Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men – – Section TwoSection Two

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

What is foreshadowing?

A subtle hint about something that will happen later in the book.

Often a signal that warns of danger for one of the characters.

A way of creating anticipation and tension for the reader.

A way of making the reader want to find out what happens next.

Look at the end of Section One. Can you find an example of foreshadowing here? What do you think might happen later on in the book that is being hinted at here?

Setting the sceneSetting the scene

Re-read the first paragraph of this section.

Look at how Steinbeck sets the scene by describing the bunk-house before the characters enter.

Why do you think he does this?

Notice how all the action in the second section takes place in the bunk house.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

Steinbeck drops hints about what might happen later on in the book. Read the quotations below and decide what events they might foreshadow. Don’t forget to check later to see if you guessed right!

Foreshadowing

'You keep away from Curley, Lennie.'

(George)

'Hide till I come for you. Don’t let nobody see you.'

(George)

'Gosh, she was purty.'

(Lennie)

'Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog ...'

(Carlson)

The dog is now old and worn out. He is no longer

useful, - look what happens to him later in

the story.

He is an ‘outsider’, because he is old and worn out. When you have finished the story, think about the links between the ‘outsiders’.

Closing the sceneClosing the scene

Look at the last paragraph of the scene. Referring back to events in this section, what do you think the significance of Candy’s old dog might be? Write your ideas below.

Candy has had him since he was a pup - they are loyal friends, just like George and Lennie.

Slim’s puppies are newly born - it is

significant that we hear about them in the

same section that we meet the dog.

QuestionsQuestions

Why do you think George lies to the Boss about his relationship with Lennie?

Is Curley’s wife really looking for her husband? If not, what is she doing in the bunk-house?

Why does George tell Lennie to stay away fromCurley’s wife?

What sort of man does Slim seem to be? Look carefully at the conversation between Slim and George.