one flew over the cuckoo’s nest
by ken kesey
Summer Reading Assignment : Harrisburg Academy
Grade 11
(Questions adopted from a Prestwick House study guide)
Directions: In short essays (roughly five sentences in length), respond to ANY FOUR of the
following 12 prompts, PLUS the one REQUIRED essay at the end. Complete your five essays before
returning to school and be prepared to submit them to Turnitin.com.
Optional Essays: Choose Four
1. Define Combine, the fog, and time control. Why does the Chief describe the hospital as a large
machine?
2. Some qualities of heroes are courage, self-confidence, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves for
others. Cite incidents from the story proving McMurphy has these qualities.
3. In what ways do the men change on the fishing trip? What change does the Chief observe in
McMurphy on the way back to the hospital?
4. Find three examples of Christ-like images in this story. Speculate on whether or not McMurphy is
intended to be a Christ-like character. (For example: "Anointest my head with conductant. Do I get a
crown of thorns?"  This one doesn’t count toward your
three.)
5. For what reasons do you think Kesey chose to tell this
story from the Chief’s point of view? What is the effect
of that narrative perspective?
6. Define black comedy. Cite three examples of black
comedy in this story.
7. Describe McMurphy from Nurse Ratched’s point of view.
8. Why do McMurphy and the Chief believe Nurse Ratched is not totally responsible for the misery the
men on her ward suffer?
9. Why would people be offended by Kesey’s black characters? Cite incidents from the story to support
your answer. Is the novel racist, or are these characters particular to their setting and not meant to
represent the broad spectrum of race? (For example, the Big Nurse chooses the men on the ward for
their “ability to hate,” therefore they aren’t intended to represent black people generally.)
10. Is the novel sexist? How are women portrayed in general? Consider also minor characters like
Candy Starr and Vera Harding. How does McMuphy seem to view each of these women?
11. Discuss the significance of the title of this novel and what geese may symbolize in this story.
12. What is the importance of laughter in this novel? Cite specific examples from the text.
Required Essay:
In eight or more well-crafted sentences, comment on the ending of this novel. How does it tie in with
the overall theme - a person’s right to be an individual versus society’s need to make people conform?
Choose specific examples from the text in supporting your discussion.