Домашнее чтение. John Steinbeck "Of Mice and Men"
методическая разработка по английскому языку по теме

Chapter One

George and Lennie stop off for the night before going to a ranch where they've been hired to work. The two men talk about their problems in the past and their plans for the future.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

(p.11)  anguished (adj.):

(p.3)     bindle (n.):

(p.8)     brusquely (adv.):

(p.8)     contemplated (v.)

 (p.11)  elaborate (adj.):

 (p.4)   morosely (adv.):

(p.13)  stake (n.):

(p.2)    stilted (adj.):

(p.2)    tramps (n.):

II. Idioms

(p.13)  blow their stake: Lose and/or spend all their money

(p.14)  blowin' in our jack: losing, spending, or gambling away all our money

(p.8)  bustin' a gut: Your gut is your stomach area. To bust a gut is to engage in very hard physical labor -- so hard that you ache all over -- even in your gut.

(p.11)  in hot water: to be in hot water is to be in trouble.

(p.2)  jungle-up: During the Great Depression, many wanderers (hoboes and tramps) would settle for the night in groups. These areas would be known as hobo jungles. To jungle-up is to camp out for the evening in the company of other like companions of the road.

(p.14)  live off the fatta the lan': Live off the fat of the land. The fat of the land is an expression that refers to having the best of everything. In the case of Lennie and George and their dream for a place of their own, it also means that they believe they will be able to survive and prosper by simply relying on what they can grow and raise -- that the land is so "fat" they will need nothing else to be happy.

III. Allusions and Historical References

(p.1)  Galiban Mountains: a small mountain range situated east of the Salinas River.

(p.5)  Howard street: There is a Howard Street in San Francisco, a city in Northern California. On their travel south from Weed, the two men may have stopped in San Francisco to look for work.

(p.16)  Sacramento: The capital of California, Sacramento is located about eighty miles northeast of San Francisco.

(p.1)  Salinas River: a river that flows north through Soledad and empties into Monterey Bay.

(p.1)  Soledad: a city in near the coast of California, approximately 130 miles south of San Francisco.

(p.5)  watchin' that blackboard: During this era, employment agencies would post available jobs on a blackboard in front of their offices. Prospective employees would wait in front of the offices, watching the blackboard for any new jobs.

(p.6)  Weed: A mining town in Northern California, near Mt. Shasta.

(p.5)  work cards: A job assignment from an employment agency would be written on a work card to be presented by the worker to the employer.

IV.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class.

V.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. George and Lannie are long – term companions.
2. The future is uncertain – there are several possibilities.
3. The dream – they are going to live «off the fatta the lan'».
4. There is no stability or certainty in there lives.
5. It's beautiful by the pool – but also a bit creepy.
6. This chapter is full of contrasts.

VI. Revision Summary: Answer the questions below:

1. Which of these words best describes George's reactions to Lannie:

1. harassed  b) comforting  c) apologetic  or  d) all of these?

1.  Do you think Georg would be happy without Lannie (based on what he says in the chapter)?

1. Do you think it's significant that they eat beans with no ketchup?    Why?

1. Does this first chapter make you interested in what happens to Lannie in the rest of the book?  Explain why.

VII. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following question.  Use quotes to support your answer.

Explain the relationship that exists between George and Lennie

based on Chapter 1 of the book.

Chapter Two (Part 1, p.p. 19 – 30)

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to scoff at smth.
2. to shift smth.
3. to quit
4. on account of
5. to shuffle somewhere
6. to scowl at someone
7. deliberate / deliberately
8. to do smth. abruptly
9. to get nosey
10. to say smth. ominously

II. Idioms

(p. 21) bum steer: bum, in this instance, means false or erroneous. A bum steer is false information or directions.

(p. 32) clear out: leave for good

(p. 26) done quite a bit in the ring: The ring here refers to a boxing ring. Candy is making a reference to the fact that Curley has done some boxing.

(p. 20) Drink hearty: in other words, "Drink up, drink well, have a good time!"

(p. 29) get the can: get fired

(p. 28) pants is full of ants: To have "ants in one's pants" is to be nervous and restless.

(p. 26) picking scraps: A scrap is a fight or argument. To pick a scrap is to provoke fights or quarrels.

