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* ConspicuousGloves: Curly wears a glove full of Vaseline on one hand, supposedly because he's keeping that hand soft for his wife. This has no plot-relevant reason, but does make the theatrical adaptation easier to stage [[spoiler: when his hand gets crushed]].
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Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
->G''ang aft agley[[hottip:*:Scots, "often go wrong"]],''
->''An' lea'e[[hottip:*:Scots, "leave"]] us nowt[[hottip:*:Scots, "nothing"]] but grief an' pain''
->''An' lea'e[[hottip:*:Scots, "leave"]] us nowt[[hottip:*:Scots, "nothing"]] but grief an' pain''
to:
->G''ang aft agley[[hottip:*:Scots, agley[[note]]Scots, "often go wrong"]],''
wrong"[[/note]],''
->''An'lea'e[[hottip:*:Scots, "leave"]] lea'e[[note]]Scots, "leave"[[/note]] us nowt[[hottip:*:Scots, "nothing"]] nowt[[note]]Scots, "nothing"[[/note]] but grief an' pain''
->''An'
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* HotMenAtWork: George in the 1992 movie. Gary Sinise fangirls call him 'Georgeous George'.
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even if he\'s black in certain portrayals, he\'s not scary
Deleted line(s) 71,73 (click to see context) :
* ScaryBlackMan: Lennie has been played by black actors, but Steinbeck never says he is and most portrayals have him as white. If he were, he'd be subjected to the same treatment as Crooks, who ''is'' black.
** In the book George is said to be "dark of face",could also be interpreted as just being tan from working in the sun,though.
** That Crooks said Lennie was unwelcome in his room is proof Lennie wasn't supposed to be black.
** In the book George is said to be "dark of face",could also be interpreted as just being tan from working in the sun,though.
** That Crooks said Lennie was unwelcome in his room is proof Lennie wasn't supposed to be black.
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He was one of the main characters, so he doesn|t count as \"in the limelight\" Have A Gay Old Time moved to discussion.
Deleted line(s) 15 (click to see context) :
Changed line(s) 18,20 (click to see context) from:
* AdaptationExpansion: The 1992 film. It adds scenes not present in the book such as showing scenes where the men are working, Curley's wife flirting with George in the barn, and BookEnds where George is hitching a ride on a train.
** Additionally, Steinbeck's own play version of the book, in which he expands on a few characters for the purposes of drama. (Note that the ''book itself'' may be performed as a play without changing a word, and it was written for this purpose, but a few dramatists wanted a longer version.)
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares {{Trope Namer|s}} honors with WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
** Additionally, Steinbeck's own play version of the book, in which he expands on a few characters for the purposes of drama. (Note that the ''book itself'' may be performed as a play without changing a word, and it was written for this purpose, but a few dramatists wanted a longer version.)
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares {{Trope Namer|s}} honors with WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
to:
* AdaptationExpansion: AdaptationExpansion:
** The 1992 film. It adds scenes not present in the book such as showing scenes where the men are working, Curley's wife flirting with George in the barn, and BookEnds where George is hitching a ride on a train.
**Additionally, Steinbeck's own play version of the book, in which he expands on a few characters for the purposes of drama. (Note that the ''book itself'' may be performed as a play without changing a word, and it was written for this purpose, but a few dramatists wanted a longer version.)
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares {{Trope Namer|s}} honors withWesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''. He loves cute and cuddly animals. Only he loves them too much for their safety.
** The 1992 film. It adds scenes not present in the book such as showing scenes where the men are working, Curley's wife flirting with George in the barn, and BookEnds where George is hitching a ride on a train.
**
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares {{Trope Namer|s}} honors with
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression …
to:
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression …TheGreatDepression...
Changed line(s) 37,38 (click to see context) from:
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler: Curley's wife unpacks all her secrets throughout Chapter 5, right before she gets killed.]]
** [[spoiler: Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
** [[spoiler: Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
to:
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler: Curley's [[spoiler:Curley's wife unpacks all her secrets throughout Chapter 5, right before she gets killed.]]
