Discuss the relationship between George and Lennie.

George most important person for Lennie
Lennie's first thought: what does George say?
childlike faith that george will be there for him

George always has to protect him
united by common dream
George's hope dies with Lennie


Discuss the ways in which characters communicate with one another in the story.

Rarely communicate in a straightforward fashion:  curley's wife hides from her husband; George does not tell lennie he loves him, but instead spins improbable stories about rabbit farms to keep his friend happy


Discuss the role of foreshadowing in the work.

Almost every scene points toward the inevitable tragic ending
Lennie likes to stroke mice and other soft creatures, this foreshadows the death of his puppy and the death of Curley’s wife.
Candy regrets letting Carlson shoot his dog  →   same decision geroge has to make



Themes:
The American Dream, Friendship, Loneliness, Innocence, Discrimination, Social Protest


Messages:
people need others to talk to
sometimes you have to make difficult and painful decisions
A man's ability to dream is directly attached to having someone to share the dream with

Foreshadowing devices:
Lennie breaks the mouse's neck (ch.1)
place to go when in trouble
shooting of Candy's dog
incident in Weed


Symbols:
deaf    →  spirit of Curley's wife, hopes and dreams of George and Lennie
snake  →  evil animal, but reader feels sorry when the heron eats it (ch.1)
                 Reader feels sorry with Lennie, who killed a wife
                 →  ironic