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Test your English Literature skills in this quiz.
Of Mice and Men - Character
This GCSE English Literature quiz takes a look at character in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, is populated with very few characters. These are friends George and Lennie, Curley, Slim, Candy, Crooks, Carlson and Curley’s wife, with only one or two other figures being given names. George and Lennie travel for work while the remainder of the characters are more settled and are attached to the ranch. The arrival of the two friends brings disaster both to their friendship and to lives on the ranch. George and Lennie’s unlikely friendship draws attention, highlighting the crushing loneliness felt by most of the other characters, even where that loneliness is barely acknowledged, such as by Slim. By innocently sharing his dream with Candy and with Crooks, Lennie encourages the other men on the ranch to begin to hope for a better, more companionable future.
1 .
Curley's wife tells Lennie that she could have been in the movies. Which of the following statements is true of her character?
She has a naive trust in other people's promises
Her beauty is wasted on the ranch
She is the victim of an uncaring family who spoiled her chances of appearing in films
She is a talented actress
Curley's wife, like Lennie, dreams of leading a different life. Her dreams are much grander and more self-centred than his, however
2 .
"His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer." What does this physical description tell the reader about Slim?
He is an exceptionally skilled worker
He has worked formerly as a dancer
He is a physically delicate man
He likes to show off
Slim's skill makes him one of the most valued workers on the ranch. His physical skill is matched by his subtle intelligence and natural authority
3 .
Curley is introduced as having a "pugnacious" glance. Which of the following details does NOT emphasise this description?
Curley bends his elbows and makes fists when meeting Lennie and George for the first time
Curley wears high-heeled boots and a leather glove
Curley crouches when first meeting Lennie and George
Curley reacts with a swift and violent movement when challenged by George
Curley's choice of boots hints that he wishes to appear taller than he is. This description gives the reader a clue about one reason behind Curley's pugnacious behaviour
4 .
George admits to Slim that he has not always been a good friend to Lennie. What does this episode tell the reader about George's character?
George is just using Lennie in order to have a better chance of getting work
His friendship to Lennie results merely from his faithfulness to a promise
His friendship for Lennie is genuine
His resentment towards Lennie outweighs his gratitude for the presence of the other man
George is ashamed when Lennie thanks him for saving him from drowning, even though he was only in danger of drowning due to following George's instructions. When George confesses this episode to Slim, it becomes apparent that he relies on Lennie's friendship as much as Lennie relies upon him
5 .
Which of the following adjectives does NOT accurately describe George as he is characterised throughout the novel?
Despairing
Clever
Loyal
Pragmatic
George is hopeful rather than despairing. His final act towards Lennie stems from his pragmatic and realistic understanding of his friend's certain death at the hands of Curley
6 .
Which of the following traits gets Lennie into trouble?
His love of touching soft things
His underestimation of his own strength
His fear of disappointing George
All of the above
Lennie's love of stroking soft things like fur, certain fabrics and hair, combined with his great strength, lead him to hurt Curley's wife by accident. His fear of disappointing George makes him try to silence her when she screams
7 .
Candy is eager to join in with Lennie and George's plan to buy land. Why?
He is cheerful, hopeful and naive
His age and disability mean that he will soon be out of work
He wants revenge on Curley and the boss for their mistreatment of him
He is mistrustful of daydreams and does not believe that anything will really come of the plan
Candy's offer of his savings, mostly gained through compensation for the accidental loss of his hand, makes the dream of owning land a sudden possibility
8 .
Why is it significant that Curley's wife is not given a name?
Steinbeck never named his female characters
It was not considered important in 1930s California for women to have names
The absence of a name highlights her loss of identity after her marriage to Curley
The absence of a personal name is not significant
Curley's wife is limited to her domestic role and her relationship to her husband. Although she is lonely, the men on the ranch are wary of befriending her. Their wariness is reinforced through referring to her only in relation to her husband
9 .
Which of the following best describes Crooks?
Approachable, gentle, lonely
Proud, cowardly, self-critical
Cruel, cowardly, lonely
Proud, resentful, lonely
Crooks is proud of his proper upbringing and respectability and is resentful of being excluded through the racist attitudes of others. This combination of traits makes him rather prickly when Lennie invades his private space, even though the company relieves his loneliness
10 .
In the opening chapter of the book, George asks Lenny what he has taken from his pocket. What does the reader learn about Lennie's character from the following response to George's question: "'Ain't a thing in my pocket,' Lennie said cleverly"?
Lennie is clever
Lennie is calculating
Lennie is dishonest
Lennie is childlike
Lennie's "clever" response is an indication of his childlike nature. He believes that by technically telling the truth he can persuade George that he doesn't have anything he shouldn't have. George, of course, sees through this childlike trick, responding, "I know there ain't. You got it in your hand."
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