English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #1: Chapter 1 (pgs. 1-6)

Passages of Interest

INFERENTIAL LEVEL. Choose a significant or compelling line or passage from the chapter—write it down along with the page number—and briefly discuss the reasons for your choice. The passage should be significant beyond literal-level plot.

CRITICAL or PERSONAL LEVEL. Choose one line from the reading—write it down along with the line number—that interests you for ANY reason and that you want to discuss with a classmate, the teacher, or the entire class. Maybe it’s a line that you don’t understand. In addition, write a brief explanation for your choosing it.

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

What kind of place is Holden when he is telling this story?

Who is a prostitute? What is Holden’s meaning?

What is the plot of “The Secret Goldfish”?

Where is Holden sitting while he is watching the football game? Why does he say he’s there?

Why does he say he likes Selma Thurmer?

On page 4, what was he “really hanging around for”?

Whom does he go to visit at the chapter’s end?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #2: Chapters 2-4 (pgs. 6-35)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 2 (6-16)

1. On the bottom of page 8, why is Holden upset about life being a “game”?

2. Give Holden’s age (and how old does he say he acts?) and height and tell what is unusual about his hair.

3. What does Holden write in his note to Mr. Spencer at the end of his history exam? (Paraphrase the note.) What was the topic of the essay?

4. What distracting topic does Holden think about while he “shot the bull” with Mr. Spencer? What does he wonder?

Chapter 3 (16-26)

5. How does Holden open Chapter 3? Why is this statement troublesome for the reader?

6. Who is Ossenburger and what is Holden’s opinion of him?

7. What kind of hat does Holden wear? Where did he get it?

8. What evidence is there that Holden is a good English student? What “really knocks me out,” according to Holden?

9. What does Holden do with his hat while he is horsing around with Ackley on the bottom of page 21? Later, on the bottom of page 22, what kind of hat does he say it is?

Chapter 4 (pp.26-35)

10. Why does Holden call Stradlater a “secret slob”?

11. What is the favor Stradlater asks Holden to do for him? Why does Holden think this is ironical?

12. How does Holden know Jane Gallagher? What was strange about Jane’s checker-playing habit?

13. Describe Jane’s stepfather.

14. What is Holden’s reasoning for not going down to see Jane?

15. Why does Holden pull his hat down again? (Why is he “getting sort of nervous”?) At the end of the chapter, why was Holden glad to see Ackley, “for once in my stupid life”?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #3: Chapters 5-8 (pgs. 35-58)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 5 (pp. 35-39)

1. Why didn’t Holden throw the snowball he had made? What do we learn about Holden from the reasons he gives for not throwing it?

2. What does Holden do with Ackley and Mal Brossard that evening?

3. What was the subject of the composition that Holden wrote for Stradlater?

4. Who is Allie and what happened to him?

5. Give three examples of why Holden liked Allie?

6. Why did Holden have to be psychoanalyzed?

Chapter 6 (pp. 40-46)

7. Give one specific reason why Stradlater doesn’t like the composition that Holden wrote for him. What did Holden do to the composition?

8. Why did Holden start the fight with Stradlater? Who won?

9. What word did Stradlater hate to be called?

10. What does Holden search for on the bottom of page 45?

Chapter 7 (pp. 47-52)

11. How many times does Holden say to himself that he feels lonely? Count them and be ready to read them aloud in class.

12. What does Holden “toy” with the idea of joining on page 50?

13. What decision does Holden make at the spur of the moment?

14. What are Holden’s final words to the Pencey students? And then what happens to him on the stairs?

Chapter 8 (53 –58)

15. Who was the person Holden met on the train? What did Holden think of her son? What did Holden tell the woman about her son?

16. Why did Holden lie to the woman? After all, he had nothing to gain by lying.

17. What other lies does Holden tell the woman about:

a. his health

b. his summer vacation plans

18. What time of year is it?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #4: Chapters 9-12 (pgs. 59-87)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 9 (59-66)

1. What evidence is there on page 59 that Holden is still lonely?

2. According to Holden, on page 62, what “kind of junk is sort of fascinating to watch, even if you don’t want it to be”? Give a definition of the word “crumby” as used on that page. What is Holden’s attitude toward sex?

