comparing two things using like or as
Ex. "You're like a kid Lennie."

language or way of speech of a particular region of the country
Ex. "It wasn't no good to pet."

the author directly tells the reader what the character is like
Ex. "He stepped short, quick steps, of a fat legged man."

the author gives clues about a character by describing what a character looks like, does, and says, as well as how other characters react to them
Ex. "Crooks scowled, but Lennie's disarming smile defeated him. Come on in and set a while."

the author directly tells the reader what the character is like
Ex. "He stepped short, quick steps, of a fat legged man."

the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected
Ex. Crooks lets Lennie in his room.

a person says one thing and means another (sarcasm)
Ex. "Sure, said Crooks. And a manure pile under the window. Sure, it's swell."

the audience knows something that the characters do not know
Ex. When Lennie walks in Crooks's room. (Lennie does not know that he is unwanted in there.)

descriptive words that appeal to the five senses
Ex. "A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas river drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green."

hints that something is going to happen in the story
Ex. George tells Lennie in the opening chapter that if he gets into trouble to go back and hide in the brush by the river.

characters, objects, or events that have an abstract, or figurative meaning (stands for something else)
Ex. George and Lennie's dream represents their freedom and wealth.

adding human characteristics to non-living objects
Ex. "the afternoon sun sliced through the cracks of barn walls"

the main character
Ex. Lennie and George because they are the main people in the story.

opposing character to the main character
Ex. Curley/Curley's wife

struggle between opposing forces
Ex. Lennie vs. Curley; Lennie vs. George; Candy vs. himself; Ranch men vs. society