Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is the narrator of the story?
Who is the narrator of the story?
Chief 'Broom' Bromden
What are the personalities/attitudes of the Black orderlies?
What are the personalities/attitudes of the Black orderlies?
Hateful and they hate absolutely everything
Who makes fun of the 'chief'?
Who makes fun of the 'chief'?
The Black orderlies
What has Chief Bromden been tricking everyone into thinking about him?
What has Chief Bromden been tricking everyone into thinking about him?
As Bromden sweeps the floor, who walks in?
As Bromden sweeps the floor, who walks in?
Who is the 'Big Nurse'?
Who is the 'Big Nurse'?
What is the personality of Nurse Ratched?
What is the personality of Nurse Ratched?
Why does Chief Bromden cover his eyes?
Why does Chief Bromden cover his eyes?
When the 'Big Nurse' is in the Glass Nurses' Room, what does she observe?
When the 'Big Nurse' is in the Glass Nurses' Room, what does she observe?
What do the Black orderlies do when they see Nurse Ratched's glare towards them?
What do the Black orderlies do when they see Nurse Ratched's glare towards them?
Why does Nurse Ratched become so infuriated?
Why does Nurse Ratched become so infuriated?
What is the characteristic of the orderlies' mutual hate?
What is the characteristic of the orderlies' mutual hate?
Why does Nurse Ratched stop fighting with the Black men and stop bickering?
Why does Nurse Ratched stop fighting with the Black men and stop bickering?
What does Nurse Ratched do so that the orderlies move along?
What does Nurse Ratched do so that the orderlies move along?
What does Nurse Ratched do so that the patients go back to their dorms?
What does Nurse Ratched do so that the patients go back to their dorms?
According to Bromden, why is Nurse Ratched so bitter?
According to Bromden, why is Nurse Ratched so bitter?
Who, according to Nurse Ratched, will be the first man to be shaved on Monday?
Who, according to Nurse Ratched, will be the first man to be shaved on Monday?
After hearing that he will be 'shaved', where does Bromden hide?
After hearing that he will be 'shaved', where does Bromden hide?
Why is getting shaved after breakfast better than getting shaved before?
Why is getting shaved after breakfast better than getting shaved before?
What does Bromden fear most when in the mop closet?
What does Bromden fear most when in the mop closet?
How does Bromden remove himself from his fear of being found in the closet?
How does Bromden remove himself from his fear of being found in the closet?
When Bromden steps not even ten steps out of the closet, what happens?
When Bromden steps not even ten steps out of the closet, what happens?
How does Bromden know they aren't using a shaver?
How does Bromden know they aren't using a shaver?
When Bromden yells and screams for help, what does Nurse Ratched do in response?
When Bromden yells and screams for help, what does Nurse Ratched do in response?
From speculation of the story, what mental condition is Bromden in?
From speculation of the story, what mental condition is Bromden in?
When Bromden says he is going to tell all about the hospital, what is he really aiming for?
When Bromden says he is going to tell all about the hospital, what is he really aiming for?
What are the Black boys doing in the halls?
What are the Black boys doing in the halls?
What does 'sulky' mean?
What does 'sulky' mean?
Why does Bromden not make eye-to-eye contact with the Black boys?
Why does Bromden not make eye-to-eye contact with the Black boys?
What does one of the Black orderlies do so that Bromden cleans faster?
What does one of the Black orderlies do so that Bromden cleans faster?
According to the Black boys, what does Bromden remind them of?
According to the Black boys, what does Bromden remind them of?
What are Bromden's features and how is he made fun of for these traits?
What are Bromden's features and how is he made fun of for these traits?
What does 'cagey' mean and who is cagey?
What does 'cagey' mean and who is cagey?
How is Bromden able to recognize Nurse Ratched on the other side of the ward door?
How is Bromden able to recognize Nurse Ratched on the other side of the ward door?
What does Nurse Ratched's skin look like?