3. Why doesn’t Holden call Jane? Who is Faith Cavendish and what does Holden ask of her? How does she respond?

Chapter 10 (66-76)

4. What color is Phoebe’s hair? How old is she? Why does Holden like her?

5. Who is “Hazle” Weatherfield?

6. About what subject do the three girls seem most interested? What is their attitude toward Holden?

7. Why does Holden go out of his way to be nice to the three girls?

Chapter 11 (76-80)

8. In what sport does Holden consider himself to be skillful? Why doesn’t he appear in the movie short?

9. This chapter is mainly a flashback about Jane Gallagher. What do we learn about each of the following from this flashback?

a. Holden’s mother’s relationship with Jane and her mother

b. Jane’s attitude toward her stepfather (Why does she cry on the porch? [p. 78])

c. Jane’s relationship with Holden

10. Why do you think that Holden decides to go to Ernie’s Bar in Greenwich Village at that late hour?

Chapter 12 (pp. 81-87)

11. What makes Holden “feel so lonesome and depressed” on page 81?

12. What is Horwitz the cabdriver’s explanation for what happens to the ducks?

13. In this chapter there are examples of Holden’s pessimism.

a. How does he feel about Ernie the piano player?

b. What about the funny-looking couple?

c. And Lillian Simmons and the Navy guy?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #5: Chapters 13-15 (pgs. 88-113)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 13 (pp.88-98)

1. What has Holden lost that causes him to worry about him being “yellow?” What does he think might be the cause of his being (“partly”) yellow?

2. Who propositions Holden about getting a prostitute?

3. Describe the physical appearance of Sunny the prostitute.

4. What is the name Holden uses when he introduces himself to the prostitute? How old does he say he is?

5. How does the visit go? Why does Holden cut it short?

6. How much does the prostitute want to charge Holden? What does Sunny call Holden on her way out the door?

Chapter 14 (98-104)

7. Whom does Holden talk to when Sunny leaves?

8. What incident in his relationship with Allie does Holden feel somewhat guilty about?

9. About 5 a.m. there is a knock on Holden’s door. Who is knocking and what do they want?

10. What does Holden say that results in his getting punched in the stomach?

11. What does Holden imagine himself doing after he got punched?

12. What is the main idea of the last paragraph of Chapter 14?

Chapter 15 (105-113)—Sunday Morning

13. Who does Holden call when he wakes up in the morning?

14. What does Holden’s father do for a living?

15. On page 108, Dick Slagle, a former roommate of Holden’s, criticizes some of Holden’s belongings as being “bourgeois.” What was Dick Slagle trying to say about Holden’s belongings by calling them this?

16. What does Holden give to the two people in the restaurant? What play does Holden discuss with the two people in the restaurant? What character in the play does Holden like best? Why?

17. What does Holden say that Catholics are always trying to find out?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #6: Chapters 16-17 (pgs. 113-134)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 16 (113-122)

1. What is the criticism Holden has of Sally’s mother?

2. What is “Little Shirley Beans”? What is it about?

3. At one point Holden follows a family that is walking down the street. Where is the kid from the family walking? Give the exact words of the song he’s singing.

4. What does Holden think about the movies? Be specific; give at least three of the reasons Holden gives. What does Holden think about actors?

5. Where does Holden go in search of Phoebe? Mention at least two specific places.

6. When Holden was in grade school, he used to go on class trips to the Museum of Natural History. What were his impressions of this museum? What was “the best thing” about it?

Chapter 17 (123-134)

7. How does Sally suggest that Holden change his physical appearance?

8. Who did Sally meet in the lobby during the intermission of the play?

9. After the play where do they go?

10. Holden proposes that he and Sally run away together. Why does he want to run away? How does he plan to do it? Where does he want to go?

