"Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. He cried, "Make 'um stop George

"Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. He cried, "Make 'um stop George

1. Suggests that Lennie is a coward

   • 'Fights like a girl" - instantly hiding his face.
     • Hints at previous fights, where Lennie may have been injured.

2. Huge paws- shows that Lennie is like a bear.

   • Big and intimidating but shy and afraid.
     • Basic animal needs, no desire for anything.
       • Little reliability
   • Hunter animals, solitary
     • Links to the theme of loneliness
       • Bears are meant to be solitary, the partnership of George and Lennie isn't working.

3. Bleating makes Lennie seem like a sheep or goat.

   • Sheep live in herds, and they all follow the other sheep.
     • Lennie follows the other men on the ranch.
       • He looks to them for instruction.
   • Goats are aggressive
     • Sharp horns, Shrill cries
       • Lennie is aggressive when provoked and told to be.

4. Terror - Night terrors, like a child.

   • Lennie is terrorised by the men all the time
     • Lennie is vulnerable like a child
       • Harsh and overuse of the 'r' sound

5. He cries in desperation, like a child

   • Crying like a child
     • Reference to Chapter 1 where Lennie is blubbing about George

6. Begs George to help him

   • He is scared despite his size and strength
     • Much like an animal