1. YEAR 11 ENGLISHOne Flew over the Cuckoos Nest

2. IntroductionOne Flew over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey isset in an Oregon psychiatric hospital. The narrator ofthe story is a half-Indian man known as the Chief whois a seemingly deaf and dumb patient who suffersfrom hallucinations and paranoia. Nurse Ratched isthe head nurse of the hospital and she runs a tightship with strict rules and routines governing therunning of the ward. The story begins with RandleMcMurphys transfer from the Pendleton work farmwhere he has been sentence to six months hardlabour and it is his introduction to the ward and its allmale patients that set the story in motion. 3. Main Characters The Chief Narrator. The son of a Columbian Indian, the Chief is a patient inthe hospital (chronic) who is deaf and dumb and suffers fromhallucinations and paranoia. The Big Nurse Protagonist. A self confessed gambler and con man, McMurphyhas been transferred to the mental hospital in an attempt to getout of his sentence on the prison work farm. The Big Nurse Antagonist. She is the head of the ward and runs it to a tightschedule/routine. The nurse likes to be in control and as suchshe uses strict rules and manipulation to ensure that the patientsand other hospital employees do as she asks. 4. CharactersDale HardingMartini Scanlan Charles George CheswickSorensonEllisBilly Bibbit Pete BanciniSefeltFredrickson 5. Literary DevicesThese are the tools that an author uses to tell their story.CharacterisationIronySymbolism PersonificationMotifsMetaphorsThemesSimilesNarration ExaggerationForeshadowing Flashbacks 6. Literary Devices: SymbolismThe Combine The combine is the machine the harvests wheat. This symbolises themechanical nature of the hospital and the way in which theindividual is cut down to size and controlledThe Fog The fog clouds our vision of the real world. In the fog the harshrealities of life can be softened, you can choose not to deal withthings, you are protected. The chief tells us that McMurphy attemptsto pull all the patients out of the fog.The Electro Shock Therapy TableImages of the table are linked with crucifixion. Thetable also serves as a symbol of the nurses power. 7. Literary Device: MotifsReal Vs Imagined SizeSize is an imagined construct. The people in the ward are thought to be small, the chief too, is a very tall person; however, he sees himself as being small, cut down by society and the nurse.McMurphy may not be the tallest man, but to the Chief he is larger than life.Size is linked with confidence.InvisibilityThe nurses control of the ward is invisible but always there. The Chief tries to be invisible. He moves about the ward with ease blending into his surroundings and he chooses to be deaf and dumb, for him a defence against a society that doesnt listen to him or value him as a person.The Power of LaughterChief comments on the fact that before McMurphys arrival noone actually laughs. Laughter seems to be linked with freedomand in the confidence of a person to accept what is happeningin their life and defend themselves against society. 8. Literary Device: ThemesMental IllnessRebellion Against AuthorityThe IndividualityExpressing ones sexuality 9. Literary DevicesFirst Person Narrator: The ChiefThe reader comes to know what ishappening through the Chief. We learnabout the characters, the plot and thestoryline through the Chief and are limitedto his point of view.ForeshadowingThis is used to alert or warn the reader aboutwhat is going to happen. An example of thisis when the chief tells us about Ruckly andFredrickson. 10. Literary DevicesIrony.When a statement or situation is made and theopposite of the literal outcome occurs.The Nurse dislikes that way McMurphy has powerover and manipulates the patients (in her view). Thisis ironic because that is what she does to them.Personification.Giving human characteristic to inanimate objects.It can be said that the nurse personifies what thechief sees to be society constraints. She toopersonifies the negative images of women in thetext. 11. Literary DevicesImagery.This is used to help convey ideas to thereader. Imagery about the fog and thecombine help us to understand theChief and his views about the world.Metaphors and Similes.These also help to convey ideas to thereader. The metaphor of the nurse as atractor and similes where the patientsare thought of as chickens. 12. Literary DevicesExaggerationWe exaggerate when we overstate things orstretch the truth. In telling the story the Chiefmay be doing this to grab our attention..FlashbacksA device used to present action that occurredbefore the beginning of the story. As the chieftells us his story he often reveals a story from hispast.. 13. Writing an Analytical EssayKnowledge andDevelop an argument that shows your understanding Understandingof text and the way it was created. Analysisdevelop a point of view, connecting ideas from the textto your essay question.Applicationsupport that view through close textual references andanalysisCommunicationWrite a well planned and well structure essay thatanswer the essay question. 14. Writing an Analytical Essay Essay titles come in two types, the specific and the general. QUESTION Write your selected question or thesis statement at the start of your essay Say how you intend to approach the question,INTRODUCTION define terms, outline the points you intend to elaborate on in the order you plan to tackle them take each point you have outlined in theMAIN BODYintroduction and discuss it using evidence from the text and quotes as support. This single paragraph pulls together the parts of CONCLUSIONyour argument in a summary, do not include new information here 15. Writing an Analytical EssaySTAGE 1STAGE 2Analyse thequestion. Define STAGE 3key terms and Outline, in pointideas and rewrite form, the mainSTAGE 4ideas for each Begin writing.these in your ownEnsure that eachwords to ensure paragraph. This Proof read yourmeans your paragraph has athat you topic sentence,essay and let it situnderstand. introduction, mainfor a while youbody and clear argument and that this is may find errorsconclusionlater. Submit it for supported with evidence.drafting prior tothe due date. 16. Analytical EssayStudents complete an analytical essay onone of the questions below: Can one person make a difference? To what extent does One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest provide an answer to this question? Refer to symbols, motifs, characterisation The Chief often makes reference to the combine. What is the combine and how does it work? Why do you think the Chief is so fearful of this machine? How does Ken Kesey use the interaction between McMurphy, and two other characters to explore ideas in One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest? You might look at McMurphy, the Big Nurse and Chief Bromden here. 17. Can one person make a difference?To what extent does One Flew overthe Cuckoos Nest provide ananswer to this question? Refer tosymbols, motifs, characterisation If you choose this question you could focus on eitherMcMurphy or Nurse Ratched and you will need to arguefor or against the question. If you choose McMurphy you would be looking at how hewas successful, or otherwise, in reforming the patients andthe ward. In some ways you could say he was successfulas many patients did gain the confidence to lead theward; however, the cost were high. If you looked at the nurse you could focus on thedifference she has made to the lives of the patients forbetter or worse. 18. The Chief often makes referenceto the combine. What is thecombine and how does it work?Why do you think the Chief is sofearful of this machine? If you choose this question you need to define thecombine, telling the reader how it works using textualreferences and evidence Explain what the combine symbolises to the chief Then say why you think that he is so fearful of it. what can you pay for the way a man lives 19. How does Ken Kesey use theinteraction between McMurphy, andtwo other characters to explore ideasin One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest?You might look at McMurphy, the BigNurse and Chief Bromden here. To answer this question you need to discuss two or threeideas, themes or symbols and then explain how it isthrough character interaction that these ideas areconveyed. Example: Idea of Authority Interaction between theNurse and McMurphy Example: Idea of Mental Illness Interaction betweenMcMurphy and the other patients Example: Idea of Expressing Sexuality McMurphy and theNurse or McMurphy and Harding.