Heller’s Catch-22

Worksheet Description

The worksheet at hand is designed to facilitate the understanding of satire through the examination of Joseph Heller’s classic novel, “Catch-22”. The worksheet explains that satire typically ridicules vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings with the intention of shaming individuals, organizations, or societies into improvement. Satire is marked by the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule and often presents itself paradoxically, appearing to support or approve what it actually criticizes.

For the assigned task, students are instructed to read “Catch-22”, a seminal work of satirical literature set during World War II, and write a short essay. They must pinpoint the targets of Heller’s satire and expound on the reasons why Heller might have chosen to satirize these particular aspects of society. This exercise is designed not only to enhance students’ comprehension of literary satire but also to encourage deeper literary analysis and appreciation for the nuances of thematic criticism within a historical context. Through this, students can explore how literature mirrors societal issues and the effectiveness of satire as a tool for social commentary.