Similes
Examples
Page 2
On the sand banks, the rabbits sat as quiet as little gray, sculptured stones.
The rabbits are compared to stones to communicate just how still and peaceful everything is.
Page 7
A water snake slipped along on the pool, its head held up like a little periscope.
Periscopes are used to keep watch, and the snake needs to keep watch because trouble could strike at any moment, as it does to Lennie.
Page 22
"No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull."
Here, Steinbeck is making absolutely sure that we know how powerful Lennie is, so it doesn't come off as illogical later.
Page 31
Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.
Steinbeck does not want us to sympathize with Curley's Wife, so he compared her hair to sausages because that is an off-putting description.
Page 58-59
When Candy spoke they both jumped as though they had been caught doing something reprehensible.
One of the points of this book is that the American Dream is unobtainable, so George and Lennie letting themselves get lost in their dreams is a bad thing.
Page 62
"You're yella as a frog belly."
Curley is not meant to be liked, and comparing him to a frog belly definetly puts a bad picture in the reader's mind.
Page 84
The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn...
This simile is meant to emphasize that an important event is coming up, through the way it takes something as simple as hay falling and makes it seems like a big occasion.
Page 90
"But you're a kinda nice fella. Jus' like a big baby."
Here Steinbeck is blatantly pointing out the fact that Lennie has the mind of a child.
Page 100
Suddenly Lennie appeared out of the brush, and he came as silently as a creeping bear moves.
Bears are very strong, but not intelligent, as is Lennie. A bear is a perfect comparison to describe Lennie's condition.
On the sand banks, the rabbits sat as quiet as little gray, sculptured stones.
The rabbits are compared to stones to communicate just how still and peaceful everything is.
Page 7
A water snake slipped along on the pool, its head held up like a little periscope.
Periscopes are used to keep watch, and the snake needs to keep watch because trouble could strike at any moment, as it does to Lennie.
Page 22
"No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull."
Here, Steinbeck is making absolutely sure that we know how powerful Lennie is, so it doesn't come off as illogical later.
Page 31
Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.
Steinbeck does not want us to sympathize with Curley's Wife, so he compared her hair to sausages because that is an off-putting description.
Page 58-59
When Candy spoke they both jumped as though they had been caught doing something reprehensible.
One of the points of this book is that the American Dream is unobtainable, so George and Lennie letting themselves get lost in their dreams is a bad thing.
Page 62
"You're yella as a frog belly."
Curley is not meant to be liked, and comparing him to a frog belly definetly puts a bad picture in the reader's mind.
Page 84
The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn...
This simile is meant to emphasize that an important event is coming up, through the way it takes something as simple as hay falling and makes it seems like a big occasion.
Page 90
"But you're a kinda nice fella. Jus' like a big baby."
Here Steinbeck is blatantly pointing out the fact that Lennie has the mind of a child.
Page 100
Suddenly Lennie appeared out of the brush, and he came as silently as a creeping bear moves.
Bears are very strong, but not intelligent, as is Lennie. A bear is a perfect comparison to describe Lennie's condition.