I. Listen to the chapter in portions

Introduction

Read Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse” and explain the meaning of the lines in the 7^th stanza, which J. Steinbeck refers to in his novella.

Robert Burns “To a Mouse”

On turning her up in her nest with the plough, November 1785

Robert Burns was a poet, but that was not what earned him his living. As with most artists of his time he had to have some means of earning his keep. In Burns' case he earned most of his money, sparse though this was, from farming. This is why he is also known as the "Ploughman Bard". It was while he was ploughing one of his fields that he disturbed a mouse's nest. It was his thoughts on what he had done that led to his poem, "To a Mouse", which contains one of his most often quoted lines from the poem.

Original

Standard English Translation

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty Wi bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, Wi' murdering pattle.   I'm truly sorry man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union, An' justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth born companion An' fellow mortal!   I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request; I'll get a blessin wi' the lave, An' never miss't.   Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! It's silly wa's the win's are strewin! An' naething, now, to big a new ane, O' foggage green! An' bleak December's win's ensuin, Baith snell an' keen!   Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste, An' weary winter comin fast, An' cozie here, beneath the blast, Thou thought to dwell, Till crash! the cruel coulter past Out thro' thy cell.   That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble, Has cost thee monie a weary nibble! Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble, But house or hald, To thole the winter's sleety dribble, An' cranreuch cauld.   But Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!   Still thou are blest, compared wi' me! The present only toucheth thee: But och! I backward cast my e'e, On prospects drear! An' forward, tho' I canna see, I guess an' fear!

Small, sleek, cowering, timorous beast, O, what a panic is in your breast! You need not start away so hasty With hurrying scamper! I would be loath to run and chase you, With murdering plough-staff.   I'm truly sorry man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union, And justifies that ill opinion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor, earth born companion And fellow mortal!   I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal; What then? Poor beast, you must live! An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves Is a small request; I will get a blessing with what is left, And never miss it.   Your small house, too, in ruin! It's feeble walls the winds are scattering! And nothing now, to build a new one, Of coarse grass green! And bleak December's winds coming, Both bitter and keen!   You saw the fields laid bare and wasted, And weary winter coming fast, And cozy here, beneath the blast, You thought to dwell, Till crash! the cruel plough past Out through your cell.   That small bit heap of leaves and stubble, Has cost you many a weary nibble! Now you are turned out, for all your trouble, Without house or holding, To endure the winter's sleety dribble, And hoar-frost cold.   But Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew, And leaves us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy!   Still you are blest, compared with me! The present only touches you: But oh! I backward cast my eye, On prospects dreary! And forward, though I cannot see, I guess and fear!

Questions and tasks.

Chapter 1.

(Track 2 Disk 1 - track 12 Disk 1)

(From the beginning till the words “The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze”).

I. Listen to the introductory episode and find the English equivalents for the expressions in bold type: (words marked* are explained in Vocabulary Notes)

 

A few miles south of Soledad*, the Salinas River* drops in close to* the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the небольшая заводь. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains*, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees— ивы fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and платаны with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering* if he runs among them. Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening, and the damp flats are covered with the night tracks of ‘coons, and with the spread pads of dogs from the ranches, and with the split-wedge* tracks of deer that come to drink in the dark.

There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, тропа, протоптанная мальчишками coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by бродягами who come wearily down from the highway in the evening to найти пристанище у воды. In front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it.

Answer the question:

1)Steinbeck is regarded a master of description. What images does he create to make the scene so picturesque?

 

II. Listen further (till the words: “ I bet it was more than four miles. Damn hot day ”) and offer the English equivalents for the following words and phrases:

1. раздался звук шагов среди шуршащих листьев платанов

2. цапля

3. на тропинке появились двое людей

4. вышли на поляну

5. они шли один позади другого

6. джинсовые брюки и куртки с медными пуговицами

7. за плечами у них были спальные мешки

8. идти, волоча ноги

9. не размахивать руками

10. опустился на землю

11. почти врезался в него

12. пил большими глотками, фыркая как лошадь

13. попей вволю

14. котомка/узелок

15. стоячая (грязная) вода

16. проточная вода

17. пить горстями

18. сточная канава

19. мрачно

20. в двух шагах

 

Answer the questions:

1) How did the main characters (Lennie and George) appear? Where did they come from?