(p. 29) plug himself up for a fighter: to "plug oneself up" is to advertise or display oneself; to boast. George is referring to the fact that Curley may want to prove what a good fighter he is by going after Lennie.

(p. 24) pokin' your big ears into our business: eavesdropping; listening in, uninvited, on a private conversation

(p. 33) shove out of here: get out of here

(p. 18) sore as hell: extremely angry

(p. 32) take the rap: take the blame; be the one who gets into trouble

(p. 22) what stake you got in this guy: In this case, a stake is an interest (financial, personal, etc.) in a person or thing. The boss is asking George what interest he has in Lennie.

(p. 26) what the hell's he got on his shoulder: This refers to the expression "to have a chip on one's shoulder," which is used to describe someone who is bad tempered, easily angered, or always ready for a fight. George is wondering why Curley seems so bad tempered.

III. Allusions and Historical References

(p. 33) American River: a river in Northern California that runs past Auburn, through Sacramento, and flows into the Sacramento River.

(p. 32) eatin' raw eggs: It's thought by some that eating raw eggs can increase strength and, especially in men, sexual performance and stamina.

(p. 33) pan gold: a method of obtaining gold by using a pan to sift it out from other rocks and minerals that might flow through a river or stream. Find out more about panning for gold.

(p. 34) temple dancer: a dancer from India or other Southeast Asian countries, known for the delicate movements of the hands and body.

(p. 27) vaseline: the brand name for petroleum jelly; a greasy, jelly-like substance made from petroleum. Among its other uses, Vaseline is often used as a lubricant (softener) for the skin.

(p. 21) work slips: the work cards given to Lennie and George by an employment agency

(p. 32) writin' to the patent medicine houses: Patent medicines are medications that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription and often through the mail. Some of these medicines would claim to increase sexual performance.

IV.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

V.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. Lennie and George get an edgy welcome.

2. The bunkhouse is worth describing.

3. The boss is a right grumpy so and so … .

4. And his son is worse … .

VI. Writing: 

1. Write a short summery of this part of the chapter.
2. Write a paragraph on «Lennie's just a big kid...»

Chapter Two (Part 2, p.p. 31-38)

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to mourn
2. to say smth. timidly
3. brusque / brusquely
4. to be apprehensive
5. to be profound
6. to look at smb. intently
7. to walk lamely

II.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

III.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. The ranch hands are pretty friendly.
2. Curley’s “purty” wife turns up and annoys everyone.
3. All of this makes George restless

IV. Writing: 

Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse.  Be sure to include characteristics of different characters that were formally or informally introduced to us in this chapter.

V. Summing up the chapter.

1. Do you think the boss is a nice guy? Give three reasons.

2. Why do you think Curley takes an instant dislike to Lannie?

3. Write a sentence that sums up the way Slim is described when he first  

           appears in this chapter.

4. Say whether you think Lannie likes the ranch or not.

Chapter Three (Part 1, p.p 39-51)

George and Lenny learn more about Curley and his wife and, with Candy, share their dream of owning a farm .

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. a thud
2. to be receptive
3. to get mad about smth.
4. to be mean
5. a squawk (to squawk)
6. to quiver
7. to surrender
8. to chuckle
9. to look levelly

II. Idioms

(p. 63) cut off his wind: wind, in this case, refers to breath or the ability to breathe. When someone is hit in the stomach and has his wind cut off, that person my have trouble breathing for a time.

(p. 59) flat bust: completely broke; without any money

(p. 53) goo-goos: silly young men; idiots; perhaps those who are a little lovestruck

(p. 62) make it stick: To make something stick is to be successful. Curley was not successful in his attempt to scare or intimidate Slim.

(p. 60) on the county: on welfare; on public relief

(p. 62) punk: an insignificant person; someone of no importance

(p. 51) set on the trigger: Someone set on the trigger is on the verge of causing (just about to cause) trouble.

(p. 53) set you back: cost

(p. 52) shot: one drink (an ounce) of liquor

(p. 42) start a party out to lynch: To lynch is to murder someone, usually by hanging, without following a legal procedure. A lynch party is a mob of people who take the law in their own hands and are determined to illegally kill someone. According to George, some men in the town of Weed wanted to capture Lennie and kill him.

