1. VOCABULARY:
“OF MICE AND MEN”

2. revere
1
George had always revered the strength of Lennie,
especially since he was small in stature.
to
regard
with
deep
respect
(v.)

3. contempt
2
Everyoneʼs contempt for Curley was obvious; he
was a good-for-nothinʼ liar.
a
lack
of
respect,
o7en
with
intense
dislike
or
disgust
(n.)

4. reprehensible
3
Lennieʼs action at the ranch was reprehensible, but
his ignorance should be taken into consideration.
deserving
punishment
(adj.)

5. belligerent
4
Lennie belligerently shook Curleyʼs wife by the hair,
because she would not stop yelling.
doing
something
in
a
hos<le
or
aggressive
way
(adj.)

6. ominous
5
Curley bolted out of the room, and George looked
ominously at Lennie.
giving
the
impression
that
something
bad
is
going
to
happen
(adj.)

7. confide
6
Crooks shared information with Lennie that he would not
dare tell another soul; he felt he could confide in him.
to
tell
someone
a
private
ma?er
in
confiden<ality
(v.)

8. derogatory
7
John Steinbeck employs the “N” word not merely as
something derogatory, but also to capture the true
culture of the 1930s.
expressing
disrespect
or
cri<cism
(adj.)

9. bewilder
8
Bewilderedly, Lennie asked Crooks, “Why do you
sleep out here all by yourself?”
to
cause
to
become
perplexed
or
confused
(v.)

10. indignant
9
George was often indignant about the way others
disrespected Lennie, and yet he was often guilty of
doing the same.
angry
or
annoyed
by
something
that
is
unjust
or
wrong
(adj.)

11. despair
10
There was always a hint of happiness and despair
when George told Lennie stories about them getting
their own ranch.
the
complete
absence
or
loss
of
hope
(n.)

12. mollify
11
They were mollified temporarily by the calm of the
river, but George knew they could not keep running
from ranch after ranch.
to
put
at
ease
or
calm
down
(v.)

13. earnest
12
Although the owning of a ranch had always been a
dream, there was now an earnest belief that it might
actually happen.
sincere
(adj.)

14. scorn
13
With scorn in his eyes, Curley swore that he would
kill Lennie for what he had done to his wife.
the
feeling
or
belief
that
someone
else
is
worthless
or
despicable;
contempt
(n.)

15. monotonous
14
During the long hours working in the field, the
monotony would wear on them little by little.
dull,
tedious,
and
repe<<ous
(adj.)

16. deride
15
In spite of deriding Lennie for the mistakes he had
made, George also tried to console him--he was well
aware that Lennie didnʼt know any better.
express
contempt
for;
ridicule
(v.)