A Clockwork Orange

Worksheet Description

The worksheet presented centers on “Satire: A Clockwork Orange,” and prompts students to reflect on the satirical elements used by Anthony Burgess in his novel to critique behaviorism. Behaviorism, a field of psychology popularized in the mid-20th century by figures like B.F. Skinner, focuses on the idea that all behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment, often through a system of rewards and punishments.

The first question asks students to identify and articulate the ways in which Burgess satirizes behaviorism in “A Clockwork Orange.” This novel is renowned for its examination of free will versus state control and psychological manipulation, thus making it a rich subject for exploring the use of satire to comment on behaviorist psychology. The second question encourages students to engage critically with the content, considering whether behaviorism itself is a fitting subject for satire and to provide reasoning for their perspective. This exercise not only assesses students’ comprehension of the novel’s themes but also their ability to understand satire as a literary device used to scrutinize and provoke thought about societal issues and scientific concepts.