Lennie Smalls
- Huge; shapeless face, large and pale eyes, wide and sloping shoulders
- Heavy walk (and slow speech) – highlight slowness: “the way a bear drags his paws”
- Follows George: “nearly ran over [George]”
- Childlike carelessness + fearlessness: “flung himself… drank from green pool”
- Bear imagery: “big paw” / “the way a bear drags his paws”
- Strong, and unaware of strength: “I pinched their heads… and they was dead”
- Imitation = flattery (@ George): “imitated George exactly” / “pulled hat down the way
George’s was”
- Adamant to prove himself to George: “tried and tried” / “exploded triumphantly”
- Afraid of George, like child of parent: “looked timidly over” / “startled… hid face against
knees” / “voice broke”
- Ashamed/scared when George sneers: “face drawn with terror”
- Childlike attempts at outsmarting/manipulating George: “aint got a thing in my pocket” /
“What mouse?” / “sensed advantage” / “cus I can jus’ as well go away and leave you
alone”
- Childlike attraction to soft things: “I could pet [the mouse]” / “Let’s have different colour
rabbits” / “Jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress” – George mimicking Lennie”
- Weak memory – unable to remember own Aunt Clara, why they left last ranch
- Follows George’s orders like child does for parent
- Eager to please George: “I’d leave it all for you” / “You want I should go away and leave
you alone?” / “I aint gonna say a word”
- Likes hearing about their American Dream over and over because weak memory; just as
excited about rabbits each time.
- Able to sense atmosphere/Curly’s reaction to him: “I don’t want no trouble.” “Don’t let
him sock me.” P32
- Attracted to CW: “watched her, fascinated”, “eyes moved down…her body”, “She’s
purty” p35
- Attacked by Curley, confused so exerts 2 much power: “watched in terror the flopping
little man he held” p71
- Agrees to keep secret b/c inferiority complex: “I won’t tell” p73
- Huge; shapeless face, large and pale eyes, wide and sloping shoulders
- Heavy walk (and slow speech) – highlight slowness: “the way a bear drags his paws”
- Follows George: “nearly ran over [George]”
- Childlike carelessness + fearlessness: “flung himself… drank from green pool”
- Bear imagery: “big paw” / “the way a bear drags his paws”
- Strong, and unaware of strength: “I pinched their heads… and they was dead”
- Imitation = flattery (@ George): “imitated George exactly” / “pulled hat down the way
George’s was”
- Adamant to prove himself to George: “tried and tried” / “exploded triumphantly”
- Afraid of George, like child of parent: “looked timidly over” / “startled… hid face against
knees” / “voice broke”
- Ashamed/scared when George sneers: “face drawn with terror”
- Childlike attempts at outsmarting/manipulating George: “aint got a thing in my pocket” /
“What mouse?” / “sensed advantage” / “cus I can jus’ as well go away and leave you
alone”
- Childlike attraction to soft things: “I could pet [the mouse]” / “Let’s have different colour
rabbits” / “Jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress” – George mimicking Lennie”
- Weak memory – unable to remember own Aunt Clara, why they left last ranch
- Follows George’s orders like child does for parent
- Eager to please George: “I’d leave it all for you” / “You want I should go away and leave
you alone?” / “I aint gonna say a word”
- Likes hearing about their American Dream over and over because weak memory; just as
excited about rabbits each time.
- Able to sense atmosphere/Curly’s reaction to him: “I don’t want no trouble.” “Don’t let
him sock me.” P32
- Attracted to CW: “watched her, fascinated”, “eyes moved down…her body”, “She’s
purty” p35
- Attacked by Curley, confused so exerts 2 much power: “watched in terror the flopping
little man he held” p71
- Agrees to keep secret b/c inferiority complex: “I won’t tell” p73