One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Questions
Part 1:
1. Who is the narrator and how is he revealed?
2. How is Big Nurse portrayed?
3. What are some of the Chief’s first impressions of McMurphy?
4. How does Bromden describe the ward? Give specifics.
5. How does the Chief feel about the staff’s operative successes?
6. How does McMurphy adjust to hospital regimentation? How does Big Nurse react to
him?
7. What is the Combine? What is the relationship of Nurse Ratched, McMurphy and the
Chief to the Combine?
8. How does Big Nurse maintain her control over the ward?
9. What goes on during Group Therapy? What is its function? How does McMurphy
describe the session?
10. McMurphy makes a bet which puts him in a contest with Nurse Ratched. Describe the
wager and McMurphy’s reasons for suggesting it.
11. What are the consequences of the bet?
12. When does McMurphy discover that the Chief can hear?
13. What effect does McMurphy have on the Chief? What device does Kesey use to show the
extent of the Chief’s illness?
Part 2:
1. At the staff meeting, how does Nurse Ratched suggest handling McMurphy?
2. As the Chief’s mind clears, he becomes aware of his surroundings. Describe the scene
which captures his attention as he looks out the window.
3. Why does McMurphy suddenly begin cooperating with Big Nurse?
4. How do the changes in McMurphy’s behavior affect Cheswick, Chief Bromden, and Big
Nurse?
5. McMurphy sets forth a personal philosophy during the discussion after Harding’s wife’s
visit. What is his idea?
6. How does McMurphy misunderstand the patients’ reasons for wanting him to do battle
with Nurse Ratched?
7. Why don’t the “voluntary” patients leave the hospital?
8. How does McMurphy signal his return to battle with Nurse Ratched? Why do you
suppose he decides to fight?
Part 3:
1. Describe McMurphy’s behavior during the days after he smashes the Nursing Station
window.
2. How does Nurse Ratched oppose McMurphy’s plans for the fishing trip?
3. How does the Chief react to the fishing proposal?
4. How do the Chief’s recollections of his childhood explain his pretending to be deaf and
dumb?
5. What prompts the Chief to speak? What happens after he begins to talk?
6. What does the Chief mean when he says he is smaller than McMurphy?
7. Describe the deal McMurphy makes with the Chief.
8. Twice during the outing the patients think they have learned how to be courageous. On
the first occasion, their courage is tested and fails them, but on the second, their courage
proves genuine. Describe both situations.
Part 4:
1. At the start of this section, Big Nurse renews her attack against McMurphy. What does
she charge? How successful is she?
2. How does McMurphy react to the Chief’s charge that McMurphy is always winning?
3. Why does McMurphy start the fight in the shower room? Why does the Chief join him?
4. In the electro-shock episode, Chief Bromden provides the title for the novel. What does it
signify?
5. McMurphy can escape the shock treatments by admitting that he was wrong. Why
doesn’t he?
6. Why do the men plan to help McMurphy escape?
7. What sort of person is Billy? How old is he? How do these things help to explain his fate?
8. When the other men tell McMurphy they do not blame him for Billy’s fate, what is his
reaction?
9. Why does McMurphy rip Big Nurse’s dress down the front?
10. Why does the Chief smother McMurphy?
Extra Questions to Ponder:
1. Why does McMurphy fight Nurse Ratched?
2. The novel suggests that the mental patients are no less sane than the staff—or many other
people on the “outside.” Describe situations in which this seems the case.
3. Why is so much attention given to the pure white of the staff uniforms and to the white
interior of the ward?
4. Name some of the animals referred to in the novel and explain what each animal
represents.
5. McMurphy claims his black satin shorts were a gift from a literature student who told him
that he was a symbol. Discuss the possible meaning of the white whale on McMurphy’s
shorts and the possible meaning of the statement that McMurphy is a symbol.
6. Trace McMurphy’s effect on Chief Bromden. How does the Chief’s behavior mirror
McMurphy’s progress in his efforts to bait Nurse Ratched and rouse the patients?
7. What is McMurphy like when he enters the hospital? How does he change? What forces
bring about these changes?
8. What is the Combine? How does it help to bring out the theme of the book?
9. Does McMurphy win or lose his battle with Big Nurse? Explain fully the basis for your
answer.
10. Is McMurphy actually insane?