A Clockwork Orange

Is this an epic tale? Is Alex a hero (or an antihero)? Or, is the book more akin to a morality tale, a parable or allegory of sorts? In this case, is Alex a cautionary warning or a tragic victim?

Does Alex deserve the police brutality, the dismissal by his caseworker and parents, and/or the experimental treatment performed on him? Why or why not? Does the reader sympathize with Alex?

What is the purpose of Alex’s violent behavior? Is it merely antisocial and/or criminal activity? Or, is there a conscious intention behind the violence, destruction, and crime?

Does Alex relinquish his free will after undergoing Ludovico’s Technique? Is he capable of making moral choices? Why or why not?

Does the Government have the moral authority to conduct what amounts to state-sanctioned violence? What about the police? How is Alex’s violence different than the violence meted out to him? Is it different at all? Why or why not?

Given the Historical Context undergirding the novel, how does the aftermath of World War II (what Alex thinks of as the 1939-45 War) influence the rapid social changes underway, the rampant violence committed by young people, and/or the State’s anxious ambition for control over its citizens?

What is the impact of the language employed in the novel? How does the slang utilized by Alex and his youthful cohort function in the book? Compare and contrast the slang with the style of language spoken by adults and/or with the distinctive, elevated language the teens also frequently use.

What is the meaning of the title, A Clockwork Orange? To what does it refer? How does it relate to Alex? How might it relate to Georgie (who is killed during a home invasion), Dim (who becomes a police officer), or Pete (who settles down and marries)?