Cat's Cradle

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Satire involves the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique flaws and vices, often in a political context. Nationalism is the tendency to support the interests of one country over all others.

• How does Vonnegut use satire to critique nationalism in Cat’s Cradle? (topic sentence)
• Identify 3 scenes in which Vonnegut exposes the flaws he sees in nationalistic thinking. Be sure to specify how he uses humor to highlight specific flaws.
• In your conclusion, clarify Vonnegut’s overall message about nationalism: What is his main point?

2. Throughout Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut demonstrates and comments on the role of art, including painting, music, and literature, in society.

• What role does art (of any medium) play in the lives of one or more characters in Cat’s Cradle? (topic sentence)
• Identify and analyze at least 3 places in the book where characters create, consume, or discuss some form of artistic expression: What value does art bring to the creator, the audience, and to society?
• In your conclusion, compare your experience reading Cat’s Cradle to Vonnegut’s views about the role of art in human society: Does your experience match? Why or why not?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Most novels follow a traditional plot arc that features such elements as exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution, all of which center on a struggle or challenge that the protagonist must overcome. Cat’s Cradle arguably diverges from this pattern in several ways, with its relatively passive protagonist who functions in a world seemingly driven by chance, unaware of what’s at stake until it’s too late. Drawing examples and evidence from the novel, identify who—or what—drives the plot forward; is there a central conflict? If so, how is it resolved? If not, what takes its place? What does your analysis reveal about Vonnegut’s view of the absurdity and futility of life versus the potential to shape one’s destiny through choices?

2. Throughout Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut juxtaposes the nature and effects of science and religion. Drawing evidence from throughout the novel, compare and contrast Vonnegut’s views and treatment of these two major subjects, considering questions like these: What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Does Vonnegut end up favoring one over the other? Are science and religion mutually exclusive, or can they be synthesized in some way? What complementary functions do they fill in society, and how can they be balanced? Be sure to cite examples from the text to support your analysis. In your conclusion, consider what relevance Vonnegut’s insights hold for issues facing today’s readers.