Text Complexity Analysis of: (Title and Author)
Text Type: (Novel, short story, graphic novel, etc)
Text Description
Catch-22 is a satirical novel set in WW II about Captain Yossarian, a
U.S. Army bombardier. The novel looks into the experiences of
Yossarian and focuses on his attempts to keep his sanity in order to
fulfill his service requirements so that he can return home.
Recommended Complexity Band Level
This language difficulty and the complexity of the themes indicate that this book is
best taught at 11th grade.
Quantitative Measure
Quantitative Measure of the Text:
1140L
Range:
1050-1335
Associated Band Level:
9-10
Qualitative Measures
Text Structure:
The novel is told in a circular and repetitive style where the reader must focus on the stories of the different characters in order to maintain the plot..
Language Features:
Contemporary tone, easy to read.
Meaning/Purpose:
The novel has multiple levels of meaning. On the surface characters learn the power of bureaucracy and question the world that surrounds them.
On a deeper level, the novel examines the inefficiency of bureaucracy and the idea of sanity versus insanity.
Knowledge Demands:
Students have experience with authorities telling them what to do, but irrational demands may be new to them.
Why do you want to teach this book? Catch-22 is a classic novel introducing older readers to satire. I like having students read about situations that takes
them outside their comfort level.
Text Complexity Analysis of: (Title and Author)
Text Type: (Novel, short story, graphic novel, etc)
Considerations for Reader and Task
Possible Major Instructional Areas of Focus (include 3-4 CCS Standards) for this
Text:
RL.11-12.2 – Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze
their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and
build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective
summary of the text.
How does the author develop the themes of isolation and passivity throughout the
novel? How do the two themes interact to build the story?
RL.11-12.5– Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific
parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to
provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and
meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.
How does the author’s decision to present events out of chronological order
contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the novel?
RL.7.3– Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how
setting shapes the characters or plot).
How does Yossarian’s job as a bombardier contribute to the theme of the novel?
Below are factors to consider with respect to the reader and task:
Potential Challenges this Text Poses:
The storyline doesn’t follow chronological order.
Differentiation/Supports for Students:
Allow students to read in small groups to help interpret the text.
Text Sets
“The Catch in ‘Catch-22’” (Informational). An article discussing the novel’s
influence over the past 50 years.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/04/joseph-heller-catch-22-50thanniversary-how-the-novel-changed-america.html
Mother Night, Kurt Vonnegut (Literary). A satirical novel about an American spy
during WWII.
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”, Randall Jarrell (Poem). A poem about the
death of a gunner in WWI. file://localhost/.
http/::www.poets.org:poetsorg:poem:death-ball-turret-gunner
“The War for Catch-22”, Tracy Daugherty (Informational). An excerpt from a
Joseph Heller biography.
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/heller-201108
Catch-22, Mike Nichols (Film). The film version of the book.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/
“’Catch-22’: A Paradox Turns 50 and Still Rings True” Lynn Neary (Audio). A radio
story on the relevance of the novel today.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/
“Satire” (Informational). Definitions and examples of satire.
http://literarydevices.net/satire/
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