For a novel of its size, Cat’s Cradle is divided into many small chapters, each with a title. What effect do such short chapters have on the reader’s experience, and how do the chapter titles, some of which are ironic, contribute to this effect?

Find one or more historical accounts of the development of the atomic bomb. How does it compare with the fictional account in Cat’s Cradle? Why might Vonnegut have drawn from and altered history as he did?

Perform a close reading of one or more of Bokonon’s poems. What can you conclude about his poetic style?