Question

What trick does crooks play on lennie and how does it backfire?

Answer 1

In "Of Mice and Men," Crooks doesn't play a trick on Lennie. Instead, he talks to Lennie about George not coming back, making Lennie worried. This backfires because it adds to Lennie's anxiety, and he becomes upset. It's not a deliberate trick by Crooks but a situation that unintentionally causes distress to Lennie.