Q 01/05

Who wrote Catch-22?

A) Kurt Vonnegut

B) Joseph Heller

C) Norman Mailer

D) James Jones

Answer · why

B) Joseph Heller

It was his debut novel, begun in 1953 and published in 1961; he was later nominated twice for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Q 02/05

What is the name of the novel's antihero, a captain and B-25 bombardier?

A) Orr

B) Milo Minderbinder

C) Nately

D) John Yossarian

Answer · why

D) John Yossarian

Heller took the name from a wartime friend, Francis Yohannan, and gave the character Assyrian heritage to broaden his appeal.

Q 03/05

On which Mediterranean island is the fictional 256th Squadron based for most of the novel?

A) Malta

B) Corsica

C) Pianosa

D) Sardinia

Answer · why

C) Pianosa

The real island lies in the Tuscan Archipelago 14 km from Elba, and its highest point is just 29 metres above sea level.

Q 04/05

Which commanding officer keeps raising the number of missions the men must fly, so they can never go home?

A) Major Major

B) General Dreedle

C) Colonel Cathcart

D) Lieutenant Scheisskopf

Answer · why

C) Colonel Cathcart

He wants to look brave to his superiors despite having flown only one combat mission himself.

Q 05/05

How many combat missions has Yossarian flown by the end of the novel?

A) 25

B) 44

C) 60

D) 71

Answer · why

D) 71

He had flown 44 when the story opens, is traumatised, yet manages 27 more.