Chapter 1 Notes

Chapter Note - Taking Criteria      

Summarize: The first chapter "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck is described in a beautiful nature scene in which he then introduces two main character's in the story named, Lennie and George (companions).  George is smart and quick with a dark face but Lennie is tremendous in size but has the mind of a young child (forgets, loves to stroke mice, likes food with ketchup, follows George's step).  In anotherwards, George makes Lennie repeat simply instructions since Lennie forgets things to quickly.  Lennie loves mice but makes them die by petting and pinching them eventually and George is against Lennie having a mice since he is not responsible.  Lennie and George don't have a family and therefore are on their way to a ranch in Salines  Valley for temporary work and doesn't want Lennie to say anything when they are getting the job because from past experience Lennie had fooled around and not payed attention on working.  George and Lennie stop at the brush where they find a nice spot to sleep, talk and discuss issues and Lennie tells George to explain how they future lives are going to be and how exciting it will be.  George feels that Lennie should leave and he is of no help and causes trouble, but Lennie threatens George after George regrets that if George thinks negative he will go away for real.  In an emergency, George wants Lennie to stay in the brush (where they camped) incase something bad happens and they are not close around each other.

Question: Characters involved: George, Lenny
                 When= In the 1930's
                 Where= Near the Salines River in California

Story= 1. How did Lennie and George met up?
            2. How does George know where to get a job in the ranch and how much miles it was from the weed?"
            3. Is Aunt Clara going to be significant?
            4. I wonder if Lennie and George will actually have to hide behind the bush, and if so what will happen?
   

Prediction: In Chapter 1 George doesn't want Lennie to forget simple instruction he gave him about remembering to stay quite when George tries to get them jobs.  He wants Lennie to remember to go immediately to the brush if anything happens and from these two statements I can predict that the Lennie is going to stir up an excitement and cause trouble to people who are working there.  He might work against the boss and splat out his idea about what they should do in the ranch and might cause some serious problem.  However, I can visualize and also predict that since Lenny has the mind of a young child, he would probably hold on to an attractive woman's dress but this time it might be a bigger issue.  It might be a bigger issue in the case that the person who Lenny holds onto emotionally will be related to the boss.  The story has to be suspenseful!