2) What did they look like? Did they resemble each other in appearance? How do their looks characterize them?

3) Describe what they were doing at the water.

4) What were they talking about? Were they in a good mood? Why?

III. Listen to the excerpt “ Lennie looked timidly over to him. “George?”…………“Awright. You got that. But we’re gonna sleep here because I got a reason.” Say whether these statements are true or false:

1) Lennie forgot where he and George were going to.

2) Lennie lost his work-ticket.

3) George had something in his pocket.

4) It was Lennie who killed the mouse.

5) Now at last Lennie knew their destination.

6) The two men were going to work on a ranch in Wede.

7) George told Lennie to keep his mouth shut when they got a new job.

8) George was happy to have Lennie by his side.

 

Pay attention to some more expressions from this fragment:

1. ей-богу

2. плевать, что я говорил

3. кусты

4. гладить

5. покорно

6. его лицо стало напряженным

7. молодец/здорово

8. Ленни тихо бубнил себе под нос

9. моя жизнь была бы легкой и приятной, если бы ты не висел у меня на хвосте

 

IV. Listen up to the end of George and Lennie’s conversation (till the words “ The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze”).

Explain the words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they were used:

1. lumbered to his feet

2. brusquely

3. an elaborate pantomime of innocence.

4. to sock

5. imperiously

6. to blubber

7. dejectedly

8. to scoff

9. cat house

10. irrigation ditch

11. craftily

12. keep smb in hot water

13. to get a kick out of that

14. to blow their stake

15. to live off the fat of the land

16. to tend the rabbits

17. a big vegetable patch

18. a rabbit hutch

19. furry

20. a coyote yammered

Answer the questions:

1) In the opening scene of the 1939 Lewis Milestone film of Of Mice and Men, Lennie carries a dead bird, not a mouse. The studio thought that a mouse would be too unsettling for the audience, particularly a female audience. Why is a mouse a more appropriate image?

2) What did the men have for supper?

3) What did Lennie pick up and how did George react to his find?

4) Who hadn’t allowed Lennie to keep mice in his past?

5) Why did the idea of finding a cave in the mountain occur to Lennie?

6) What did George promise to give Lennie when they arrived at the new place?

7) A jungle is a roadside hobo camp; the first recorded reference to the term was to "Hobos Jungles," used in 1908. Why do Lennie and George first stop at a jungle rather than go directly to work? Why is it here, and only here, that the entire dream that Lennie and George share is articulated? Describe the dream George and Lennie share for their future. Why is it so important to both men?

8) What did George advise Lennie to do when in trouble?

 

Chapter 2.

(Track 13 Disk 1 – track 7 Disk2)

(From “The bunk house was a long, rectangular building” until “The dog raised his head, but when Curley jerked out, the grizzled

head sank to the floor again”).

I. Listen to the description of the place the two companions came to and the people they met. Pay attention to the following expressions, reproduce the situations they were used in (up to “ The old swamper looked quickly at him,….”):

1. барак

2. длинная прямоугольная постройка

3. койка

4. посмеиваться/насмехаться

5. мешок/мешковина (2 variants)

6. сутулый

7. метла

8. он был зол, как черт

9. круглое, похожее на палку запястье

10. подсобный рабочий/уборщик

11. вши, тараканы и прочая нечисть

12. чистить отварной картофель

13. если на яйце было красное пятно, он его соскребал

14. расправить складку на одеяле

15. дать конюху взбучу

16. горбун

17. деревянная щеколда поднялась

18. коренастый человек

19. расстегнутый жилет

20. квадратная металлическая пряжка

21. ботинки на каблуках

22. шпоры

 

Answer the question:

1) How is the bunk house described? What does the description tell the reader about the men who live there?