** [[spoiler: Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.]]
** [[spoiler: Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
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* DownerEnding: C'mon, [[TearJerker you know you cried]].
to:
* DownerEnding: C'mon, [[TearJerker you know you cried]].cried. [[spoiler:Lennie dies and Goerge is shattered. The farm was his dream as Lennie's, and he took pride and enjoyed taking care of him.]]
Deleted line(s) 44 (click to see context) :
** Or, if English teachers everywhere are to be believed, everything.
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* GentleGiant: Lennie again.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because she is "jail bait." [[{{Lolicon}} Jail]] [[TheJailBaitWait bait?]]
** Which may have actually led to it being the {{Trope Namer|s}}, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction -- he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because she is "jail bait." [[{{Lolicon}} Jail]] [[TheJailBaitWait bait?]]
** Which may have actually led to it being the {{Trope Namer|s}}, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction -- he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
to:
* GentleGiant: Lennie again.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because sheis "jail bait." [[{{Lolicon}} Jail]] [[TheJailBaitWait bait?]]
** Which may have actually led to it being the {{Trope Namer|s}}, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction -- he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.huge and loves cuddly animals and soft things.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because she
** Which may have actually led to it being the {{Trope Namer|s}}, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction -- he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
Changed line(s) 54,55 (click to see context) from:
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Curley's wife is lonely and just wants to talk to the workers. They avoid her because they don't want to have trouble with her husband.
** Crooks, too, longs for companionship, although he's less open about it and masks his loneliness with surliness.
** Crooks, too, longs for companionship, although he's less open about it and masks his loneliness with surliness.
to:
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: IJustWantToHaveFriends:
** Curley's wife is lonely and just wants to talk to the workers. They avoid her because they don't want to have trouble with her husband.
**Crooks, too, Crooks longs for companionship, although he's less open about it and masks his loneliness with surliness.
** Curley's wife is lonely and just wants to talk to the workers. They avoid her because they don't want to have trouble with her husband.
**
Changed line(s) 57,58 (click to see context) from:
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie's]] last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
* {{Jerkass}}: Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
* {{Jerkass}}: Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
to:
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie's]] Lennie is a giant of a man and his last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
*{{Jerkass}}: {{Jerkass}}:
** Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
*
** Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
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Changed line(s) 37,38 (click to see context) from:
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler Curley's wife unpacks all her secrets throughout Chapter 5, right before she gets killed.]]
** [[spoiler Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
** [[spoiler Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
to:
* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler [[spoiler: Curley's wife unpacks all her secrets throughout Chapter 5, right before she gets killed.]]
**[[spoiler [[spoiler: Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
**
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* ADeathInTheLimelight: [[spoiler Curley's wife unpacks all her secrets throughout Chapter 5, right before she gets killed.]]
** [[spoiler Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
** [[spoiler Lennie also shows his inner guilt and feelings right before he dies too.]] Steinbeck really seems to have a thing for this.
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Changed line(s) 87,88 (click to see context) from:
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Steinbeck says Lennie was based on someone he actually knew who put a pitchfork through an overseer.
to:
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Steinbeck says Lennie was based on someone he actually knew who put a pitchfork through an overseer.
overseer. Also, his description of ranch hand life is based on his own experiences.
* YankTheDogsChain: The entire novel revolves around this idea.
* YankTheDogsChain: The entire novel revolves around this idea.
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Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but … things go pretty wrong.
to:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers workers who arrive in on a California farm in California, who and hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but … things go pretty wrong.
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Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer honors with WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
to:
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer {{Trope Namer|s}} honors with WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
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Changed line(s) 10,12 (click to see context) from:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... things go pretty wrong.
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for bad language, "promoting euthanasia" and being "anti-business". However, it remains very popular and is a widely used SchoolStudyMedia. It has also had several film adaptations, including theatrical releases in 1939 and 1992 and made-for-TV versions in 1968 and 1981.
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for bad language, "promoting euthanasia" and being "anti-business". However, it remains very popular and is a widely used SchoolStudyMedia. It has also had several film adaptations, including theatrical releases in 1939 and 1992 and made-for-TV versions in 1968 and 1981.
to:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... but … things go pretty wrong.
