Reading Fiction: ‘Of Mice and Men’ 5 (Themes)

Friendship is an important theme in the novel. Which two characters represent this theme?

George and Lennie are different to other migrant farmers in that they have each other.

What were the reasons for the loneliness of migrant farmers in 1930s America? Select two answers from the list below.

Steinbeck explores this theme of loneliness through his characters in the novel.

Match each character with the reason for their loneliness. Hover your mouse over the reasons to see them in full.

Dreams is an important theme in the novel. Many of the characters see their dreams as a way of escaping their loneliness. 

Match the character with their dream. Hover your mouse over the dreams to see them in full.

Steinbeck explores the themes of dreams because they are connected to the American Dream.

What is the American Dream?

Steinbeck's novel shows that these dreams do not come true. Like the American Dream they fail.

What was happening at the time of Steinbeck writing this novel that might have contributed to him writing about the failure of the American Dream?

Select as many answers as you think are correct.

The title of the novel comes from a famous poem by Robert Burns called To a Mouse. Steinbeck takes the title from the famous line:

"...the best laid schemes o' Mice and Men, Gang aft agley."

What does this line mean?

Steinbeck also explores the theme of power.

Match the character with the person or thing they have power over. Hover your mouse over the boxes to see their contents in full.

The novel ends where it began: in the brush. Why does Steinbeck choose this setting?

There is much debate about whether Of Mice and Men is an optimistic novel or a pessimistic one.

Decide whether each point below is optimistic or pessimistic. Hover your mouse over the points to see them in full.

Friendship is an important theme in the novel. Which two characters represent this theme?

George and Lennie are different to other migrant farmers in that they have each other.

What were the reasons for the loneliness of migrant farmers in 1930s America? Select two answers from the list below.

Steinbeck explores this theme of loneliness through his characters in the novel.

Match each character with the reason for their loneliness. Hover your mouse over the reasons to see them in full.

Dreams is an important theme in the novel. Many of the characters see their dreams as a way of escaping their loneliness. 

Match the character with their dream. Hover your mouse over the dreams to see them in full.

Steinbeck explores the themes of dreams because they are connected to the American Dream.

What is the American Dream?

Steinbeck's novel shows that these dreams do not come true. Like the American Dream they fail.

What was happening at the time of Steinbeck writing this novel that might have contributed to him writing about the failure of the American Dream?

Select as many answers as you think are correct.

The title of the novel comes from a famous poem by Robert Burns called To a Mouse. Steinbeck takes the title from the famous line:

"...the best laid schemes o' Mice and Men, Gang aft agley."

What does this line mean?

Steinbeck also explores the theme of power.

Match the character with the person or thing they have power over. Hover your mouse over the boxes to see their contents in full.

The novel ends where it began: in the brush. Why does Steinbeck choose this setting?

There is much debate about whether Of Mice and Men is an optimistic novel or a pessimistic one.

Decide whether each point below is optimistic or pessimistic. Hover your mouse over the points to see them in full.