Chapter 1 Practice Quiz — Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 1
Where do George and Lennie stop for the night in Chapter 1?
A clearing along the Salinas River near Soledad, California, surrounded by sycamore trees and golden foothills.
Describe George Milton's physical appearance.
George is small, quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. He is wiry and defined.
Describe Lennie Small's physical appearance.
Lennie is a huge man with a shapeless face, large pale eyes, wide sloping shoulders, and he walks heavily, dragging his feet like a bear.
What animal is Lennie compared to in Chapter 1?
Lennie is compared to a bear in the way he walks and moves, dragging his large paws. He also drinks from the pool like a horse.
What does Lennie have hidden in his pocket?
A dead mouse, which he has been petting as they walk because he likes to feel soft things.
Why did George and Lennie have to flee from Weed?
Lennie grabbed a girl's soft red dress and would not let go. She accused him of assault, and a mob formed to chase them.
What is the significance of the name 'Soledad'?
Soledad means 'solitude' or 'loneliness' in Spanish, foreshadowing the themes of isolation and loneliness central to the novella.
What does the dead mouse symbolize in Chapter 1?
The dead mouse symbolizes Lennie's destructive innocence and his inability to control his own strength, foreshadowing his pattern of accidentally killing things he loves.
What is George and Lennie's shared dream?
They dream of owning a small farm where they can live independently, grow their own food, and where Lennie can tend rabbits.
According to George, what makes him and Lennie different from other ranch hands?
They have each other. Unlike most migrant workers who are lonely and have nobody, George and Lennie travel together and look out for one another.
What instructions does George give Lennie about meeting the boss?
George tells Lennie to stay quiet and not say a word when they meet the boss, so Lennie does not reveal his disability before they can prove themselves as workers.
What safety plan does George establish in Chapter 1?
George tells Lennie to return to the riverside clearing if anything goes wrong at the ranch, and to hide in the brush by the river until George comes for him.
Who is Aunt Clara?
Aunt Clara was Lennie's caretaker who raised him. She used to give him mice to pet. After she died, George took over looking after Lennie.
What type of literary work did Steinbeck intend Of Mice and Men to be?
Steinbeck described it as a 'play-novelette,' designed so it could be directly adapted for the stage, which is reflected in the dramatic, dialogue-heavy scenes.
How does the opening setting function as foreshadowing?
The Eden-like beauty of the river clearing creates an idyllic atmosphere that contrasts with the harsh realities to come, suggesting that this paradise is temporary and fragile.
What does George say he could do if he were alone?
George says he could live easy, keep a job, have no trouble, get his monthly pay, and spend it in town on whatever he wanted, like pool or whiskey.
What time period is the novella set in?
The novella is set during the Great Depression in the 1930s, when migrant farm laborers traveled across California seeking seasonal work.
What role does the recitation of the dream serve for George and Lennie?
It functions as a comforting ritual and a bonding experience. Lennie begs George to tell it 'like you done before,' and the familiar retelling provides them both with hope and emotional security.
What is the relationship between George and Lennie?
George acts as Lennie's protector and caretaker, functioning almost as a parent figure. Despite his complaints, George is deeply loyal to Lennie and feels responsible for his well-being.
What does Lennie's desire to pet soft things reveal about his character?
It reveals his childlike innocence and his need for comfort and sensory pleasure, but also his dangerous inability to gauge his own strength, creating a tension between gentleness and destruction.