Emof mice and men(1937) Chapter 2, George and Lennie arrive at their cabin on the new ranch. You meet the other characters, including Curley, who seems to become the main antagonist. Chapter 2aof mice and menHe does the legwork necessary to establish the players and the arena, and jokes about how quickly things can go wrong.
| Summary - Of Mice and Men Chapter 2 | |
| Brief summary of Chapter 2 | |
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| Characters from Chapter 2 | George Milton, Lennie Small, Candy, Slim, Curley, Curley's Wife, Thief (mentioned) |
| Setup in Chapter 2 | A ranch in rural California |
| style no chapter 2 | Third-person narrator |
| Literary resources and themes in Chapter 2 | The omen, survival of the fittest, abuse of power, bonds between men |
Of Mice and Men Chapter 2 Summary
The chapter starts withJörgjfiefArrive at your new accommodation at the new ranch. An old swamp calledSweet presents them. Candy has an old dog who is described as smelly and half blind. George, skeptical of the lice in his bedding, has a brief mental battle with Candy as they both weave stories about their past.
A swamper is an assistant to a horse or mule driver.
Candy tells them the boss won't be happy about being late, and he is.there bossHe wants an explanation from George and Lennie when he arrives. George explains that the bus left them "ten miles away". Meanwhile, George speaks for Lennie, although at one point Lennie makes an idle comment that inspires the boss to get more out of him. George immediately takes the reins and has to make amends.a storyto explain why he won't let Lennie talk. George says he's his cousin and that Lennie was kicked in the head by a mule when he was a kid.
After the boss leaves, George scolds Lennie for talking, saying it nearly cost her her job.
CurleyHe comes to see the new hands. Curley is the Chief's son and takes an immediate dislike to Lennie due to her size. Curley is short while Lennie is huge. Apparently, Curley is something of a fighter and has been known to spar with humans. When Curley leaves, George tells Lennie to avoid Curley at all costs and never speak to him. George thinks Curley is an idiot, although he puts it in much more colorful language.
of mice and menit was written in 1937 and is full of harsh language.
George goes through Lennie's list of reminders again, including another reminder to hide in the bushes at camp in case of trouble.
Speaking of problems,Curleys FrauShe comes looking for her husband. You and Curley just got married. Plus, she's flirtatious, which makes her dangerous for someone like Lennie, who isn't known for her cunning. Curley's wife flirts with George briefly before leaving. Lennie describes her as "pure", but George quickly tells him not to look at her or speak to her, as it just gives Curley one more thing he feels he needs to prove. Lennie wants to leave and calls this place "bad", but George says he can't. You need to get a little more money to go somewhere else. Maybe they could pan for gold.
Fig. 1: Panning for gold in the 1930s, more than 80 years after the California Gold Rush, is a desperate gamble.
Eventually, George and Lennie meet.Delgado, the "prince of the farm". He does a great job and people respect everything he says. He has a calm, collected grace to him. Slim is kind and nice to George and Lennie. Apparently, Slim's dog just had puppies, although Slim drowned four of them at once because there were too many for his dog to nurse. Lennie asks George to buy him a dog before Slim kills another one.
Slim describes himself as a "Jerkline Skinner". In this context, a Skinner is not someone who skins animals (although, given the fate of the animals in this novel, that's not a bad assumption). In reality, however, a furrier drives a team of draft animals. As for "Jerkline", it means that Slim uses ropes instead of reins to guide his mules.
Review of Chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men
It is worth starting any analysis with a simple question: "How is the dream going?"
In this chapter, Lennie and George's dream of quitting their jobs and living on a farm is progressing.as planned.They arrived at the new ranch and have new jobs. Now they just have to hold out long enough to earn the money to buy the land. Easier said than done, of course, and George is quick to criticize Lennie for talking. Lennie is already causing trouble.
What else is going on? There is a great flow of charactersof mice and menChapter 2, and readers will see a few more themes unfold. At the same time, the story picks up pace as the audience begins to see how horribly wrong things can go between Lennie, Curley and Curley's wife. This construction, including the initial encounter between Curley and the protagonists, also serves as the chapter's main conflict.
Characters in Of Mice and Men Chapter 2
Steinbeck wastes no time incorporating the other characters into the story. One by one, like clockwork, George and Lennie (and therefore the readers) are introduced to Candy, the boss, Curley, Curley's wife, and Slim. Crooks, the black groom, is mentioned but not seen. Crooks is separated from white workers. Supporting character Carlson (described as having a "big stomach") appears with Slim.
