Questions and Answers
What is Yossarian doing in the beginning of the novel?
Playing hookey in the hospital pretending he has a liver condition
What is Yossarian's job in the hospital?
Censoring letters (sometimes he signs them with Washington Irving)
Who are Yossarian's companions in the hospital?
Dunbar, a Texan, and the soldier in white
Why does everyone leave the hospital?
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Who is Washington Irving, and why did Heller choose him for his allusion?
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What's ironic about the use of the word 'patriotically' in regards to the Texan?
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Why does Clevinger think Yossarian is crazy?
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Explain the logic to Yossarian's argument against Clevinger.
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What is Heller's satire targeting?
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Who is Yossarian's roommate?
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How does Orr try to get to Yossarian?
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Who is Colonel Cargill?
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How many missions did most generals expect to complete a tour of duty?
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Whom does Yossarian hate?
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Characterize Doc Daneeka.
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What does the officers' ignorance of T.S. Eliot emphasize?
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How does Dunbar believe he can live longer?
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When Chief White Halfoat tells the story of the oil companies following his family around, what figure of speech is he primarily using?
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What is Catch 22 employed by Doc Daneeka when Yossarian tries to go insane?
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Why is Yossarian so good at directing evasive maneuvers once the bombs have been dropped?
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Why did Dobbs go 'crazy in mid-air' on the Avignon mission?
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What is special about Hungry Joe?
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Why does Hungry Joe seem relieved whenever the number of required missions is raised again?
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Another application of Catch 22?
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What letter did Yossarian receive from Doc Daneeka?
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Who is Milo Minderbinder?
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What might Milo's disunited eyes suggest symbolically?
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What illegal activity is Milo a part of?
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Whose wife cheats on him with every man?
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What is Scheisskopf obsessed with?
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What does Scheisskopf accuse Clevinger of?
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What is Heller's tone in Clevinger's 'trial'?
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What does Clevinger realize at the end of this chapter?
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How is Major Major's father a hypocrite?
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Major Major's elders dislike him because he is such a flagrant nonconformist. How so?
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What are Major Major's only moments of true happiness?
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Who are the C.I.D. men?
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Is Yossarian still avoiding responsibility even though he has flown fifty-one missions?
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Who is the dead man in Yossarian's tent?
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What mission are all the men shitless trying to avoid?
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Why is Yossarian encouraged by the Grand Conspiracy of Lowery Field?
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How is Wintergreen like Yossarian?
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Where does Catch 22 take place?
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Study Notes
Character Actions and Relationships
- Yossarian pretends to have a liver condition to avoid combat duties, spending time in a hospital.
- His job involves censoring letters, humorously sometimes signing them as "Washington Irving."
- Yossarian's fellow patients in the hospital include Dunbar and the soldier in white.
- Most of the men leave the hospital area to avoid the company of the obnoxious Texan.
Themes and Irony
- The ironic use of "patriotically" in the Texan's views highlights his undemocratic stance on voting rights.
- Heller's satire criticizes the absurdity of warfare and the motivations of those who label themselves as patriots.
- Doc Daneeka exemplifies selfishness and a lack of gratitude for his position, often lamenting his situation.
War and Its Absurdities
- General expectations set an arbitrary mission count of 50 to complete a tour of duty.
- Yossarian prominently displays fear, which aids his instinct for survival during missions.
- The paradox of Catch-22 represents the illogical cycle where a desire for sanity indicates one is not insane enough to escape combat.
Significant Characters
- Milo Minderbinder operates with a capitalistic mindset, engaging in black market activities to maximize his and the syndicate's benefit.
- Hungry Joe's post-mission nightmares cease when mission counts rise, reflecting the psychological toll of war.
- Major Major Major's direct adherence to rules renders him a nonentity, lacking individual distinction or accomplishment.
Societal Observations and Character Flaws
- The comic juxtaposition of officers misunderstanding T.S. Eliot's name emphasizes their cultural ignorance and reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths.
- Major Major's father exhibits hypocrisy, claiming independence while engaging in dishonest behavior.
- Clevinger experiences realization and paranoia related to the hostility from his superiors, suggesting a breakdown in military camaraderie.
Narrative Setting and Context
- Most events occur in the war-torn backdrop of Pianosa, Italy, grounding the narrative in a specific, chaotic environment.
- The deadman in Yossarian's tent, Mudd, symbolizes the absurdity of bureaucracy, having never officially reported but always remaining present.
Philosophical Reflections on Life and Death
- Dunbar believes life feels longer when filled with discomfort, contrasting the human tendency to seek pleasure.
- Wintergreen's actions of going AWOL and his subsequent punishments hint at a deeper understanding of the futility of war.
- The mass desertion incident at Lowery Field—vanishing soldiers—offers Yossarian a sense of relief from the pressures of war and responsibility.
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Description
Explore the intricate actions and relationships between the characters in 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller. Analyze the themes of irony and the absurdities of war that the novel presents through Yossarian's experiences and the interactions with his fellow soldiers. This quiz delves into the satirical elements that highlight the challenges faced in military life.