11. Why does Sally refuse his proposal?

12. What does Holden say to Sally that effectively ends their date?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #7: Chapters 18-21 (pgs. 135-166)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 18 (125-141)

1. How does Jane defend Al Pike against Holden’s criticism that he is a show-off?

2. Holden’s address book has three names in it. What does this tell you about Holden?

3. How does Alec, the character in the movie that Holden was watching, lose and then regain his memory?

4. How does Holden respond to “the lady sitting next to me” at the movie?

5. What does Holden say he’ll do with the atomic bomb if there is another war?

Chapter 19 (141-149)

6. What does Holden mean by the word flit as used on p. 143?

7. What is Luce’s reaction when Holden starts to tell him of his (Holden’s) problems?

8. What does Luce’s father do for a living? How could he help Holden, according to Carl Luce?

9. Why does Holden want Luce to stay and have one more drink?

Chapter 20 (pgs. 149-157)

10. Give an example from page 149 of something Holden does to show that he is still lonely.

11. Describe what Holden must have looked like to the person he met in the men’s room.

12. Why does Holden go to Central Park? What does he drop on the way to the park?

13. On pages 154-155, what thoughts (mostly) does Holden have about himself in Central Park?

Chapter 21 (pgs. 157-166)

14. Why wasn’t Phoebe sleeping in her room? What does Holden say about kids sleeping?

15. What does Phoebe say she’ll do with the record Holden bought her?

16. Briefly describe the movie Phoebe had seen that afternoon.

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #8: Chapters 22-24 (pgs. 166-193)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 22 (pgs. 166-174)

1. Who was James Castle? How did Castle’s death affect Holden?

2. In answer to Phoebe’s challenge “Name someone you like,” who are the first three people that come to Holden’s mind? Then, what is the first name he mentions to Phoebe?

3. According to Holden what would be the only good part of being a lawyer?

4. What is the correction Phoebe makes to Holden’s saying the song line “If a body catch a body comin’ through the wry”?

5. What’s the only job that Holden claims he would like to have?

Chapter 23 (pgs. 174-180)

6. What did Mr. Antolini do for James Castle?

7. What lie does Phoebe tell her mother in order to cover for Holden?

8. What does Phoebe want Holden to see her do that week?

9. Why did Holden cry after she gave him the money? List all of the possible reasons that come to mind.

10. What does Holden give Phoebe?

Chapter 24 (pgs. 180-193)

11. Richard Kinsella, a student in Holden’s “Oral Expression” class, received a “D plus.” Why?

12. Mr. Antolini warns Holden that he is in danger of having a “fall.” What does he mean here by “fall”?

13. Explain the meaning of the quote: “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

14. How is Holden awakened from a sound sleep?

English 210—Literature and World History Name:

website: http://www.geocities.com/reinsteinalan email: [email protected]

Newton South High School Mission Statement

Newton South High School, a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff

(1) Is dedicated to equality and opportunity for all; (2) Expects integrity; responsibility; and respect for self, others, and the environment; (3) Creates a climate of safety and kindness; (4) Encourages communication and personal connections; (5) Nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a passion for learning; (6) Fosters self-confidence and success for all learners.

J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

Reading #9: Chapters 25-26 (pgs. 194-214)

Passages of Interest

Optional Questions for Extra Credit

Chapter 25 (194-213)

1. Where is Holden when he thinks he is “more depressed than I ever was in my whole life”?

2. What does Holden reconsider regarding Mr. Antolini?

3. What fear grips Holden as he was walking up Fifth Avenue? Whom did he ask for help to overcome this fear?

4. Name specifically five aspects of Holden’s dream about running away:

5. What is the content of Holden’s letter to Phoebe?

6. What is Holden’s reaction to the obscenity (vulgar expression) that he discovers on the wall at Phoebe’s school? Mark the other two places that he sees the expression and how he responds.

7. At the museum how does Holden recognize the approach of Phoebe?

8. When she meets Holden, what does Phoebe have with her and why does she have it?

9. Why does Holden change his mind about leaving?

10. What is the significance of the gold ring?

11. What are the weather conditions at the end of the chapter? Where is Holden? Where is Phoebe?

12. What has Holden just promised Phoebe?

Chapter 26 (pgs.213-214)

13. What does Holden think he’ll do come September?

14. What is Holden sorry about?

15. Who are the last three people mentioned in the book?