Those are all the protagonists of the story, and now the plot is ready to take off.
Interestingly, this is the first and last chapter in which the boss appears. Consider how the person with the most control has the least direct impact on the plot, but how his passive choice to let Curley roam also allows the story.
Animals in Of Mice and Men Chapter 2
You've met all the new characters; However, many new animals were also introduced. These include Candy's old dog, Slim's dog, Slim's puppy Lulu, and the many mules that fight and herd the farmers.
To hold:
How are animals and humans related?
Research what humans do with animals and under what circumstances.
(Video) Of Mice and Men- Chapter 2 Summary/Analysis
How much control do animals have?
You will find that they have very little.
How much control do people have?
Some have a lot, others very little.
What is the determining factor of your destiny?
Is it fate or choice?
Also, as you read, think of rats and humans metaphorically. Besides the actual rats (and other animals), are there any other "rats" in the story?
Consider whether animals and humans are doomed to die. That becomes the big question at the end of the story, when George kills Lennie.
There is also a theme of mercy killing animals. Slim drowns several pups out of mercy for her as there is not enough food to go around. Carlson suggests shooting Candy's old dog as a mercy killing (and it happens in the next chapter). And at the end of the story, George kills Lennie out of his mercy.
Of Mice and Men Chapter 2 Dating
Here are two quotes fromof mice and men Episode 2.
After a moment, the older dog limped through the open door. He looked around with soft, half-blind eyes. He sniffed, then lay back and put his head between his paws. Curley reappeared in the doorway and looked around the room. The dog raised its head, but when Curley shook it, the gray head sank to the ground."
These are the last lines of the chapter (in a six-chapter book), so it's fair to say that Steinbeck thought of it. The care with which the dog is described is interesting. He doesn't look much different than a tired old man seeing blurry activity around him. The dog radiates calm.
In this quote, the dog looks almost human. As you read, keep in mind that the human characters seem almost animal.
His ear heard more than was said, and his slow speech had no trace of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, tall and slender, moved as delicately as a temple dancer's."
The narrator paints Slim in almost supernatural terms. It should be noted that he understands. He understands people, the world and the many layers of both. Since Slim is so reliable and insightful, pay attention to what he says and does and let him help you understand the layers of the story.
Of Mice and Men Chapter 2 - Key Points
- In this episode, George and Lennie arrive at the new ranch and meet most of the remaining cast.
- Tension develops between Lennie and Curley. Curley doesn't like Lennie because he's too tall.
- Curley's wife flirts with the ranch hands and appears to be a key figure in the troubles to come.
- More animals are introduced, including a handful of baby animals. Lennie wants one.
- Many characters, including George and Lennie, seem not to be in control of their destinies. Neither wants to stay on the ranch, knowing it could be a problem, but they need the job.
FAQs
What is the summary of chapter 2 in Of Mice and Men? ›
In this chapter we learn that Curley is a mean little guy who was a boxer and who is recently married. He doesn't like Lennie right away, supposedly because Lennie is bigger than Curley. Curley's wife is pretty and she is also a flirt.
What is the major conflict in chapter 2 of mice and men? ›Finally, in this chapter, Steinbeck has clearly delineated the lines of conflict — the menace coming from the evil and bullying of Curley and the seductive temptation of his wife. These two are catalysts of fear each time they appear.
How does George explain his relationship with Lennie in chapter 2? ›George replies that Lennie is his cousin and was kicked in the head by a horse when he was young, so George has to look out for him. The boss remains suspicious and warns George not to try to pull anything over on him. Nonetheless, they are assigned to one of the grain teams, working under a man named Slim.
What do we learn about Curley's wife in chapter 2? ›Then Slim enters and tells her he saw Curley go into the house; Curley's wife becomes apprehensive and leaves. When George says that Curley's wife seems like a "tramp," Lennie responds that he thinks she is "purty," causing George to warn Lennie to keep away from her, just like he's supposed to keep away from Curley.
How is candy described in chapter 2? ›Candy is "a tall, stoop-shouldered old man … . He was dressed in blue jeans and carried a big push-broom in his left hand." His right hand is simply a stump because he lost his hand in a ranch accident. Now the owners of the ranch keep him on as long as he can "swamp" out or clean the bunkhouse.
What is the dream in chapter 2 of mice and men? ›George and Lennie have a dream: to scrounge enough money together to someday buy their own little house and a plot of land to farm.
How is slim described in chapter 2? ›He was a jerk-line skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders." Slim is tall, ageless, and an expert in his job. His voice is the voice of rationalism.
