One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Chapter 1 Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Who is the narrator of the story?

Chief 'Broom' Bromden

What are the personalities/attitudes of the Black orderlies?

Hateful and they hate absolutely everything

Who makes fun of the 'chief'?

The Black orderlies

What has Chief Bromden been tricking everyone into thinking about him?

<p>He has tricked everybody into thinking he is deaf and dumb.</p> Signup and view all the answers

As Bromden sweeps the floor, who walks in?

<p>The 'Big Nurse'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the 'Big Nurse'?

<p>Nurse Ratched</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the personality of Nurse Ratched?

<p>She has a hot and cold personality, but either way it still burns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Chief Bromden cover his eyes?

<p>According to him, they can't tell much about you when you cover your eyes; he also doesn't want Nurse Ratched to use her tools on him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When the 'Big Nurse' is in the Glass Nurses' Room, what does she observe?

<p>The Black men circled in a group (whom are most likely mumbling about her breasts).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do the Black orderlies do when they see Nurse Ratched's glare towards them?

<p>They split apart.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Nurse Ratched become so infuriated?

<p>She knows the Black orderlies are mumbling about her large breasts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the orderlies' mutual hate?

<p>Palpable: so intense it can seem to be felt or seen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Nurse Ratched stop fighting with the Black men and stop bickering?

<p>She sees patients come out of their dorms and she doesn't want to cause attention to herself or reveal her true personality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched do so that the orderlies move along?

<p>She tells them that they best not be mumbling on a Monday and that they have a lot to do on the first Monday of the week.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched do so that the patients go back to their dorms?

<p>Nods to each one individually.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bromden, why is Nurse Ratched so bitter?

<p>She isn't perfect (apparently God made a mistake when giving her such large breasts).</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who, according to Nurse Ratched, will be the first man to be shaved on Monday?

<p>'Poor Bromden' and try to avoid the disturbances he tries to make.</p> Signup and view all the answers

After hearing that he will be 'shaved', where does Bromden hide?

<p>A mop closet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is getting shaved after breakfast better than getting shaved before?

<p>Breakfast makes you stronger and more awake so you can avoid orderlies trying to slip a machine on you instead of an electric shaver.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Bromden fear most when in the mop closet?

<p>That the orderlies are able to 'smell' his scent and his fear to detect where he is.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bromden remove himself from his fear of being found in the closet?

<p>He thinks of him and his dad bird-hunting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Bromden steps not even ten steps out of the closet, what happens?

<p>He is caught by the orderlies and they drag him to the shaving room.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bromden know they aren't using a shaver?

<p>The machine began hitting his temples.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Bromden yells and screams for help, what does Nurse Ratched do in response?

<p>She stuffs her wicker handbag in his mouth and shoves it down with a mop handle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

From speculation of the story, what mental condition is Bromden in?

<p>He hallucinates a lot and has paranoia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Bromden says he is going to tell all about the hospital, what is he really aiming for?

<p>He wants to accomplish his journey of sanity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the Black boys doing in the halls?

<p>Performing sex acts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sulky' mean?

<p>Morose, bad-tempered, and resentful; refusing to be cooperative or cheerful.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Bromden not make eye-to-eye contact with the Black boys?

<p>He doesn't want to be seen or bullied.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does one of the Black orderlies do so that Bromden cleans faster?

<p>One of the Black boys whacks Bromden's leg with a mop handle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the Black boys, what does Bromden remind them of?

<p>A big baby.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Bromden's features and how is he made fun of for these traits?

<p>He is tall, everyone thinks he is deaf and dumb, and he is Native American; orderlies joke they can put an apple on their heads and Bromden can eat it off.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cagey' mean and who is cagey?

<p>Chief Bromden; reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion/smart/cautious.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is Bromden able to recognize Nurse Ratched on the other side of the ward door?

<p>By the way the lockworks cleave to the key.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched's skin look like?

<p>It has an orange coloration, similar to the smoldering tip of an iron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is peculiar about Nurse Ratched's wick bag?

<p>It has no womanly stuff, but instead it has tools she aims to use for her duties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched do in the Glass Nurses' Station?

<p>She sits and stares out a glass window and takes note of all things that happen in front of her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Nurse Ratched spots the Black boys talking about her breasts, what is her reaction?

<p>She creeps up on them and is at the point of anger where she could easily dismember all of them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bromden, when Nurse Ratched was angry, what did she look like?

<p>She 'blew up as big as a tractor.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the Black boys defend themselves against Nurse Ratched?

<p>They whack her undersides with a mop handle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What other characteristic does Nurse Ratched's skin have, and what other features does she have?

<p>It is smooth like an expensive baby doll; her skin is like flesh-colored enamel; she has blue eyes, a small nose, pink little nostrils, and enormously large breasts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Bromden believe the Black boys are part of?

<p>The Combine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When he refers to the bird-hunting story, what is significant about that?

<p>Just like the bird, if he moves, he will be killed, but if he stays calm and still, he won't be detected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Bromden and his dad (part of the Colombian Tribe) went hunting, how did they find birds to kill?

<p>They got a pointer dog in The Dalles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Bromden not scream when he is taken to the shaving room?

<p>He says screaming makes situations only worse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Bromden is in the shaving room, what does he hallucinate about?

<p>He sees fog and snow falling on him, and how he saw a Bluetick Hound get scared from being lost in the fog.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bromden relate to the Bluetick Hound?

<p>The dog cannot smell anything else besides his own fear, same with Bromden.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Chief 'Broom' Bromden suffer from?

<p>Hallucinations and paranoia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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.

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