 

II. Listen till the words “ At that moment a young man came into the bunk house. ” Suggest the English variants for the following words and phrases from this part of the novella:

1. водитель дал нам неверную информацию (слэнг)

2. босс прищурился

3. Джордж нахмурился/хмуро посмотрел на Ленни

4. он не разговорчив

5. сильный как вол

6. что ты скрываешь/кого пытаешься обмануть

7. чего ты его расхваливаешь

8. он глуповат

9. ссыпать ячмень в мешки

10. копали сточную яму

11. когда звук шагов затих

12. Джордж напустился на Ленни

13. держать пасть на замке

14. не делать ошибок

15. выглянул за дверь

16. овчарка, волочащая ноги

17. с серой мордой

18. собака, хромая, прошла в угол комнаты

19. совать нос не в свое дело

20. он потер седую щетинистую щеку костяшками пальцев

State whether these statements are true or false:

1) The boss wrote Murray and Ready he wanted two men that morning.

2) It was Murray and Ready’s fault that George and Lennie were not there for work that morning.

3) The boss said suddenly, “Listen, Small!” Lennie raised his head. “What can you do?” Lennie answered, “I can do anything you tell me.”

4) Lennie wasn’t bright but he could put up a four hundred pound bale.

5) Lennie was George’s cousin. George promised Lennie’s old lady to take care of him.

 

III. Listen further (till the words “ George laid down his cards thoughtfully, turned his piles of three.”) and offer the English equivalents for the following words and phrases:

1. напрягся

2. слегка присел

3. он взгляд стал оценивающим и задиристым

4. Лени съежился

5. Керли резко повернулся

6. посмотрел успокоившись

7. руки все еще согнуты в локтях

8. какого черта ему надо?

9. он горяч

10. приставать к кому-либо

11. лезет в драку с большими ребятами

12. затеять драку

13. тасовать карты

14. разложил пасьянс

15. проститутка (разг.)

 

Change the following sentences uttered by the personages into Standard English:

1. “Well, nex’ time you answer when you’re spoke to.” (Curley)
2. “He don’t have to take after Lennie. Lennie didn’t do nothing to him. What’s he got against Lennie?” (George)
3. “Well.... tell you what. Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy. You seen little guys like that, ain’t you? Always scrappy?” (Candy)
4. “Sure,” said George. “I seen plenty tough little guys. But this Curley better not make no mistakes about Lennie. Lennie ain’t handy, but this Curley punk is gonna get hurt if he messes around with Lennie.”
5. Never did seem right to me. Seems like Curley ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.” (Candy)
6. “Well, he better watch out for Lennie. Lennie ain’t no fighter, but Lennie’s strong and quick and Lennie don’t know no rules.” (George)
7. The old man sat down on another box. “Don’t tell Curley I said none of this. He’d slough me. He just don’t give a damn. Won’t ever get canned ‘cause his old man’s the boss.”

 

1. Who was Curley? Describe his appearance and behaviour.

2. What do we find out about Curley, his wife, and his father through George's discussions with others.

3. It is known that when Steinbeck was writing the novel, he repeatedly asked acquaintances for the word for someone who swept out a bunkhouse; finally he remembered "swamper." This anecdote illustrates Steinbeck's desire to use the precise language of workers. Find other examples of Steinbeck's facility with language.

4. Several characters are identified through their hands and what they do with their hands. Comment.

IV. Listen up to the end of the chapter (“ The dog raised his head, but when Curley jerked out, the grizzled head sank to the floor again.”) and find the English equivalents for the expressions in bold type.

Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, накрашенные lips and широко посаженные eyes, heavily накрашенные. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red тапочки, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red страусиные feathers. “I’m lookin’ for Curley,” she said. Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality.