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for badlanguage, language,[[note]]The far-right Reform Party of Canada attempted to have it banned in public schools in the city of Winnipeg in 2000; nothing came of the effort.[[/note]] "promoting euthanasia" and being "anti-business". However, it remains very popular and is a widely used SchoolStudyMedia. It has also had several film adaptations, including theatrical releases in 1939 and 1992 and made-for-TV versions in 1968 and 1981.
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for bad
Changed line(s) 23,24 (click to see context) from:
* BeigeProse: At some points. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that this was originally written to be a screenplay.
* BigGuyLittleGuy
* BigGuyLittleGuy
to:
* BeigeProse: At some points. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] {{Justified|Trope}} in that this was originally written to be a screenplay.
*BigGuyLittleGuyBigGuyLittleGuy: Lennie and George respectively.
*
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* ChildhoodBrainDamage: George tells the ranch owner that Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse as a child to explain why he's mentally slow. Lennie has to ask George about it afterwards as he doesn't know whether it's true or not - George then says it's not true.
to:
* ChildhoodBrainDamage: George tells the ranch owner that Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse as a child to explain why he's mentally slow. Lennie has to ask George about it afterwards as he doesn't know whether it's true or not - -- George then says it's not true.
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression...
to:
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression...TheGreatDepression …
Changed line(s) 46,47 (click to see context) from:
** Which may have actually led to it being the TropeNamer, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction - he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction - he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
to:
** Which may have actually led to it being the TropeNamer, {{Trope Namer|s}}, albeit not the codifier.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction- -- he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction
Changed line(s) 82 (click to see context) from:
* ThemeNaming: Curley, Carlson, Candy, Crooks... seems to be a lot of people around Soledad with names that start with C.
to:
* ThemeNaming: Curley, Carlson, Candy, Crooks... seems '''C'''urley, '''C'''arlson, '''C'''andy, ''''C''''rooks…seems to be a lot of people around Soledad with names that start with C.'''C'''. Fittingly enough, the book is set in '''C'''alifornia.
Changed line(s) 84 (click to see context) from:
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's actions near the end made things go downhill from there.
to:
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's wife's actions near the end made things go downhill from there.
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* SuddenlyVoiced: Free points in your essay for saying that the bit in the last chapter where Lennie visualises his Aunt Clara telling him off is the first and only time we actually hear what the characters are thinking.
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Changed line(s) 59,60 (click to see context) from:
* LethallyStupid: Lenny. Not only to his pets.
* LetsGetDangerous: Lenny again. A really nice guy, only to turn around and just break Curley's hand effortlessly. Be afraid.
* LetsGetDangerous: Lenny again. A really nice guy, only to turn around and just break Curley's hand effortlessly. Be afraid.
to:
* LethallyStupid: Lenny.Lennie. Not only to his pets.
* LetsGetDangerous:Lenny Lennie again. A really nice guy, only to turn around and just break Curley's hand effortlessly. Be afraid.
* LetsGetDangerous:
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* BilingualBonus: Soledad, the name of the nearby town, means 'solitary'. English teachers everywhere squee at the mention of this.
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* ThemeNaming: Curley, Carlson, Candy, Crooks... seems to be a lot of people around Soledad with names that start with C.
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* ManChild: To Lennie, the CutenessProximity may as well be a mile wide in all directions.
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* LaserGuidedKarma: When Curley picks on big guys, Lennie in particular, Lennie breaks every bone in his hand. When George and Lennie are nice to Candy, he offers them three hundred dollars to make their dream a reality. That seems to be the way it works around here.
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** In the context of the narrative, this is more likely to be down to Curley's reaction - he is shown as very possessive over her. Possible BerserkButton.
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* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: 'Candy's been sharpening his pencil and sharpening and thinking.'
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* LetsGetDangerous: Lenny again. A really nice guy, only to turn around and just break Curley's hand effortlessly. Be afraid.
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Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler:Lennie kills Curly's wife]].
to:
* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler:Lennie kills Curly's Curley's wife]].
Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
* BodyMotifs: Curly has a hand motif: His glove full of Vaseline, his status as a prized fighter, and how his hands are [[spoiler: broken by Lennie]].
to:
* BodyMotifs: Curly Curley has a hand motif: His glove full of Vaseline, his status as a prized fighter, and how his hands are [[spoiler: broken by Lennie]].
