Of Mice and Men study guide Questions and Answers Rated A+

Chapter One 1. Reread the first paragraph of the novel. How does the passage function? What purpose does Steinbeck fulfill by beginning the novel in this way? The novel begins with a rich description of the setting. Steinbeck uses descriptive language to indicate that the area is a place of rest. The specific colors, foliage, and animals that are mentioned create a respite, even for those boys and men from the ranches who beat a path to the water. For example, Steinbeck uses the following images to suggest that this place is a place of comfort and that the Salinas River is a sanctuary. 2. Compare and contrast the men who come into the clearing by the river. What do you think Steinbeck wants the reader to infer about the men based on their descriptions? The two men who come into the clearing are similar in the way in which they are dressed and what they carry with them. For example, the two men are "dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons." (p. 2) They also both carry blanket rolls with them. Physically the men are very different. One man is "small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features." (p. 2) The other man is huge and fair-skinned.