Final Exam

Final Exam Between the lines

(Symbol)


11) In your own words explain how George and Lenny symbolized the ideal male friendship in “Of mice and men”.

In “Of mice and Men” Lenny and George were best friends. Although the story never says it you can tell by reading between the lines. George and Lenny looked out for each other; they knew each other dreams, and their fears. The two represents the ideal male friendship because they are everything that a friend should want in each other. Lenny was very loyal to George and George in return made sure Lenny was ok. This made them the symbol of ideal male friendships.

12) In your own words describe the “American Dream” that George and Lenny want to live. Do you think they can make it come true? Why or why not?

George dream was to own a few acres and a farm. Lenny dream was to tend the rabbits on George farm. The farm to both of them would offer them protection from inhospitable world. I do not think George and Lenny would reach their American Dream. In the story it seemed that the two would take one step forward and later have to take two steps back. George could see his dream in arms reach after Candy offered to give them most of the money for the acres but after Lenny killed Curley this sat him back. I don’t think neither of them will reach the “American Dream”.


(Conflicts)

13) What event in the story leads up to the murder of Lenny?

The event that leads to Lenny’s death was after he killed Curley’s Wife in the barn. While Lenny was trying to hide the little puppy he killed Curley’s Wife walked in. She began to talk to Lenny and asked him did he want to touch her soft hair. Grabbing her hair to tight she began to fight him off of her. Lenny broke her neck. He ran from the barn leaving Curley’s Wife dead body. Candy found her and warned the crew. Curley went searching for Lenny promising he’d kill him. George also went to search for Lenny. When George found Lenny he killed him so Curley couldn’t have the pleasure of hurting his friend.

14) After Lenny murdered Curley’s Wife he ran away to the bush where George told him to hide if he ever got in trouble. George found him and killed Lenny so Curley couldn’t have the pleasure. Do you think George did the right thing killing his friend? If no write another solution George could have used.

I think George did the right thing with killing Lenny. He couldn’t let Lenny keep bringing him down. Every time Lenny did something George would have to pick up and leave. When Lennie sexually harassed a lady in Weed him and George ran away to Curley’s ranch. Now at Curley’s ranch Lenny killed Curley’s wife. George couldn’t let Lenny roam alone because he needs guidance. The reasonable thing to do to Lenny was killing him and takes him out of his misery.

Final Exam Beyond The Line

(Theme & Motif)

15) In Essay form write what you think is the story theme.

Most of the characters in “of mice and men” admit to dreaming of a different life. Curley’s Wife dreamed of being a movie star. Crooks dream is to hoe a patch of garden on Lennie’s farm. George dream is to own a few aces, and Lenny dream is to have a farm full of rabbits and to tend them. All the characters in the story had a dream of doing something amazing but all of them were doing something worst like just being a housewife or living a life of slavery. Nobody was living out his or her dreams. This is why the theme of “of mice and men” is the dream of living the “American Dream” is impossible. No one in the book accomplice their dreams. Circumstances robbed most of the characters dreams. Their “American Dream” was not reach able. Some of the characters weren’t even allowed to dream.
In the story Curley’s Wife admits to Lenny about her dreams of becoming a movie star. She said one of the actors of the show promised her she could join him and the rest of the actors the show. But, her mom told her she couldn’t join because she was only fifteen. She told Lenny “ If I’d went, I wouldn’t be living like this, you bet.” Due to that incident she ended up with Curley. She could never be a movie star now because he was also preventing her from going anywhere. He banned her from talking to people. Instead of being a famous movie star like she dreamed she was now Curley’s miserable housewife. Due to the circumstances Curley’s Wife will never be the movie star she dreamed of being.
George dream was to own a few acres of land. Lenny dream was to have a farm full of rabbits that he could tend. They both had big dreams but none of them could grab hold of them. Their “American Dream” was not reachable because they neither had the finance to get these things. Working the life of a “ranch-hand” paid very few. George and Lenny only had $40 saved between the two. The cost of the few acres of land was $600. It would be almost impossible for them to get the piece of land. Dreams were not reachable making the dream of living the “American Dream” impossible.
Although the dream was small it was one that’ll never happen. Crooks as bitter and mean as he was in “Of mice and men” dream was hoeing a patch of garden on Lenny’s farm. This would never happen. In that time slavery was still apart of our lives. A slave being allowed that much freedom was unheard of. Such paradise of freedom could not be allowed. Crook wasn’t allowed to even have such dreams. This is another reason why the “American Dream” was impossible.
Most of the characters in “of mice and men” admit to dreaming of a different life. But none of them could make their dreams come true. Circumstances robbed most of the characters dreams. Their “American Dream” was not reach able. Some of the characters weren’t even allowed to dream. Due to certain circumstances Curley’s Wife could never be a movie star. George and Lenny didn’t have the finance to make their dreams come true and Crooks wasn’t allowed to dream of such paradise. Crook was right when he said such paradise of freedom, contentment, and safeties are not to be found in this world. The dream of the “American Dream” is impossible.