Question

Throughout the fight, there are many animal references referring to either Lennie or Curley. Find examples in the text, and then explain how the animal references connect to what the reader already knows about the characters. How do the descriptions of Curley change throughout the fight?

a) The text compares Lennie to a lion and Curley to a snake, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses. Curley's descriptions remain consistent.
b) The text likens Lennie to a bear and Curley to a weasel, emphasizing their physical differences and roles in the fight. Curley is depicted as increasingly cunning.
c) The text portrays Lennie as a bull and Curley as a scorpion, illustrating their contrasting abilities in the fight. Curley's descriptions depict him as becoming more fearful.
d) The text equates Lennie to a horse and Curley to a dog, emphasizing their loyalty and aggression during the fight. Curley's descriptions evolve to show his desperation.

Answer 1

In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, animal references are used to portray the characters of Lennie and Curley during the fight. Lennie is compared to a bear, representing strength, while Curley is likened to a weasel, symbolizing cunning. Curley's descriptions change throughout the fight, depicting him as increasingly cunning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is b) The text likens Lennie to a bear and Curley to a weasel, emphasizing their physical differences and roles in the fight. Curley is depicted as increasingly cunning.

In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, animal references are used to portray the characters of Lennie and Curley during the fight. Lennie, who is described as a bear, represents strength and power. On the other hand, Curley, who is compared to a weasel, symbolizes cunning and sneakiness. Through these animal comparisons, the author highlights their contrasting characteristics and foreshadows the outcome of the fight.

The descriptions of Curley change throughout the fight, as he becomes more and more cunning. Initially, he is portrayed as arrogant and confident, but as the fight progresses, Curley's confidence diminishes. The text implies that his physical disadvantage, compared to Lennie's strength, gradually makes Curley resort to sneaky tactics in order to gain an advantage.