Ideas for Group Discussions

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Since its initial release, Catch-22 has sparked intense debate among readers and critics due to its experimental nature. This led to questions about whether it truly qualifies as a "novel," whether it possesses a discernible structure, whether its content is excessively vulgar, and if Heller struggled with character development. Delving into Catch-22's place in literary tradition can stimulate engaging discussions. Readers might compare it to other war narratives like Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage (1895) or Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms (1929), relate Heller's emphasis on Yossarian's quest for freedom to existentialist literature, or examine the fragmented chronology in Heller's work alongside the styles of Faulkner and Fitzgerald.

Given Heller's experience in writing for film and television, readers may find it interesting to draw parallels between this novel and other media. For example, they might compare some of Heller's slapstick scenes to Mel Brooks's films or explore connections between Catch-22 and McHale's Navy, for which Heller wrote the pilot.

Heller is adept at making readers skeptical of various systems, from military hierarchies to hospital administration to American capitalism. Evaluating the fairness of his depictions of these systems can lead to thought-provoking conversations. Similarly, Heller's treatment of language warrants examination. Do we observe Doublespeak in American society? Are we ensnared by logical illogic? What Catch-22 regulations exist within our culture?

1. Given its blend of realistic and surrealistic techniques, is Catch-22 a novel, or does it redefine our understanding of the novel?

2. Do you agree with the critic who suggested that Heller's manuscript pages might have been scrambled before printing, or do you find meaningful structural patterns?

3. Is Heller's use of a large cast of flat characters a strength or a weakness?

4. Are Heller's portrayals of female characters demeaning? Are the male characters obsessed with sex? If so, is there a significant reason behind this?

5. What are Heller's main criticisms of the military, the medical establishment, capitalism, and the judicial system? Do these criticisms seem justified?

6. What does Heller's depiction of Chaplain Tappman reveal about his attitudes towards religion?

7. What significance do the names of characters like Orr, Milo Minderbender, Major Major, and General Peckem hold?

8. How effective is Yossarian as a protagonist? Why does Heller emphasize Yossarian's Assyrian heritage? What is the significance of his nakedness?

9. What impact does Chapter Thirty-Nine, "The Eternal City," have on the reader?

10. How does Heller focus on mortality? Why is the Snowden incident repeatedly referenced throughout the novel?

11. Is the novel's ending pessimistic, affirmative, or frustratingly inconclusive?

12. Heller has remarked that the morality in Catch-22 is "rather orthodox — almost medieval." Do you agree with this statement?

Lynne P. Shackelford

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