Question 1: Identify a symbol associated with aging in the novel and explain its significance.

Answer: The old dog; it represents aging, uselessness, and the inevitable decline that everyone faces.

Question 2: Describe how Steinbeck uses the fence as a symbol in the scene.

Answer: The fence symbolises boundaries—both physical boundaries of land and moral boundaries of societal constraints.

Question 3: Select a phrase from the passage that hints at the fragility of happiness and explain its effect.

Answer: ‘the stillness of the barn’; it creates a sense of quietness and vulnerability, emphasising the delicate nature of the moment.

Question 4: Analyse how Steinbeck’s use of imagery in the scene enhances the theme of mortality.

Answer: Steinbeck uses vivid imagery such as the description of the dead mouse and the ‘stillness of the barn’ to evoke a sense of finality and loss. This imagery underscores the theme of mortality by portraying aging and death as inevitable parts of life, highlighting the transient nature of happiness and the inescapable decline faced by the characters.

Question 5: Explain the symbolic importance of the dead mouse in Lennie’s hand.

Answer: It symbolizes Lennie’s innocence and his unintentional destruction, reflecting themes of vulnerability and the delicate balance of life.

Question 6: How does Steinbeck’s choice of language contribute to the symbolic atmosphere of the scene?

Answer: The use of phrases like ‘stillness’ and ‘dead mouse’ creates a quiet, somber mood that emphasizes themes of fragility and mortality.

Question 7: Identify and explain one metaphor used in the scene to highlight the theme of confinement.

Answer: The fence; it metaphorically represents the physical and moral boundaries that confine the characters and limit their freedom.

Question 8: Describe how Steinbeck’s depiction of the barn functions as a symbol within this scene.

Answer: The barn symbolizes a place of both safety and potential danger, representing the fragile boundary between security and vulnerability.

Question 9: Creative Writing: Imagine you are a character in the novel. Write a short reflective monologue about what the barn and its symbols represent to you.

Answer: Students should develop a personal voice discussing themes of safety, confinement, mortality, or hope using imagery and reflection inspired by the scene.