1. Writing a New Ending. An obvious question that most readers of Of Mice and Men ask is why George thought the only solution to his problem was t kill Lennie. Was this really the only alternative open to him? Consider other possible courses of action he may haven taken. Then, select one you believe to be the most feasible and most consistent with the story Steinbeck tells. Write a new ending to the novel, beginning at the point, in Chapter Six, where George begins to tell Lennie, "We gonna get a little place." You could also simply write a synopsis of the alternative ending that seems right to you.
2. Filling in a Missing Scene. At the end of Chapter Five, Curley says, "You George! You stick with us so we don't think you had nothin' to do with this." Steinbeck omits any description of the scene between this point and the beginning of Chapter Six. Write your own version of this "missing" scene. Use dialogue that is consistent with the characters as Steinbeck has developed them.
3. Extending the Story. Steinbeck gives the reader no clues as to what will become of the surviving characters. Choose either George, Slim, Candy, or Crooks and write a synopsis of what you think his life will be like during the year that follows the events of the novel. Keep the characterization consistent with that established in the novel.
4. Using Another Point Of View. One technique of characterization that Steinbeck does not use is penetration of any of his characters' thoughts. We do not get a direct glimpse into the minds of any of the characters; rather their attitudes, feelings, and thoughts are revealed through indirect means, such as their words and actions, and what the other characters have to say about them. Candy, for example, expresses to George his opinion of Curley's problem: that Curley's belligerence and his need to prove himself arise from a sense of inferiority over his being small. At the end of Chapter Three, after Lennie has crushed Curley's hand, Slim coerces Curley into lying about the cause of his injury: he tells Curley to say that his hand got caught in a machine. What do you think Curley thought about this, and why did he go along with the lie? Write a passage from the omniscient point of view in which you reveal Curley's innermost thoughts about the hand-crushing incident. What does he think about what Lennie has done to him? Does he have any thoughts of revenge? Was Candy correct in his assessment of Curley's problem?
5. Analyzing Characters. In essence, Steinbeck portrays Curley as the 'bad guy" and Slim as the "good guy." Support these portrayals with references to the novel, comparing and contrasting Curley and Slim. How does each character remind you of the black-and-white characterizations of heroes and villains from Western books and films? Analyze whether Steinbeck's portrayal of each man is realistic. Is any person either all good or all bad? Are Curley and Slim merely one-dimensional characters who serve as symbols, or do they come alive as individuals.
6. Responding to a Critic. In 1937, soon after the publication of the novel, one critic wrote that, "One false word, and Of Mice and Men would have been a melodrama, and bad melodrama at that. But the writer never, after the first few pages, writes that one false word." Melodrama is characterized by an emphasis on plot and action, an exaggeration of emotional content, and an oversimplification of characterizations. Are there any particular passages in the novel that could have become melodramatic? Do you think that any parts of the novel are melodramatic? Support your opinion with reasons.
7. Analyzing Aspects of Theme. In 1962, the Nobel Prize committee honored Steinbeck by awarding him with its prize for literature, commending his efforts to expose the truths about America, no matter how painful those truths might be. Write a list of the "truths" Steinbeck exposes in Of Mice and Men, and identify whether those truths show America in a favorable or unfavorable light. Or do you think that these truths make more of a comment about the human condition in general rather than about problems in America specifically? Write a brief essay in which you explain your answer, and describe how Steinbeck's exposure of "truths" informs the main theme of the novel.
8. The Novel as Parable. Some critics classify Of Mice and Men as a parable; that is, a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral truth or religious principle. Defend or refute the notion that the novel is a parable, using specific references to the novel itself.
9. Analyzing the Style of the Novel. The reviewer H. S. Canby wrote that "the excellence of Mr. Steinbeck's book [Of Mice and Men] is precisely that it does not make you think of style or of 'soaring beauty.'" What do you think Canby is suggesting about the style of the novel with this statement? Do you agree or disagree with his assessment of the style? Support your conclusion with examples from the novel.
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