Student Activities for Of Mice and Men
Essential Questions for Of Mice and Men
- What are the attributes of a good friend?
- Why are dreams important in life? What are your dreams or goals?
- What can stand in the way of achieving your dreams?
- Would you ever hurt someone you love, even if it were the best thing for them?
Of Mice and Men Summary
Of Mice and Men is a short novel by John Steinbeck about an unlikely pair of migrant workers in California. George and Lennie have little in common, and when most people meet the pair, they question why the two are together. George Milton is a small, smart man, while Lennie Small is large and strong, but has the mind of a child. Lennie's traits make him clumsy and unpredictable, and often get the two men into trouble.
The novel is about friendship, loneliness, and unfulfilled dreams. For George and Lennie, they hope to work hard, and save enough money to have a small farm of their own one day. When the two start at a new ranch, a man named Candy overhears their dream, and offers to throw in a large sum of money if he can join them. For the first time, George and Lennie see their dream within reach.
However, Lennie’s developmental disability soon puts the friends in a predicament. Lennie accidentally kills his puppy, then, by chance, kills a woman on the ranch. The woman was the wife of the ranch owner, who had picked a fight with Lennie and lost. The rancher and a mob of enraged men set out to find and kill Lennie. Knowing what the mob will do, reluctantly, George kills Lennie first.
Other Activity Ideas for Of Mice and Men
- Create storyboards that show specific causes and effects from OMAM.
- Use a storyboard to depict one chapter at a time.
- Create a public service announcement about the Great Depression.
- Create a storyboard that depicts what life was like in the 1920-30s. Include fashion, cars, food, and more! Just try the search bar to find what you’re looking for.
- Add a presentation to any storyboard project.
How To Facilitate a Discussion on “Of Mice and Men” By John Steinbeck
Build a Foundation
Begin the lecture by generally discussing the topics of friendship, humanity, mistakes, and disabilities with the students. Ask them to reflect on the complexities and intricacies of these ideas and how they shape society. These questions and discussions will help students build a foundation for the upcoming narrative and put them in the right environment to think.
Read and Comprehend the Text
Ensure that the students are knowledgeable about the main ideas, characters, and events of the book. Help the students read the text multiple times by assigning different activities in the classroom and at home. Teachers should determine possible topics for discussions and create some questions beforehand to get the students started.
Understand the Characters
Talk about the motivations, personalities, and conflicts of the main characters, including Curley, George, Lennie, and others. Encourage the students to look at these characters from different perspectives and try to assess their significance in the narrative with the help of information they gain from the text and their own analysis.
Concentrate on the Main Ideas
Talk about the characters' themes of loneliness and how friendship especially that between George and Lennie is portrayed. Ask the students to examine how the American Dream manifests itself in the lives of the characters. Students can take these themes and discuss them in both general and specific contexts of the narrative.
Encourage a Platform for Discussion
Once the students are more familiar with the central ideas present in the story, ask them to select different topics and conduct activities such as debates, small group discussions, and joint discussions. Students can share their opinions and perspectives through these discussions and get a chance to participate in class activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
Who are the key characters of the story?
The key characters of the story include George and Lennie. George is a small smart man and Lennie is a strong man however, Lennie seems to be more clumsy and the people of the town find it hard to believe that they are good friends. The story explores the friendship between both of these characters and the tragic ending of this relationship.
Why is the title "Of Mice and Men" significant?
A phrase from Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse" serves as the inspiration for the title: "The best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry." It alludes to the idea of dashed hopes and the erratic nature of existence.
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