Chapter 2 Practice Quiz — Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 2
Who is the first person George and Lennie meet at the bunkhouse?
Candy, an old swamper (handyman) who has lost his right hand in a ranch accident.
What lie does George tell the boss about Lennie?
George says Lennie is his cousin who was kicked in the head by a horse as a child, explaining his intellectual disability.
Why is the boss suspicious of George and Lennie's relationship?
During the Depression, it was extremely unusual for two men to travel together. The boss suspects George is exploiting Lennie by taking his pay.
What is Curley's occupation and family connection to the ranch?
Curley is the boss's son. He is a former boxer who is newly married and lives on the ranch.
Why does Curley immediately target Lennie?
Curley is small and aggressive, with a Napoleon complex. He picks fights with larger men to prove his toughness, and Lennie's large size makes him an immediate target.
What does Candy reveal about Curley's glove full of Vaseline?
Candy says Curley wears a glove filled with Vaseline on one hand to keep it soft for his wife, revealing Curley's crude attitude toward his marriage.
How is Curley's wife described in her first appearance?
She wears heavy makeup, red fingernails, red ostrich-feather shoes, and a cotton dress. She stands in the doorway blocking the sunlight, claiming to look for Curley.
Why does George call Curley's wife 'jail bait'?
George recognizes that her flirtatious behavior around the ranch hands could lead to serious trouble, especially for someone like Lennie who cannot understand social boundaries.
What escape plan does George establish with Lennie in Chapter 2?
George tells Lennie that if anything goes wrong, he should go back to the brush by the pool where they camped the night before and hide until George comes for him.
How does Steinbeck describe Slim when he first appears?
Slim is described as the 'prince of the ranch' with 'God-like eyes.' He moves with dignity and authority, and his word is law among the workers.
What does Carlson suggest about Candy's old dog?
Carlson suggests that Candy should shoot his old, blind, smelly dog and replace it with one of the puppies from Slim's dog's recent litter.
How does the bunkhouse setting contrast with Chapter 1's setting?
Chapter 1 takes place in a peaceful, lush natural setting by a river. The bunkhouse is stark, confined, and impersonal, representing the harsh reality of migrant labor.
What theme does the boss's suspicion of George and Lennie's friendship illustrate?
It illustrates the theme of loneliness and isolation. Genuine friendship is so rare among migrant workers that it provokes distrust rather than admiration.
What literary device is Steinbeck using when Curley's wife blocks the sunlight in the doorway?
This is foreshadowing. Her blocking of the light symbolically suggests she will cast a shadow over the men's lives and dreams.
How does Candy's relationship with his old dog parallel George and Lennie's relationship?
Both involve a caretaker bonded to a companion that others see as a burden. Both relationships reflect loyalty and affection in a world that values only utility.
What do the men keep in their apple-box shelves in the bunkhouse?
They keep small personal items like soap, razors, talcum powder, Western magazines, and medicines — reflecting how few possessions migrant workers owned.
What is the significance of Curley's wife never being given a name?
By identifying her only through her husband, Steinbeck emphasizes her lack of independent identity and her status as property in the male-dominated ranch world.
What does Lennie's reaction to Curley's wife reveal about his character?
Lennie watches her with fascination and calls her 'purty,' showing he is drawn to attractive things but cannot perceive social danger, making him vulnerable.
What is a 'swamper' in the context of the ranch?
A swamper is a general handyman or janitor who sweeps out and cleans the bunkhouse. Candy holds this position because his missing hand limits what work he can do.
How does Slim's authority differ from Curley's authority on the ranch?
Slim's authority is natural and earned through skill, wisdom, and character. Curley's authority comes from his father's position as boss, and he enforces it through aggression and intimidation.