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Crosswicking.
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* ChildhoodBrainDamage: George tells the ranch owner that Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse as a child to explain why he's mentally slow. Lennie has to ask George about it afterwards as he doesn't know whether it's true or not - George then says it's not true.
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* LethallyStupid: Lenny. Not only to his pets.
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It got worse wicks
Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
to:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
wrong.
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* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's actions near the end [[ItGotWorse made things go downhill from there.]]
to:
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's actions near the end [[ItGotWorse made things go downhill from there.]]
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* PintsizedPowerhouse: Curley.
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** Which may have actually led to it being the TropeNamer, albeit not the codifier.
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Namespace stuff
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* TheAce: Slim.
to:
* TheAce: Slim.
Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer honors with LooneyTunes.
to:
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer honors with LooneyTunes.WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
Changed line(s) 38,39 (click to see context) from:
** Or, if English teachers everywhere are to be believed, everything.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBig guy]]/[[GentleGiant big,]] [[DumbMuscle strong doofus]] dynamic got after this novel.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBig guy]]/[[GentleGiant big,]] [[DumbMuscle strong doofus]] dynamic got after this novel.
to:
** Or, if English teachers everywhere are to be believed, everything.
everything.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBigguy]]/[[GentleGiant guy]] / [[GentleGiant big,]] [[DumbMuscle strong doofus]] dynamic got after this novel.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBig
Changed line(s) 49 (click to see context) from:
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie]]'s last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
to:
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie]]'s Lennie's]] last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
Changed line(s) 51 (click to see context) from:
** To a lesser extent, his buddy Carlson.
to:
** To a lesser extent, his buddy Carlson.
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
* TheMessiah: Slim, he has the majesty of a 'king or a master craftsman'. Now, who was both a king and a craftsman? [[spoiler: Jesus.]]
to:
* TheMessiah: Slim, he has the majesty of a 'king or a master craftsman'. Now, who was both a king and a craftsman? [[spoiler: Jesus.]] ]]
Changed line(s) 67 (click to see context) from:
* TellMeAgain: Played for its usual purpose as {{Exposition}} in the first chapter, but justified since Lennie's mental disabilities affect his short-term memory.
to:
* TellMeAgain: Played for its usual purpose as {{Exposition}} in the first chapter, but justified since Lennie's mental disabilities affect his short-term memory.
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Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
* PrincessCurls: Curley's wife has hair "coiled like sausages".
to:
* PrincessCurls: RegalRinglets: Curley's wife has hair "coiled like sausages".
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Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
to:
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of JohnSteinbeck's Creator/JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
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Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
-->-- '''RobertBurns''', "To a Mouse"
to:
-->-- '''RobertBurns''', '''Creator/RobertBurns''', "To a Mouse"
Deleted line(s) 13 (click to see context) :
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->''The best-laid [[BeamMeUpScotty schemes]] o' mice an' men''
->G''ang aft agley[[hottip:*:Scots, "often go wrong"]],''
->''An' lea'e[[hottip:*:Scots, "leave"]] us nowt[[hottip:*:Scots, "nothing"]] but grief an' pain''
->''For promis'd joy!''
-->-- '''RobertBurns''', "To a Mouse"
->''"Tell me how it's gonna be, George!"''
-->-- '''Lennie Small'''
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for bad language, "promoting euthanasia" and being "anti-business". However, it remains very popular and is a widely used SchoolStudyMedia. It has also had several film adaptations, including theatrical releases in 1939 and 1992 and made-for-TV versions in 1968 and 1981.
----
!!This novel contains examples of:
* TheAce: Slim.
* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler:Lennie kills Curly's wife]].
* AdaptationExpansion: The 1992 film. It adds scenes not present in the book such as showing scenes where the men are working, Curley's wife flirting with George in the barn, and BookEnds where George is hitching a ride on a train.
** Additionally, Steinbeck's own play version of the book, in which he expands on a few characters for the purposes of drama. (Note that the ''book itself'' may be performed as a play without changing a word, and it was written for this purpose, but a few dramatists wanted a longer version.)
