2.3.2

Section 3 - Overview

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Section 3 Overview

In this section we learn more about George and Lennie's friendship and how they both benefit from it. Lennie's fight with Curley hints at how Lennie does not understand his strength.

George and Lennie's friendship

George and Lennie's friendship

  • George's conversation with Slim shows how friendship with Lennie has taught George to be more responsible and how it has stopped him from becoming bitter and unkind, like most of the other men he encounters.
Carlson's loneliness

Carlson's loneliness

  • Carlson can’t understand how Candy could be so emotionally attached to his dog.
  • This suggests that he has got so used to being alone that he no longer feels emotionally attached to people or animals.
Survival on the ranch

Survival on the ranch

  • This incident of the ‘strong’ (Carlson) killing the ‘weak’ (Candy’s dog) shows how the ranch is the kind of place where only the strongest survive.
  • This foreshadows future events.
Candy's desire to belong

Candy's desire to belong

  • Having lost his only companion, his dog, Candy sees an opportunity with George and Lennie to find a new sense of belonging.
  • His desperation to avoid being alone is so strong that he is prepared to contribute everything he has in order to join George and Lennie.
Lennie's violence

Lennie's violence

  • The fight shows just how much Lennie depends on George: he simply does not know what to do until George instructs him.
  • It also shows that Lennie is not a naturally aggressive or violent person but, if required, he has immense physical strength.
  • However, Slim's support for Lennie is a hopeful moment.
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1

Context & Overview

1.1

Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression1.1.2Racism1.1.3The American Dream1.1.4Of Mice & Men
1.2

John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview
2

Plot

2.1

Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot2.1.2Section 1 - Overview
2.2

Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot2.2.2Section 2 - Overview
2.3

Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot2.3.2Section 3 - Overview2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3
2.4

Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot2.4.2Section 4 - Overview
2.5

Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot2.5.2Section 5 - Overview
2.6

Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot2.6.2Section 6 - Overview2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6
3

Key Characters

3.1

Main Characters

3.1.1George3.1.2Lennie - Strength3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence3.1.4Slim3.1.5Curley3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken3.1.8Crooks3.1.9Candy3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife
3.2

Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others
4

Themes

4.1

Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality4.1.2Racial Prejudice4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship4.1.4The Weak & Strong4.1.5Women4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes
5

Authorial Method

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue5.1.2Imagery5.1.3Light5.1.4Sound5.1.5Symbolism5.1.6Structure5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Quotes per Section

6.1.1Section 1 - Quotations6.1.2Section 2 - Quotations6.1.3Section 3 - Quotations6.1.4Section 4 - Quotations6.1.5Section 5 - Quotations6.1.6Section 6 - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Imagery - Quotations6.2.2Light - Quotations6.2.3Sound - Quotations6.2.4Symbolism - Quotations

Practice questions on Section 3 - Overview

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  1. 1
    Who can't understand how Candy could be so emotionally attached to his dog?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which of these are true of Lennie's physical strength? True / false
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Section 3 - Plot

End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3