Syllabus Day 2

Pages 42- 116
Syllabus: Baergen
Notes: Sara

Warm Up Activity:
On page 57 (my book) McMurphy describes the hospital as being a "pecking party", a place where people find someone who is weak, and start "pecking", ultimately destroying the person and themselves. What are some examples of "pecking parties" in society today?

Discussion Questions:
1. What determines whether a person is a rabbit or a wolf?

2. What evidence is there that the patients are actually crazy? What evidence suggests otherwise?

3. What makes Nurse Ratched so powerful in the hospital?

4. What does Nurse Ratched gain from having so much power?

5. Why are the workers addressed as "black boys"? What does this show about the hospital?

6. Why did the author choose to have Bromden narrate the book?

7. We talked about how we pictured a "crazy person" but how do the movies portray these people?

8. If McMurphy is aware that Bromden is deaf, why would he keep it a secret?

9.What is the combine? What does that represent?

10. What is the significance to Bromden's "dream"? Did those events actually occur?


Closing Activity:
After discussing what characteristics determine whether a person is a rabbit or a wolf, think about which category you fall under. Share one personal experience where you either felt like a rabbit or a wolf.