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer honors with LooneyTunes.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:It's George who [[ShootTheDog decides what's best for Lennie]]]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Curley started that fight, and Lennie finished it.
* BeigeProse: At some points. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that this was originally written to be a screenplay.
* BigGuyLittleGuy
* BodyMotifs: Curly has a hand motif: His glove full of Vaseline, his status as a prized fighter, and how his hands are [[spoiler: broken by Lennie]].
* BookDumb: George. Has cunning and intelligent moments, but has almost no education. He also points out once that he's only smart in comparison to Lennie.
* TheCaretaker: George to Lennie.
* ChekhovsGun: Carlson's Luger.
* ChronicPetKiller: Played for sadness.
* CloudCuckoolander: Lennie.
* CloudCuckoolandersMinder: George is one of the best examples out there. He makes sure Lennie stays safe, keeps him fed, explains his oddities to other people, and finally [[spoiler:[[ShootTheDog sends him to the afterlife himself]] rather than let a lynch mob do the job]].
* ConversationCasualty: [[spoiler:At the end of the book, George is calmly talking to Lennie about the farm they've always dreamed of; he asks Lennie to close his eyes while talking, and George pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head. A non-villainous version, as George is doing this so that Lennie will die calm and happy]].
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression...
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Oh sure, Lennie is dumb as a post and pretty gentle to boot, but Curley's crushed hand will testify that he is not someone you provoke.
* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength: Lennie, possibly the TropeCodifier.
* DownerEnding: C'mon, [[TearJerker you know you cried]].
* DumbMuscle: Lennie is a deconstruction of this trope, with almost all the death in the book is caused by Lennie accidentally killing something, due to his strength, and not realising this until it is too late.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The whole scene about Candy's dog foreshadowed the end of the book.
** Or, if English teachers everywhere are to be believed, everything.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBig guy]]/[[GentleGiant big,]] [[DumbMuscle strong doofus]] dynamic got after this novel.
* GentleGiant: Lennie again.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because she is "jail bait." [[{{Lolicon}} Jail]] [[TheJailBaitWait bait?]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: It's very easy to mistakenly assume the two protagonists are brothers. George uses this to his advantage, telling everyone that Lennie is his cousin.
* HisStoryRepeatsItself: Lennie has a history of getting in trouble for touching soft things.
* HopeSpot: When [[spoiler:George, Lennie and Candy club together to raise the money to buy the ranch George talks about. It doesn't last.]]
* ICouldaBeenAContender: Curley's Wife. At least she thinks so.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Curley's wife is lonely and just wants to talk to the workers. They avoid her because they don't want to have trouble with her husband.
** Crooks, too, longs for companionship, although he's less open about it and masks his loneliness with surliness.
* INeverGotAnyLetters: Invoked.
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie]]'s last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
* {{Jerkass}}: Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
** To a lesser extent, his buddy Carlson.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: Rabbie Burns' "To A Mouse". [[GeniusBonus If you know the rest of the poem]], you won't be expecting a HappyEnding.
* MercyKill: [[spoiler:George shoots Lennie in the back of the head to spare him the agony of being killed by Curley, locked in a cage, or whatever else may have happened.]]
* TheMessiah: Slim, he has the majesty of a 'king or a master craftsman'. Now, who was both a king and a craftsman? [[spoiler: Jesus.]]
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Lennie]].
* NoNameGiven: Curley's wife, The Boss.
* TheNapoleon: Curley.
* PrincessCurls: Curley's wife has hair "coiled like sausages".
* ResentfulGuardian: George once laments early on that if not for having to spend money on Lennie and his moments of stupidity interfering with his plans, he could spend his money as he wanted. Then again, this was said in a fit of anger that Lennie caused, [[spoiler:and once Lennie is killed, George is clearly not at all happy about the future that awaits him]].
* RuleOfSymbolism: Steinbeck's use of animals, in many ways.
* ScaryBlackMan: Lennie has been played by black actors, but Steinbeck never says he is and most portrayals have him as white. If he were, he'd be subjected to the same treatment as Crooks, who ''is'' black.
