Of Mice and Men

Every one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Of Mice and Men. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.

1. 1

   Early in the book

   In what book does a slow-witted giant pull a dead rodent from his pocket to pet as he walks?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   Lennie hides a dead mouse in his pocket on the way to the ranch, telling George he just wanted to stroke it with his thumb while they walked. George throws it across the pool, foreshadowing Lennie's deadly love of soft things.

2. 2

   First half

   In what book does an old swamper roll to face the wall after a distant shot rings out?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   When the distant shot is heard, every head in the bunk house turns toward Candy. He silently rolls over to face the wall, devastated that he let a stranger end his old dog's life.

3. 3

   First half

   In what book does a giant crush a bully's fist until he flops like a fish on a line?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   When George finally yells for Lennie to fight back, Lennie grips Curley's swinging fist and crushes it. Slim later tells Curley to claim his hand got caught in a machine to keep the new workers from being fired.

4. 4

   Second half

   In what book does a skeptical worker scoff, "Just like heaven. Everybody wants a little piece of lan'"?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   Crooks has seen hundreds of itinerant workers chase the same dream of owning land. He compares it to heaven, something everyone wants and nobody ever gets.

5. 5

   Second half

   In what book does a slow-witted worker hurl a dead puppy across a barn floor in a fit of anger?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   Lennie's anger flares because he thinks he will lose his chance to tend the rabbits. He then sorrowfully retrieves the pup and tries to comfort himself.

6. 6

   Near the end

   In what book does a slow-witted runaway imagine a fat old aunt in bull's-eye glasses scolding him for being bad?

   ✓ Answer

   Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

   Aunt Clara appears out of Lennie's head wearing thick glasses and a starched gingham apron. She speaks in Lennie's own voice and lectures him about all the things George has done for him.