last name is Milton.

16. # 9 Question
Who is Curley?

17. #9 Answer Curly is the boss’s son.
The old man describes Curley as someone who picks fights with both big men and small ones, but, whether he wins or loses, always comes out on top.

18. #10 Question
What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand?

19. #10 Answer
The swamper tells George that he keeps a glove full of vaseline on his hand, because he’s keeping that hand soft for his wife.

20. #11 Question
Describe Curley’s Wife. Use Text evidence.

21. #11 Answer
She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.

22. #12 Question Why does she SAY she came into the bunkhouse?
What do the men THINK is her reason?

23. #12 Answer
Curley’s wife said she came into the bunkhouse looking for her husband.
The men think she has a wandering eye, which means that she is looking at other men even though she has only been married for two weeks.

24. #13 Question Describe Slim using text evidence.
What is his job on the ranch?

25. #13 Answer “…long, black, damp hair…”
“…wore blue jeans and a short denim jacket.”
“…moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen.”
“…the prince of the ranch…”
Slim’s job is to drive the mules and keep the men working.

26. #14 Question
What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?

27. #14 Answer
Slim’s dog bears nine puppies. Slim drowns four of them because the mother could not feed them all. Slim keeps the healthiest and biggest five.

28. #15 Question
What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?

29. #15 Answer
Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have one of the puppies.

30. Additional Vocabulary for Test
Gesture – hand movement
Skeptical – unsure about something
Barley – grain (stacked by the men)
Graybacks- lice
Tick – mattress
Swamper – handyman; someone who performs odd jobs - such as cleaning