** In the book George is said to be "dark of face",could also be interpreted as just being tan from working in the sun,though.
** That Crooks said Lennie was unwelcome in his room is proof Lennie wasn't supposed to be black.
* ShootTheDog: ''Literally'', also [[spoiler:shoot the big guy.]]
* ShootTheShaggyDog: Steinbeck loves this trope.
* SurvivalMantra: George's story about the farm with the rabbits is this for both him and Lennie. He's recited it so many times that Lennie has it memorized, but would rather hear it from George.
* TellMeAgain: Played for its usual purpose as {{Exposition}} in the first chapter, but justified since Lennie's mental disabilities affect his short-term memory.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Curley's wife is the only female character that physically appears in the book.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's "Lennie" in the text, not "Lenny".
* TragicDream: After [[spoiler:Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife]], George concedes that their dream could never have been realized.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's actions near the end [[ItGotWorse made things go downhill from there.]]
* VagabondBuddies: George and Lennie.
* WhamEpisode: Chapter 5.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Steinbeck says Lennie was based on someone he actually knew who put a pitchfork through an overseer.
----
->G''ang aft agley[[hottip:*:Scots, "often go wrong"]],''
->''An' lea'e[[hottip:*:Scots, "leave"]] us nowt[[hottip:*:Scots, "nothing"]] but grief an' pain''
->''For promis'd joy!''
-->-- '''RobertBurns''', "To a Mouse"
->''"Tell me how it's gonna be, George!"''
-->-- '''Lennie Small'''
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novel, one of JohnSteinbeck's most famous ones, set during TheGreatDepression. It involves Lennie Small (a mentally-impaired GentleGiant) and George Milton, migrant farmworkers who arrive in a farm in California, who hope to save up enough money to open a rabbit farm, but... [[ItGetsWorse things go pretty wrong.]]
One of the most challenged books of the 20th and 21st centuries and a frequent target of censors, who criticized it for bad language, "promoting euthanasia" and being "anti-business". However, it remains very popular and is a widely used SchoolStudyMedia. It has also had several film adaptations, including theatrical releases in 1939 and 1992 and made-for-TV versions in 1968 and 1981.
----
!!This novel contains examples of:
* TheAce: Slim.
* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler:Lennie kills Curly's wife]].
* AdaptationExpansion: The 1992 film. It adds scenes not present in the book such as showing scenes where the men are working, Curley's wife flirting with George in the barn, and BookEnds where George is hitching a ride on a train.
** Additionally, Steinbeck's own play version of the book, in which he expands on a few characters for the purposes of drama. (Note that the ''book itself'' may be performed as a play without changing a word, and it was written for this purpose, but a few dramatists wanted a longer version.)
* AndCallHimGeorge: Shares TropeNamer honors with LooneyTunes.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:It's George who [[ShootTheDog decides what's best for Lennie]]]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Curley started that fight, and Lennie finished it.
* BeigeProse: At some points. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that this was originally written to be a screenplay.
* BigGuyLittleGuy
* BodyMotifs: Curly has a hand motif: His glove full of Vaseline, his status as a prized fighter, and how his hands are [[spoiler: broken by Lennie]].
* BookDumb: George. Has cunning and intelligent moments, but has almost no education. He also points out once that he's only smart in comparison to Lennie.
* TheCaretaker: George to Lennie.
* ChekhovsGun: Carlson's Luger.
* ChronicPetKiller: Played for sadness.
* CloudCuckoolander: Lennie.
* CloudCuckoolandersMinder: George is one of the best examples out there. He makes sure Lennie stays safe, keeps him fed, explains his oddities to other people, and finally [[spoiler:[[ShootTheDog sends him to the afterlife himself]] rather than let a lynch mob do the job]].
* ConversationCasualty: [[spoiler:At the end of the book, George is calmly talking to Lennie about the farm they've always dreamed of; he asks Lennie to close his eyes while talking, and George pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head. A non-villainous version, as George is doing this so that Lennie will die calm and happy]].
* CrapsackWorld: Well, it ''is'' set in TheGreatDepression...
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Oh sure, Lennie is dumb as a post and pretty gentle to boot, but Curley's crushed hand will testify that he is not someone you provoke.
* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength: Lennie, possibly the TropeCodifier.
* DownerEnding: C'mon, [[TearJerker you know you cried]].
* DumbMuscle: Lennie is a deconstruction of this trope, with almost all the death in the book is caused by Lennie accidentally killing something, due to his strength, and not realising this until it is too late.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The whole scene about Candy's dog foreshadowed the end of the book.
** Or, if English teachers everywhere are to be believed, everything.
* FountainOfExpies: You'll probably notice how popular the [[ShorterMeansSmarter small, smart]] [[MisterBig guy]]/[[GentleGiant big,]] [[DumbMuscle strong doofus]] dynamic got after this novel.
* GentleGiant: Lennie again.
* HaveAGayOldTime: George constantly states that Curley's wife will get them in trouble because she is "jail bait." [[{{Lolicon}} Jail]] [[TheJailBaitWait bait?]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: It's very easy to mistakenly assume the two protagonists are brothers. George uses this to his advantage, telling everyone that Lennie is his cousin.
* HisStoryRepeatsItself: Lennie has a history of getting in trouble for touching soft things.
* HopeSpot: When [[spoiler:George, Lennie and Candy club together to raise the money to buy the ranch George talks about. It doesn't last.]]
* ICouldaBeenAContender: Curley's Wife. At least she thinks so.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Curley's wife is lonely and just wants to talk to the workers. They avoid her because they don't want to have trouble with her husband.
** Crooks, too, longs for companionship, although he's less open about it and masks his loneliness with surliness.
* INeverGotAnyLetters: Invoked.
* IronicName: [[GentleGiant Lennie]]'s last name is Small. It's lampshaded (rather obviously) by Carlson, who finds this funny.
* {{Jerkass}}: Does anyone actually like Curley? No. No one does.
** To a lesser extent, his buddy Carlson.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: Rabbie Burns' "To A Mouse". [[GeniusBonus If you know the rest of the poem]], you won't be expecting a HappyEnding.
* MercyKill: [[spoiler:George shoots Lennie in the back of the head to spare him the agony of being killed by Curley, locked in a cage, or whatever else may have happened.]]
* TheMessiah: Slim, he has the majesty of a 'king or a master craftsman'. Now, who was both a king and a craftsman? [[spoiler: Jesus.]]
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Lennie]].
* NoNameGiven: Curley's wife, The Boss.
* TheNapoleon: Curley.
* PrincessCurls: Curley's wife has hair "coiled like sausages".
* ResentfulGuardian: George once laments early on that if not for having to spend money on Lennie and his moments of stupidity interfering with his plans, he could spend his money as he wanted. Then again, this was said in a fit of anger that Lennie caused, [[spoiler:and once Lennie is killed, George is clearly not at all happy about the future that awaits him]].
* RuleOfSymbolism: Steinbeck's use of animals, in many ways.
* ScaryBlackMan: Lennie has been played by black actors, but Steinbeck never says he is and most portrayals have him as white. If he were, he'd be subjected to the same treatment as Crooks, who ''is'' black.
** In the book George is said to be "dark of face",could also be interpreted as just being tan from working in the sun,though.
** That Crooks said Lennie was unwelcome in his room is proof Lennie wasn't supposed to be black.
* ShootTheDog: ''Literally'', also [[spoiler:shoot the big guy.]]
* ShootTheShaggyDog: Steinbeck loves this trope.
* SurvivalMantra: George's story about the farm with the rabbits is this for both him and Lennie. He's recited it so many times that Lennie has it memorized, but would rather hear it from George.
* TellMeAgain: Played for its usual purpose as {{Exposition}} in the first chapter, but justified since Lennie's mental disabilities affect his short-term memory.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Curley's wife is the only female character that physically appears in the book.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's "Lennie" in the text, not "Lenny".
* TragicDream: After [[spoiler:Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife]], George concedes that their dream could never have been realized.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Curley's Wife's actions near the end [[ItGotWorse made things go downhill from there.]]
* VagabondBuddies: George and Lennie.
* WhamEpisode: Chapter 5.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Steinbeck says Lennie was based on someone he actually knew who put a pitchfork through an overseer.
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