(p. 58) throw a litter: give birth. A litter is the young of an animal that were born at the same time.

(p. 46) wing-ding: a terrific person; someone to be admired

(p. 62) yella: yellow; a coward

III. Allusions and Historical References

(p. 40) Auburn: a city in Northern California about thirty-five miles northeast of Sacramento

(p. 41) fence picket: a pointed stake made of wood. Put a number of pickets together and you'll get a picket fence.

(p. 54) Golden Gloves: an amateur boxing organization.

(p. 38) horseshoe game: A game in which players toss horseshoes at two facing stakes driven into the ground

 (p. 52) kewpie doll lamp: Kewpie dolls are a particular type of doll first manufactured at the beginning of the 20th century.

(p. 47) Luger: a type of pistol.

(p. 57) run up the river: During the salmon mating season, thousands of the fish will swim upstream, struggling against the current, spawn (lay their eggs), and then die. During a salmon run, the fish are easy to catch.

(p. 56) San Quentin: a state prison near San Francisco, California.

(p. 49) scoring board: a board with holes and pegs used to keep score in certain card games

(p. 49) set the pegs: to set up the pegs on a scoring board before the beginning of a card game

(p. 52) walkin' bow-legged: To walk bow-legged is to walk with the knees turned out. Whit's reference here is to the way a man might walk who had contracted a venereal disease from Clara's place.

IV.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

V.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. Slim is nice and easy-going and George opens up to him.

2. Whit is a source of information and advice.

3. Carlson is not so easy-going.

VI. Writing: Write a short summary of this part of the chapter.

Chapter Three (Part 2, p.p 51-65)

1. Vocabulary

1. Find out what the following words and word combinations mean in the book:

A bunch of guys, a parlor house, a kewpie doll lamp, the barrel of the gun, the trigger of the hoosegow, an ace, to feed alfalfa to the rabbits, leggo his hand

1. Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to scoop in
2. sarcastically
3. to bang
4. to look raptly
5. to lean forward
6. with delight
7. to whirl on smb.
8. to crouch
9. to smile wryly

II. Questions: Write 15 questions to ask your classmates in class.

III. Speaking: Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. There is a chance dreams could become reality.
2. Curly and Lennie’s fight shatters the dream.
3. The atmosphere is grim.

       VI. Summing up the chapter.

1. Why did George and Lennie have to get out of Weed?                                                                    

2. Why do you think Carlson wants to kill Candy’s dog?

3. Do you think that George and Lennie’s dream could come true (based only on the section in chapter 3 where they discuss it with Candy)?

4. Whose fault is it that Lennie ends up crushing Curley’s hand?

VII. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following question.  Use quotes to support your answer.

There are some similarities between Candy and his dog and George and Lennie.  In a paragraph explain the similarities.

Chapter Four (Part 1, p.p 66-74)

Lennie, George, and Candy spend some time with Crooks as they discuss their plans for the future.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to lean off
2. plank
3. meager
4. to grow fawning
5. to adjust (adjusted)
6. to be persuasive
7. to be scornful
8. to conceal

II. Idioms

(p. 78)  balony: nonsense

(p. 72)  booby hatch: insane asylum; a place designed to house people who are mentally unstable

(p. 79)  corn: whiskey made from corn

(p. 78)  cover 'im up: protect him; make excuses for him; cover up for him

(p. 83)  doped out: figured out

(p. 69)  old lady: in this case, the mother dog

(p. 78)  put me in pitchers: put me in pictures; gotten me a job as an actress in the movies (motion pictures)

(p. 78)  right cross: in boxing, a punch delivered by the boxer's right fist

(p. 71)  screwy: crazy

(p. 78)  sellin' me: trying to make me believe

(p. 68)  set: sit; sit down

(p. 81)  strung up on a tree: hanged

(p. 75)  take you out in a box: in this case, the box is a coffin. Crooks is telling Candy that the old man will remain where he is until he dies.

(p. 71)  took a powder: left

(p. 78)  went with shows: been an entertainer on the stage.

III. Allusions and Historical References

(p. 79)  roll your hoop: a popular amusement of children in the past was running while rolling a large metal hoop with a stick. Telling Curley's wife to "roll your hoop," is Candy's way of calling her young and immature.