Explain the words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they were used:

1. apprehensive
2. let Curley take the rap
3. hit a pocket
4. a jerkline skinner
5. hatchet face
6. his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought
7. a temple dancer
8. it invited confidence without demanding it.
9. she slang her pups last night

Answer the following questions:

1) What did George tell Lennie to do if he got into any trouble?

2) How did Curley's wife look like when she appeared in the doorway? What were the men’s reactions to her?

3) Why did Lennie want to get away from that place? Was his fear justified?

4) Give character sketches of the new guys that came into the bunkhouse.

5) What did Lennie ask George to do after Slim and Carlson’s conversation?

 

Chapter 3.

(Track 8 Disk 2 – track 6 Disk 3)

(From “Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the bunk house, inside it was dusk” till “Well, get the hell out and wash your face.”).

I. Listen to the chapter in portions

Listen till the words «Andy’s in San Quentin right now on account of a tart,” said George» and give explanations to the following expressions:

1. thuds and clangs
2. string along together
3. a cuckoo
4. receptive
5. never lifted a finger against me
6. mean
7. a nuisance
8. to let out a squawk
9. a fence picket
10. to walk hunched
11. to scuttle out of the room
12. a pulp magazine
13. a leather thong
14. a leash
15. his voice trailed off
16. shuffled the cards noisily and dealt them
17. to roll up a stake
18. a stable buck
19. to snap the loaded shell from the chamber

 

Answer the questions:

1. What fascinated Slim so much about George and Lennie traveling together?

2. Why did George like Lennie?

3. Why did Lennie obey George?

4. What had happened in Weed?

5. How does the episode with the puppy characterize Lennie?

6. Describe the relations between the men at the ranch judging by the situation with Candy’s dog.

7. What are Carlson's reasons for shooting Candy's dog?

8. In what ways is Candy like his dog?

 

Listen further till the words “I ought to have shot that dog myself, George. I ought not to have let no stranger shoot my dog” and give explanations to the following expressions:

 

1. salmon
2. alfalfa
3. reprehensible
4. to leave my share to you in case I kick off
5. to can smb (sl.)
6. Candy’ll send a hundred dollars to bind her
7. to scram (out of here)

Answer the questions:

1. What was George and Lennie’s dream?

2. Why was Candy so interested in the idea of having their own house?

3. How did Candy persuade George to share the future house?

 

Listen to the last part and explain the words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they were used:

1. to be balanced and poised
2. to slash
3. to smash down one’s nose
4. blood welled from his nose
5. to slug
6. to bleat with terror
7. to hitch up
8. “This punk sure had it comin’ to him”.
9. wryly

 

Answer the questions

1. What happened when Slim, Curley, Carlson and Whit came back into the bunk house?

2. What did the fight between Lennie and Curley show about their characters?

3. Why didn't George help Lennie in the fight?

4. What is significant about Lennie’s last words: “ I di’n’t mean no harm, George. ”

 

Chapter 4.

(Track 7 Disk 3 – track 19 Disk 3)

(From “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness

room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn ” until “ He pulled out his shirt in back, poured a little liniment in his pink palm and, reaching

around, he fell slowly to rubbing his back ”)

I. Listen to the introductory episode of chapter 4 and find the English equivalents for the expressions in bold type:

Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk в комнате для хранения сбруи; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn. On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow дощатая door leading into the barn. Crooks’ bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were деревянные гвозди on which hung broken harness in process of being mended; strips of new leather; and under the window itself a little bench for leather-working tools, curved knives and needles and balls of linen thread, and a small hand riveter. On pegs were also pieces of harness, a split collar with the horsehair stuffing sticking out, a broken hame,* and a уздечка with its leather covering split. Crooks had his apple box over his bunk, and in it a range of medicine bottles, both for himself and for the horses. There were cans of saddle soap* and a протекающую can of tar with its paint brush sticking over the edge. And scattered about the floor were a number of личные вещи; for, being alone, Crooks could leave his things about, and being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men, and he накопил more possessions than he could carry on his back.

