1. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men
Chapter 5Chapter 5
Francis GilbertFrancis Gilbert
www.francisgilbert.co.ukwww.francisgilbert.co.uk

2. What happens?What happens?
The men are throwing horseshoesThe men are throwing horseshoes
Curley’s wife enters the barn just after Lennie hasCurley’s wife enters the barn just after Lennie has
killed a puppy. He strokes Curley’s wife’s hairkilled a puppy. He strokes Curley’s wife’s hair
and breaks her neck.and breaks her neck.
Runs off to the brush.Runs off to the brush.
Curley organises a lynch-mob to kill Lennie.Curley organises a lynch-mob to kill Lennie.
George joins the hunt.George joins the hunt.

3. Your reactions to the chapterYour reactions to the chapter
• How do you feel when you realise Lennie hasHow do you feel when you realise Lennie has
killed the pup?killed the pup?
• What do you think and feel when Lennie isWhat do you think and feel when Lennie is
stroking Curley’s wife’s hair?stroking Curley’s wife’s hair?
• What you think and feel when Lennie killsWhat you think and feel when Lennie kills
Curley’s wife?Curley’s wife?
• What do you think of Curley’s reaction?What do you think of Curley’s reaction?

4. Authorial techniques: sympathyAuthorial techniques: sympathy
and antipathyand antipathy
• Steinbeck possibly generates sympathy towardsSteinbeck possibly generates sympathy towards
Curley’s wife in this chapter. How and why?Curley’s wife in this chapter. How and why?
• He also makes us have mixed feelings towardsHe also makes us have mixed feelings towards
Lennie. How and why?Lennie. How and why?

5. Authorial technique: descriptionAuthorial technique: description
• The description of the death of Curley’s wife isThe description of the death of Curley’s wife is
very dramatic (pg 127-129). How and why doesvery dramatic (pg 127-129). How and why does
Steinbeck focus so much upon it?Steinbeck focus so much upon it?

6. Authorial technique: black comedyAuthorial technique: black comedy
• There is some comedy when Lennie plays withThere is some comedy when Lennie plays with
Curley’s wife’s hair. How and why doesCurley’s wife’s hair. How and why does
Steinbeck do this?Steinbeck do this?

7. Authorial techniques: DialogueAuthorial techniques: Dialogue
• Once again, much of this chapter is dialogue.Once again, much of this chapter is dialogue.
• Curley’s wife talks about her life in a sustainedCurley’s wife talks about her life in a sustained
way for the first time. How and why?way for the first time. How and why?

8. Building tension and suspenseBuilding tension and suspense
• FIND QUOTES FOR THESE POINTSFIND QUOTES FOR THESE POINTS
The death of the pup.The death of the pup.
The flirtation with Curley’s wife.The flirtation with Curley’s wife.
The death of Curley’s wife.The death of Curley’s wife.
George, Candy, Curley’s and Slim’s reactions.George, Candy, Curley’s and Slim’s reactions.

9. Authorial techniques: very distinctiveAuthorial techniques: very distinctive
characterisations.characterisations.
• Curley’s wife gains some depth as a character inCurley’s wife gains some depth as a character in
this chapter. How and why?this chapter. How and why?

10. ThemesThemes
LonelinessLoneliness
The death of the American DreamThe death of the American Dream
DeathDeath
The rule of lawThe rule of law
The rule of the mobThe rule of the mob