Of Mice and Men: The Movie

Choose one section from Section I, II, or III to explore more closely in your blog for this week. Everyone will be completing Section IV.

Section I

There are several directorial choices that Gary Sinise made that differ from the novel. Comment on these choices.

1.  In the film, the director shows us “the incident in Weed” differently from how we find out in the book. What’s different? Why do you think he chose to do it that way? How does it change the story?
2. The book begins with the “stage” set by the pond. In the film, we see George on a train first. Why would the director do this? What is the director telling us about George’s life?
3. What do you think of the director’s choice of Sharilynn Fenn to play Curley’s wife? Does she look the way you imagined her in the book? Whom would you have chosen?

Section II

There are several scenes added to the movie in which Curley’s wife talks to George. These scenes are not in the book, or they appear differently in the book.

4. Briefly describe at least two of these scenes.
5. How do these new scenes change or add to your opinion of Curley’s wife? What do they show the audience about her? Why do you think the director (or screenwriter) chose to add those scenes?

Section III

Although the plot has the same ending in both the book and the movie, the actual ending moments of each piece are different. The movie ends with a flashback; the book ends with dialogue.

6. What does the flashback show?
7. How does the flashback leave the audience feeling at the end of the movie?
8. Does that feeling match the feeling at the end of the book? Why do you think the director chose to use a different ending rather than just showing exactly what’s in the book?
9. What is the line of dialogue that ends the book?
10. What does that line tell us about the speaker?
11. What feeling does that line leave the reader with? How does it make you feel when he says that?

Section IV

What are your general thoughts, feelings, reactions of Of Mice and Men? What had the most profound impact on you or your understanding of the novella? Who would you recommend this  book to and why?