One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Lesson 8
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ELA

Unit 3

11th Grade

Lesson 8 of 37

Objective


Explain the impact of the “Therapeutic Community” on Pete Bancini.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey  pp. 49 – 55

  • Movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 

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Target Task


Question 1

Based on p. 50, how did the Acutes respond to Pete’s confession?

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Sample Response

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Question 2

Over the course of this section, the primary focus shifts from:

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Sample Response

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Question 3

Is Pete Bancini dead? If so, whose fault is it? Can he be resurrected? 

Key Questions


  • According to Bromden, what is the “theory of Therapeutic Community?”
  • Who gets to decide sanity according to the Therapeutic Community? What is the role of “secrets” in the Therapeutic Community? 
  • Identify Bromden’s flashback on p. 50.
  • What motif is reinforced at the bottom of p. 50? 
  • How does the description of the Big Nurse on p. 51 reinforce theme?  
  • Summarize the first few confessions of the men. How is Pete’s confession different? How do the others feel about Pete’s words?
  • What is the effect of the author revealing Pete’s backstory?
  • Why wasn’t the Combine able to get to Pete?
  • Track the change in the attitude of the black boy toward Pete from p. 52-53.
  • What does the narrator compare Pete to on p. 53?  What is the impact?
  • Was does Pete mean by “I died” and “I was born dead.” Do you agree?
  • Why wasn’t there “any need” for the Nurse to administer the shot to Pete? 
  • What does Bromden compare Pete to on p. 55? How did this incident impact Pete permanently?

Notes


  • Consider showing clip of “I’m tired” scene from the movie at the end of class.

Next

Evaluate the interaction between McMurphy and Harding based on dialogue and actions.

Identify and analyze an analogy used in the novel. 

Lesson 9
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