Lennie Flashcards
(11 cards)
why do you got to get killed?
Steinbeck uses the dircet pronoun inconjunction witht the rhetorical question to higlight to us his severe mental capacity as he blames it on the pup.
CW wore a dress with ‘red ostrich feather’
This flashback reminds us to the accident in Weed where Lennie SA a girl in a red dress and Lennie is known for repeating his behaviour so this alludes to what happnes in the future.
George ‘get him’
When Lennie doesnt retaliate to Curley fighting him, George tells him to fight back which highlights to the audience that Lennies initial instict was to ask George and not fight back.
Dont want ta hurt you
He says this whilst commiting a sinful act which he doesnt realise he is harminhg her
Pulled the trigger
This allows Steinbeck to unveil the links between violence and friendship, how G had to do a violent act to prevent further harm which shows his paternilistic love he had for him even though G had constantly imagined and complained of the great life he would of had without him
CW’I never got that letter’
Lennie is the only person which would listen to her. Lennie is a safe person to trust so CW can express how unachievable the AD is. NOt achieving the AD, she must stay with Curley who she ‘dont like’
Crooks talks ‘dreamily’ about his ‘chicken ranch’
His family use to own a ranch. This shows how pervasive the AD dream is. The adverb shows the unattainability of it.
As more people enter Crooks’ room, he conceals ‘his pleasure with anger’
The juxtaposing nouns show how hard he is trying to conceal his true emotions as he has always been isolated and segragated away from the other ranchmen.
snorting water like a horse
The similie of the powerful animal animals demonstarte Lennie’s physical strength, and this animal is submissive to men which demonstarte how Lennie is submissive to george.
‘stroking’ CWs ‘soft’ hair
Lennies perilous nature is shown through this but then breaks her neck unintentionally after she tried to get away. Lennie is perceived as a predator eventhough his intentions are good which is tragic and deeply moves the reader. He is a victim of his own physical strength and emotions. However Lennie can be perceived as CW’s prey as she singles out him and lurs him into a trap to get some intention
‘huge paws’ then ‘silent[] as a creeping bear’
In chapter one he was percieved as a strong imposing bear with huge paws; this greatly contrasts with the final chapter, where he is as silent[] as a creeping bear. Lennie has become a hunted animals and as the tension rises the reader can sense a tragic end approaching. This could further interpeted to represent the effect of the Great Depression had on migrant workers; they once were happy and kind but the harshness of the world turned them slefish anf full of hatred.
