CREATING A CHARACTER PORTRAIT OF LENNY AND GEORGE

YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES OF HOMEWORK TO COMPLETE OVER THE COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND:
OPTION 1:
Directions: Complete the following activities.
PART I. Reading Comprehension.
Answer the following questions. Keep your answers short.
1. What had Lennie done to cause trouble in the town of Weed?
2. When George gets angry with all the trouble Lennie causes, what does Lennie say he will do?
3. What is George and Lennie's dream?
4. What are George's instructions to Lennie when they meet the new boss?
5. What does George tell Lennie to do if he gets in trouble?
PART II. Working With the Text.
Read the following quotes from the novel. Then explain who said each of them, and write about what you
think the possible reasons are that the author created these words for each of these characters.
1. "I could pet it with my thumb..."(5-6). "–jus' wanted to pet it..."(11-12).
EXAMPLE: Lennie is the speaker. The author puts these words in Lennie's mouth to show us that
Lennie really likes to touch soft things, like fur and fabric.
2. "I wanted you to stay with me" (12-13).
3. "Tell me–like you done before" (13-14).



OPTION 2: COMPLETE THE HANDOUT OF CREATING A PORTRAIT OF THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS--LENNY AND GEORGE.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck • Sketching a Portrait--Character Traits
Directions: Steinbeck gives enough clues about George and Lennie that readers begin to associate certain character traits with the two men. Decide which trait in each pair best describes the character in question and circle your choice. Then find two examples from Chapter 1 to support your choice. Give the page numbers where you found your examples.
George
1. practical / impractical
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
2. inattentive / perceptive
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
3. quick-tempered / easygoing
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
4. kind / cruel
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:______________________________________________________________________
Lennie
1. mature / childlike
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
2. emotional / unemotional
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
3. shrewd / simple
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________
4. eager / reluctant
First Example:__________________________________________________________________
Second Example:________________________________________________________________