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Of Mice and Men: Clear Summary and Study Guide

This page gives a quick, reliable summary of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men for students. It’s designed for fast understanding, class discussion, and exam prep, using neutral language often searched alongside study sites like SparkNotes.

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Plot Overview (Short and Clear)

The novella follows George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression. George is practical and protective, while Lennie is physically strong but has an intellectual disability. They travel together with a shared dream of owning land, which gives them hope and purpose. While working on a California ranch, Lennie’s inability to control his strength leads to tragic consequences, forcing George to make a painful moral choice at the end.

Major Characters to Know

George Milton represents responsibility and sacrifice, often choosing duty over personal freedom. Lennie Small symbolizes innocence and the danger of unchecked power. Curley’s wife reflects loneliness and lost dreams, highlighting gender roles of the era. Candy and Crooks show how age, disability, and race isolate people, reinforcing the novel’s social themes.

Key Themes Explained

Dreams and hope drive the characters, especially the idea of owning land as a path to independence. Loneliness is constant, showing how economic hardship separates people. Power and weakness appear through physical strength, social status, and mental ability. Friendship stands out as rare and fragile in a harsh world.

How to Study This Book for Class

Focus on how the setting shapes the characters’ choices. Track how the dream changes from hopeful to impossible. For essays, connect characters to themes rather than retelling the plot. For quizzes, remember key relationships and why the ending reflects the novel’s central ideas.

Is this an Of Mice and Men summary similar to SparkNotes?

It covers the same core ideas students look for but is written originally in a neutral, student-friendly way for quick understanding.

What is the main message of Of Mice and Men?

The story suggests that dreams give life meaning, but social and economic forces can make those dreams impossible to achieve.

How should I prepare for an essay on this novel?

Choose one theme, use specific character actions as evidence, and explain how the ending supports Steinbeck’s message.

Trademark notice: SparkNotes and LitCharts are trademarks of their respective owners. This page is a neutral, nominative comparison resource with no affiliation.

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