IV.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

V.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. Crooks is one of the characters in the book.

2. Lennie visits Crooks.

3. Only Crooks has a room of his own.

VI. Writing: Write a short summary of this part of the chapter.

Chapter Four (Part 2, p.p 75-82)

Lennie, George, and Candy spend some time with Crooks as they discuss their plans for the future.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. brutally
2. to flare up
3. indignation
4. to mess around
5. in scorn
6. to avert
7. to appraise
8. to scowl

II.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

III.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. Curley's wife breaks up the party.
2. Curley's wife thinks she knows all about men – all of them.
3. When the men return from town it's back to reality.

IV. Revision Summary: Answer the questions below:

1. Do you think Crooks likes having Lannie in his room?

1. Do you think Curley's wife is racist? Back up your argument with at least three points, and explain each one fully.

1. As they are leaving Crooks' room, Crooks tells Candy that he doesn't want to be any part of their dream after all. Why do you think Crooks says this?

V. Writing: Write a paragraph answer to the following question.  Use quotes to support your answer.

How is the theme of loneliness developed in this chapter?  Think about the characters Lennie, Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife.

Chapter Five (p.p. 83 – 97)

Two murders are committed; one of a puppy, the other of Curley's wife. Curley and the farm hands begin their search for the killer.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to scoff at smth.
2. to shift smth.
3. to quit
4. on account of
5. to shuffle somewhere
6. to scowl at someone
7. deliberate / deliberately
8. to do smth. abruptly
9. to get nosey
10. to say smth. ominously

II. Idiom

(p.94)   we'd never do her: "her," in this case, refers to their plan to own a farm. George is saying that he thinks they all knew they would never really accomplish their dream of living on their own place.

III. Allusions and Historical References

(p.89)   an' spoke in the radio: Large Hollywood movie premiers were major events during the 1930s and were often broadcast on the radio. Actors entering the theater would be interviewed and would speak to an audience of radio listeners throughout the country.

(p.84)   Jackson fork: a large mechanical hay fork, used for lifting large amounts of hay.

(p.89)   previews: previews or openings (premiers) of motion pictures.

IV.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

V.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. The incedent in the barn.
2. Curley's wife comes across Lennie. Her past and her dreams.
3. Lennie kills Curley's wife.
4. Now everybody's dreams are over (George's, Lennie's, Candy's, Curle's wife's).
5. All Curley wants is revenge – for his wife AND his hand.
6. Slim touches Curle's wife.
7. George plans to kill Lennie.

VI. Writing: Write a paragraph answer to the following question.  Use quotes to support your answer.

Explain why Steinbeck gives us the idea «You have to die for dreams to come true». Whom would you refer these words to?

IV. Summing up the chapter.

1. Do you think Curley’s wife is flirting with Lennie in this section? Why?                                                                  

2. Why do you think Lennie kills Curley’s wife?

3. Which of these best sums up Curley’s reaction to the death of his wife? a) broken hearted, b) emotionally distraught, c) pretty happy, d) hungry for revenge

Chapter Six (p.p. 98 – 105)

George finds Lennie and proceeds to determine his fate.

I. Vocabulary: Be able to define the following words and idioms understand them when they appear in the novel. Learn the words by heart.

1. to strain
2. to moan with grief
3. to retort
4. frantically  
5. emphasis
6. to quiver
7. to twitch

II. Allusions and Historical References

bull's-eye glasses: glasses with thick, convex lenses (a convex lens is one that curves outward)

III.  QUESTIONS: Write 15 questions to ask you parner in class. 

IV.  Speaking : Look through the chapter again and expand on the following ideas that prove the following:

1. Lennie dies in a place of death and destiny.

2. Lennie feels guilty – he remembers being told off in the past.

3. Thw giant rabbit threatens that Lennie will never change.

4. George saves Lennie by killing him.

5. The characters react differently to the death (George, Slim, Curley, Carlson)

V. Writing: Write a paragraph answer to the following question.  Use quotes to support your answer.

Write whether or not George was justified in what he did to Lennie.

VI. Summing up the chapter.

1. What do you think Lennie’s hallucinations are meant to show the reader?                                                                

2. Choose the word that you think describes Lennie’s death most accurately, and explain why in detail: a) execution,  b) murder,  c) destiny