Carlson’s shooting the dog humanely in the back of the head foreshadows the manner of Lennie’s death, and like Candy, who consents to putting his dog down, George experiences heartbreaking anguish in doing what must be done.

When Carlson kills the dog, Candy confides to George that he wishes he’d done it himself instead of letting Carlson do it. This comment foreshadows George’s decision to shoot Lennie himself, as he is Lennie’s closest companion.

Life is not valued in the book; Lennie accidentally kills the creatures he pets and Candy’s dog is shot by Carlson when he is no longer useful. The title itself foreshadows the characters’ unhappiness at the end of the book, as it provides a warning that things will not work out for the characters as they hope.

Terms in this set (12) Lennie gets upset and angry at his dead puppy because he thinks that when George finds out that George won’t let Lennie tend to the rabbits anymore. Lennie becomes angry at Curley’s wife because she keeps screaming and yelling and Lennie thinks George will hear and check on him.

Why does George offer Lennie a pup? Lennie always accidentally kills the mice he is given by petting them too hard. George offers Lennie a pup in order for Lennie to be able to pet the pup without killing it.

George made a promise to Lennie the night before they got to the ranch that he could have one if he behaved. How does George know that Lennie has brought the pup into the bunkhouse? Lennie comes into the barn hunched over and when George asked him about it, he denied right away.

Lennie

Slim reports that he drowned four of the puppies immediately because their mother would have been unable to feed them. Carlson suggests that they convince Candy to shoot his old, worthless mutt and raise one of the pups instead.