Catch 22

Article summary

Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. It is his debut novel. He began writing it in 1953, and the book was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the 20th century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot. The novel satirizes military bureaucracy and greed. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier of Assyrian heritage. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th US Army Air Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea west of the Italian mainland, although it also includes episodes from basic training at Lowry Field in Colorado and Air Corps training at Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. The novel examines the absurdity of war and military life through the experiences of Yossarian and his cohorts, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home. The book was made into a film adaptation in 1970, directed by Mike Nichols, and a miniseries in 2019, produced by George Clooney.…

Key claims

1. P136: Q253918 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
2. P162: Q366614 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
3. P1729: mw0000658977 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
4. P175: Q1120650 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
5. P1954: 104338 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
6. P2205: 4RlvUPoX2p81W7yanaAD9e — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
7. P264: Q158886 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
8. P31: Q482994 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
9. P361: Q107436015 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
10. P436: b8409b4e-0343-3d12-9373-708e3a478c65 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
11. P437: Q15982450 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
12. P5749: B000R00GLQ — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
13. P577: 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
14. P646: /m/01ldwqc — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95
15. P7937: Q208569 — source: Wikidata · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the P136 is "Q253918". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the P162 is "Q366614". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the P1729 is "mw0000658977". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the P175 is "Q1120650". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the P1954 is "104338". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the P2205 is "4RlvUPoX2p81W7yanaAD9e". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the P264 is "Q158886". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the P31 is "Q482994". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. The record states that the P361 is "Q107436015". What evidence would count against this claim?
11. The record states that the P436 is "b8409b4e-0343-3d12-9373-708e3a478c65". What evidence would count against this claim?
12. The record states that the P437 is "Q15982450". What evidence would count against this claim?
13. The record states that the P5749 is "B000R00GLQ". What evidence would count against this claim?
14. The record states that the P577 is "2002-01-01T00:00:00Z". What evidence would count against this claim?
15. The record states that the P646 is "/m/01ldwqc". What evidence would count against this claim?
16. The record states that the P7937 is "Q208569". What evidence would count against this claim?
17. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
18. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

No sources recorded.