47 pages 1 hour read

John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1937

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 3-4

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 3 Summary

Dusk falls at the bunkhouse. After a hard Friday afternoon’s work, George thanks Slim for giving Lennie one of his dog’s puppies. Slim compliments Lennie’s strength and work ethic: “There ain’t nobody can keep up with him” (44). Slim comments on George and Lennie’s relationship, which at first makes George defensive, but soon George confides in Slim. He explains their history, beginning with George’s friendship with Lennie’s Aunt Clara, who raised Lennie since infancy, and the fun he had with Lennie when they were young. George used to beat up Lennie just because he could, until one day when George casually instructed Lennie to jump in a river. Lennie jumped in even though he couldn’t swim. George continues: “An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out” (45). Since then, George has appreciated that Lennie’s friendship has kept him from “wantin’ to fight all the time,” like “the guys that go around on the ranches alone” (46). George confesses to Slim the real reason George and Lennie left their last job in Weed, explaining that Lennie, in his enthusiasm for soft things, saw a girl in a red dress and “reache[d] out to feel this red dress an’ the girl [let] out a squawk” (47).

Related Titles

By John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

Cannery Row

John Steinbeck

Cannery Row

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

In Dubious Battle

John Steinbeck

In Dubious Battle

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

Sweet Thursday

John Steinbeck

Sweet Thursday

John Steinbeck

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

John Steinbeck

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Harvest Gypsies

John Steinbeck

The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

The Log From The Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck

The Log From The Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

The Long Valley

John Steinbeck

The Long Valley

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Moon Is Down

John Steinbeck

The Moon Is Down

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Red Pony

John Steinbeck

The Red Pony

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Wayward Bus

John Steinbeck

The Wayward Bus

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Winter Of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck

The Winter Of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

To a God Unknown

John Steinbeck

To a God Unknown

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

Tortilla Flat

John Steinbeck

Tortilla Flat

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

Travels With Charley

John Steinbeck

Travels With Charley

John Steinbeck