Of Mice and Men Lesson Plan

Why do you think Crooks is unwelcoming to Lennie when he first appears?

Crooks, as he describes later in the chapter, has been accustomed to racial discrimination and segregation. The men do not ordinarily include him in their activities. He is looked down upon simply because he is African American. Years of these experiences have hardened Crooks against offers of friendship. He is suspicious of Lennie because he has learned to close himself off from any companionship. Crooks masks his true loneliness by adopting the attitude that he does not need other people, hence his initial reception to Lennie.

What do you notice about the conversation between Crooks and Lennie?...