What is Lennie excited about at the end of chapter 2? ›At the end of chapter 2, Lennie is as excited as a little child about Slim's puppies. Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have a brown and white puppy.
What do we learn about crooks in chapter 2? ›For instance, in chapter two we learn that Crooks is the only ranch hand who is African American and he is victimized because of it. In other words, Crooks is a sharp-witted, lean face with black wrinkles, born in California, very nice, likes to read, and gets his name from his crooked back.
What dangers do George and Lennie face in Chapter 2? ›The potential dangers are the boss, because he is already suspicious of George talking for Lennie. Another danger is when Curley's wife walks in, Lennie is already falling for her, and that is a danger because she knows that what she is doing is wrong and she can cause trouble later in the book.
How is the theme of strength and weakness presented in Chapter 2? ›
Strength and weakness are introduced by Curley's actions when he sees Lennie. He got tense and in a defensive stance, ready to attack. It is later explain that Curley is insecure about his height and when he sees tall men, he takes a fighting stance and gets aggressive.
Who are the characters in Chapter 2 of mice and men? ›Chapter Two Summary
Curley, Slim, Curley's wife, Carlson, and the boss all come in at a different time and introduce themselves. George tells Lennie to not speak when their boss comes in so that he doesn't think that Lennie can't work.
In Of Mice and Men chapter two, the character reported to be kind was the ranch boss. Although he does not show kindness when he appears, the old swamper reports that he is a good man. He uses the example of the boss delivering a gallon of whiskey to the bunkhouse on Christmas to give the men something special.
How does Steinbeck present Curley's wife in section 2? ›The audience are first introduced to Curley's wife through the use of colour imagery, describing her profile. Curley's wife is described as having "full rouged lips", and "red fingernails", with the colour red embodying her character.
What is an example of foreshadowing in Chapter 2 of mice and men? ›In Chapter Two, we see foreshadowing in terms of Curley's wife; we see the foreshadowing of Candy's dog being shot, and we also see the foreshadowing of an altercation between Lennie and Curley.
What is Lennie excited about in chapter 2? ›At the end of chapter 2, Lennie is as excited as a little child about Slim's puppies. Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have a brown and white puppy.
What is the summary of chapter 3 in Of Mice and Men? ›Slim is angry at Curley for constantly asking about his wife. Curley, on the defensive and looking for someone to fight, picks a fight with Lennie and punches him unmercifully. Lennie doesn't protect himself until George tells him to fight back. When Lennie does, he crushes all the bones in Curley's hand.
Who is introduced in chapter 2 of mice and men? ›Chapter Two Summary
Curley, Slim, Curley's wife, Carlson, and the boss all come in at a different time and introduce themselves. George tells Lennie to not speak when their boss comes in so that he doesn't think that Lennie can't work.
In Of Mice and Men chapter two, the character reported to be kind was the ranch boss. Although he does not show kindness when he appears, the old swamper reports that he is a good man. He uses the example of the boss delivering a gallon of whiskey to the bunkhouse on Christmas to give the men something special.
How is crooks described in chapter 2? ›For instance, in chapter two we learn that Crooks is the only ranch hand who is African American and he is victimized because of it. In other words, Crooks is a sharp-witted, lean face with black wrinkles, born in California, very nice, likes to read, and gets his name from his crooked back.
What dangers do George and Lennie face in chapter 2? ›
The potential dangers are the boss, because he is already suspicious of George talking for Lennie. Another danger is when Curley's wife walks in, Lennie is already falling for her, and that is a danger because she knows that what she is doing is wrong and she can cause trouble later in the book.
What is the summary of chapter 4 of mice and men? ›During their conversation, Lennie reveals the secret about the farm, which Crooks initially thinks Lennie is making up. Crooks also prods Lennie about his relationship with George and scares Lennie by suggesting that George might not come back. The more Crooks presses Lennie, the more Lennie becomes scared and upset.
What happens in chapter 4 of mice and men summary? ›In Chapter Four, it's Saturday night and most of the men have gone into the nearby town to go to a brothel , leaving behind Lennie, Candy and Crooks (a disabled man who works in the stables and is the only black man on the ranch), as well as Curley's wife. Lennie goes to Crooks' room in the stable.
How does chapter 4 of mice and men end? ›George Returns
As the white men leave Crooks's bunk, Crooks calls out to Candy and tells him to forget about him coming to work on the farm. Of Mice and Men':' Chapter 4 ends up with Crooks alone in his room, rubbing liniment on his back.