What does Nurse Ratched's skin look like?
What is peculiar about Nurse Ratched's wick bag?
What is peculiar about Nurse Ratched's wick bag?
What does Nurse Ratched do in the Glass Nurses' Station?
What does Nurse Ratched do in the Glass Nurses' Station?
When Nurse Ratched spots the Black boys talking about her breasts, what is her reaction?
When Nurse Ratched spots the Black boys talking about her breasts, what is her reaction?
According to Bromden, when Nurse Ratched was angry, what did she look like?
According to Bromden, when Nurse Ratched was angry, what did she look like?
How do the Black boys defend themselves against Nurse Ratched?
How do the Black boys defend themselves against Nurse Ratched?
What other characteristic does Nurse Ratched's skin have, and what other features does she have?
What other characteristic does Nurse Ratched's skin have, and what other features does she have?
What does Bromden believe the Black boys are part of?
What does Bromden believe the Black boys are part of?
When he refers to the bird-hunting story, what is significant about that?
When he refers to the bird-hunting story, what is significant about that?
When Bromden and his dad (part of the Colombian Tribe) went hunting, how did they find birds to kill?
When Bromden and his dad (part of the Colombian Tribe) went hunting, how did they find birds to kill?
Why does Bromden not scream when he is taken to the shaving room?
Why does Bromden not scream when he is taken to the shaving room?
When Bromden is in the shaving room, what does he hallucinate about?
When Bromden is in the shaving room, what does he hallucinate about?
How does Bromden relate to the Bluetick Hound?
How does Bromden relate to the Bluetick Hound?
What does Chief 'Broom' Bromden suffer from?
What does Chief 'Broom' Bromden suffer from?
Study Notes
Narration and Characters
- Chief "Broom" Bromden serves as the narrator, presenting a unique perspective from within the mental institution.
- Nurse Ratched, the "Big Nurse," has a manipulative and cold demeanor, often referred to as having a "hot and cold" personality.
- Black orderlies display a palpable hatred for everything, often bullying and mocking the patients.
Bromden's Deception and Perception
- Chief Bromden tricks others into believing he is deaf and mute, allowing him to observe without detection.
- Anxiety leads Bromden to cover his eyes, which he feels conceals his identity from Nurse Ratched's scrutiny.
Nurse Ratched's Authority
- She monitors the environment closely, including the behavior of the orderlies and the patients, controlling their actions with fear.
- Displays a need to maintain her image, becoming infuriated when the orderlies gossip about her physical appearance.
Interactions and Conflict
- The Black orderlies mock Bromden, comparing him to a big baby, highlighting his vulnerability as a Native American in the institution.
- Bromden experiences intense moments of fear related to his treatment, including the shaving process where he anticipates a machine instead of a standard razor.
- Nurse Ratched uses intimidation tactics, like shoving a handbag in Bromden's mouth, to assert dominance in the shaving room.
Emotional and Mental State
- Bromden deals with hallucinations and paranoia, experiencing a detailed mental landscape during stressful moments.
- His experiences of bird hunting with his father symbolize his struggle for survival and the need to remain undetected by others, akin to the Bluetick Hound's fate in the fog.
Physical Descriptions and Symbolism
- Nurse Ratched's orange-hued skin and large breasts serve as a visual representation of her overpowering presence and authority within the ward.
- Bromden identifies Nurse Ratched and the orderlies as part of a larger oppressive system he refers to as "the Combine," viewing them as instruments of societal control.
Themes of Fear and Control
- Bromden's hiding in a mop closet reflects his fear of exposure and the instinct to evade the oppressive environment of the hospital.
- The dynamics of power, fear, and manipulation illustrate the struggles within the mental institution, encapsulated in Bromden's desire for sanity and liberation from control.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Chapter 1 of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. This quiz covers key characters, themes, and important events as narrated by Chief Bromden. Challenge yourself and see how well you remember the details of this classic novel.
