Chapter 3 Practice Quiz — Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 3
Who gives Lennie a puppy at the beginning of Chapter 3?
Slim gives Lennie one of his dog's newborn puppies, which delights Lennie.
What happened in Weed that forced George and Lennie to flee?
Lennie grabbed a girl's red dress because he wanted to feel the soft fabric. When she screamed, he held on tighter out of fear, and they were accused of assault.
Why did George once tell Lennie to jump into the Sacramento River?
George used to play cruel tricks on Lennie to show off for others. When Lennie nearly drowned and then thanked George for saving him, George felt so ashamed he stopped mistreating him.
Why does Carlson want to kill Candy's dog?
Carlson argues the dog is old, blind, crippled with arthritis, suffering, and smells bad. He says the dog is no good to itself or anyone else.
How does Carlson kill Candy's dog?
Carlson shoots the dog in the back of the head with his Luger pistol, so the dog feels no pain. This method foreshadows how George will later kill Lennie.
How much money does Candy offer to contribute to the dream farm?
Candy offers three hundred and fifty dollars, which is his life savings including compensation money from losing his hand on the ranch.
What triggers Curley to attack Lennie?
Curley enters the bunkhouse angry and jealous, looking for his wife. He sees Lennie smiling (about the dream farm) and interprets it as mockery, then begins punching him.
What happens when Lennie finally fights back against Curley?
Lennie grabs Curley's fist mid-swing and crushes his hand, breaking every bone in it. Lennie only fights back after George repeatedly tells him to.
How does Slim prevent George and Lennie from being fired after the fight?
Slim threatens to tell everyone the humiliating truth if Curley reports what happened. Curley agrees to say he caught his hand in a machine.
Why is Slim significant in Chapter 3?
Slim serves as a moral authority and confidant. George trusts him enough to reveal his past with Lennie, and Slim later mediates the aftermath of the Curley fight.
How does Candy's character change in Chapter 3?
Candy transforms from a passive background figure into a desperate man seeking purpose. After losing his dog, he latches onto the dream farm as his new reason to live.
What does Chapter 3 reveal about George's feelings toward Lennie?
George feels a mix of genuine affection, guilt over past cruelty, and the heavy burden of responsibility. He protects Lennie but also recognizes how dangerous Lennie can be.
What does Candy's dog symbolize in the novel?
The dog symbolizes the fate of those who outlive their usefulness. It parallels both Candy's fear of being discarded and foreshadows Lennie's death.
What theme does the killing of Candy's dog illustrate?
It illustrates the theme of pragmatism versus compassion. The men view the killing as practical and merciful, while Candy's emotional bond with his dog is dismissed.
How does Chapter 3 develop the theme of the American Dream?
Candy's money makes the dream farm seem achievable for the first time, but this peak of hope is immediately undercut by Curley's violent attack, suggesting the dream is fragile.
What is the significance of silence in Chapter 3?
Steinbeck uses silence as a literary device, especially in the tense moments before and after the gunshot that kills Candy's dog, creating almost unbearable tension in the bunkhouse.
How does the shooting of Candy's dog foreshadow the novel's ending?
The dog is shot in the back of the head with a Luger for a painless death, exactly mirroring how George will kill Lennie. Candy's regret about letting a stranger do it informs George's choice.
What parallel does Steinbeck draw between Candy and George?
Both are caretakers of dependent companions (Candy's dog and Lennie). Both must ultimately face the loss of those they protect, and Candy's regret teaches George to act himself.
What does Lennie's puppy represent?
The puppy represents innocence and vulnerability. Lennie's excitement over it highlights his childlike nature, while his tendency to accidentally harm soft things foreshadows future tragedy.
What is dramatic irony in the context of Chapter 3?
The reader senses that the dream farm will never materialize even as George, Lennie, and Candy allow themselves to believe in it, creating tension between hope and the inevitable tragedy.
What does the word 'bemused' mean as used in Chapter 3?
Bemused means confused or bewildered. In the chapter, characters are often described as bemused when processing unexpected events.
Why does no one defend Candy's dog from Carlson?
The silence reflects the social dynamics of the ranch: the men lack deep emotional bonds, and pragmatism overrides sentiment. Even Slim, though sympathetic, does not intervene directly.