Crooks possessed several pairs of shoes, a pair of rubber boots, a big alarm clock and a одноствольный shotgun. And he had books, too; a потрепанный dictionary and a истерзанный copy of the California civil code for 1905. There were battered magazines and a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunk. A pair of large gold-rimmed spectacles hung from a nail on the wall above his bed.

This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, держащийся отстраненно man. He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs. His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with напряженностью. His lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thin, сжатые от боли lips which were lighter than his face.

 

Listen further till the words uttered by Crooks: “If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to ”.

Explain the words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they were used:

 

1. to throw a meager yellow light
2. liniment
3. to flex one’s muscles and shiver
4. his smile grew more fawning
5. Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him
6. You’re crazy as a wedge.
7. Lennie hunched down on the little barrel
8. a busted-back nigger.
9. booby hatch
10. alfalfa patch
11. scornful
12. a manure pile
13. whorehouse
14. to lend a hand

 

II. Say whether these statements are true or false:

1) The stable buck lived in a small room that nobody visited because he was a Negro.

2) One Saturday night he was glad to see Lennie.

3) Lennie told Crooks about their would-be rancho and rabbits.

4) When Candy came, it was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger.

5) Crooks was glad to have a room all to himself.

6) The stable buck was interested in the project of having their own land and house.

 

Answer the questions

1) What does Crooks’ room and the things in it tell you about his character?

2) What does Crooks say to Lennie about loneliness?

3) Why would Crooks react so negatively to Lennie, then let him in anyway?

4) Why does Crooks torture and taunt Lennie about George?

5) Why is Crooks called "Crooks"? How does this reflect his personality?

 

 

Listen further from the words “Any of you boys seen Curley?” till the end of the chapter.

Offer the English equivalents for the following words and phrases:

• она насмешливо смотрела на них
• вы боитесь, что остальные будут говорить что-то против вас
• ее лицо перестало быть мрачным и стало выражать заинтересованность
• замечательный парень
• чепуха, ерунда
• он сломал руку
• хорошо, прикрывайте его, если хотите
• бродяги, рабочие-поденщики
• Ты думаешь, мы выйдем на дорогу и станем искать другую никчемную копеечную работу, как эта?
• Если ты откроешь свой рот (слэнг)
• Я могла бы тебя повесить на дереве
• Крукс сделался незаметным
• Лошади фыркали

 

Answer the questions:

1) Why did Curley’s wife drop in at Crooks’ place?

2) Was she welcomed by the folks?

3) What did she want to know and what extra information did she receive from Candy, Crooks and Lenny?

4) Discuss the men's reactions to Curley's wife. Why doesn't she have a name?

5) When she threatens Crooks, she seems at her worst; why does she say what she says to him?

Chapter 5.

(Track 1 Disk 4 – track 12 disk 4)

(From “One end of the great barn was piled high with new hay ” until “ Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm”).

Listen to the chapter till the words “ The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted ” and offer the English equivalents for the following words and phrases, reproduce the situations they were used in:

· Ясли, кормушка

· Он вырыл ямку, положил туда щенка и прикрыл щенка соломой

· в панике он пальцами сгреб сено и накрыл щенка

· Ленни снова охватила тоска

· смахнул с него сено

· он притворился, будто хотел меня укусить, а я притворился, будто хотел его шлепнуть

· она утешала его: «Не переживай. Он был просто дворняжкой»

· ухаживать за кроликами

· из-за тебя мы попадем в беду

· он говорил, что у меня талант

· я могла бы кое-чего добиться

· он работал в кино

· она разоткровенничалась и подвинулась ближе к Лени

· ты спятил

· «У некоторых людей жесткие волосы», – сказала она самодовольно

· гладить волосы

· не растрепай их (волосы)

· трясла головой в стороны

· его лицо исказилось

· Она билась ногами о сено и изгибалась, пытаясь высвободится

· приглушенный крик

· забилась, как рыбка