English 3-CP & H: The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Reading Requirements

Catcher in the Rye                  Guide Question3-CP & H
 
You are no longer required to answer questions to hand in on the first day of class.

However, you should read this novel carefully, and, using the guide questions below, take careful note of the characters and plot.  You need to think as you read about where the character is, why he is telling his story, and why he thinks and behaves as he does.  As in the past, you will have an objective test on day two of class, which will count as your first grade in the course.  Teachers will do follow up discussion and writing on this novel at the beginning of the course, and may include it on the term exam.   Although it is considered controversial by some, this novel is considered  by critics to be the classic novel about growing up in the modern world.
 
Chapter 1
What does Holden tell us about his brother?
What are his feelings about his school, Pencey Prep?
What does he think of Selma Thurmer?
How had Holden ruined the day for the fencing team?
What were the two reasons for Holden’s not being at the game?
Why has Holden been kicked out of Pencey?
 
Chapter 2
What do Holden and Mr. Spencer discuss at his house?
How did Holden do on his Egyptian paper?
Does Holden’s opinion of Mr. Spencer go up or down during the visit?  Why?
 
Chapter 3
Who was Ossenburger?
What kinds of books does Holden like?
What kind of person is Ackley?  Be sure to mention some of his disgusting habits.
What had Holden purchased in New York City?
Who is Sally Hayes?
What sort of a person is Stradlater?
 
Chapter 4
How does Holden react to his discovery of the identity of Stradlater’s date?
Why does he react this way?
What does Stradlater want Holden to do for him?

Chapter 5
Why does Holden think they have steak on Saturday nights?
What is Ackley’s reaction to going to a movie?
Who was Allie and what was he like?
How did Holden react to Allie’s death?
What kind of paper does Holden write for Stradlater?
Why does Holden feel sorry for guys like Ackley?
 
Chapter 6
What is Stradlater’s reaction to the composition?
What does Holden do with it?
Why does Holden smoke in the room?
Why does Holden punch at Stradlater?
Why does Stradlater really beat up on Holden?
 
Chapter 7
Why won’t Ackley let Holden sleep in his room?
What is Ackley’s reaction to the question on getting into a monastery?
What decision does Holden make at this point?
Why does Holden get sad at getting presents?
What is Holden’s money situation?
Why is Holden crying when he leaves Pencey?
 
Chapter 8
What does he usually do when riding trains?
What lies does Holden tell Mrs. Morrow on the train?
 
Chapter 9
Who does he plan to call?
What question does Holden ask the cab driver?
What is one of the guys in the hotel doing?
Why doesn’t he call Jane?
What kind of conversation does he have when he calls Faith Cavendish?
 
Chapter 10
What is one thing Holden does not like to do?
What does he think of Phoebe?
Why doesn’t he call Phoebe?
Describe the three girls at the table.
Who are the best dancers according to Holden?
Why does he think the girl is a moron?
Why does he say that he is twelve?
Why is Holden sorry he kidded the girl?
Who is Hazel (Hazle) Weatherfield?
 
Chapter 11
Are Holden’s memories of Jane good or bad?  Why?
Why does he say the “girls I like best are the ones I never feel much like kidding?”
What circumstances brought about Holden’s getting close to Jane one night?
What are his theories on holding hands?
Who is Ernie?
 
Chapter 12
What kind of a discussion does Holden have with the cab driver?
How does Ernie play the piano?
Who does Holden feel are phonies at Ernie’s bar?
What are the people at different table talking about?
Holden thinks about “giving people a buzz.”  Why does he think about calling people so often but so seldom makes a call?
 
Chapter 13
Why does Holden walk home?
What is he wearing?
What would happen if his gloves were stolen?
Who was Raymond Goldfarb?
What does Maurice set up on the elevator?
How does Holden feel when he is talking to Sunny?
Who is Jim Steele?
How is he able to get rid of Sunny?
What is Holden’s response to Sunny’s going to the movies?
 
Chapter 14
What does the Bobby Fallon story remind him of?
Is Holden religious?  Explain.
Why doesn’t Holden like ministers?
Why do Maurice and Sunny come to the room?
After Maurice slugs him, what does Holden fantasize?
Why does Holden feel the movies can ruin you?

Chapter 15
What telephone conversation does he have with Sally?
What are his plans for the evening?
What does he tell you about his father and mother?
Why is it hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs?
How does Holden feel about the two nuns at the counter?
What does he give them?
What do they discuss about Romeo and Juliet?
What was he afraid they would ask him?
Recount the incident with Louis Shaney.
What dumb thing did he do just as the nuns left?
Why does money end up making you blue?

Chapter 16
Why can’t Holden stop thinking about the two nuns?
Why is he sad they don’t get anywhere swanky for lunch?
What does he want to buy Phoebe?
What song is the boy in the park singing?
Where does he feel the people in the park are going?
Who does he want to call?
Why does Holden hate actors?
What does he remember about the play Hamlet?
Why does Holden like the roller skating girl?
What memories does he have of the museum?
What is the best thing about the museum?
What does he put on?
Why doesn’t Holden go in the museum?
 
Chapter 17
Who does Holden think most of the girls will marry?
Who was Harry Macklin?
Why isn’t it so bad that the girls will marry bores?
What is Holden’s opinion of Sally?
Why isn’t he mad that she is late?
What is his opinion of the play?
What does Holden think of the people in the lobby?
Who does Sally talk to at the play?
Why did Sally get excited about going ice skating?
What does Holden suggest they do?
Why does he make that suggestion?
What is Sally’s reaction?
Why does he then talk crude to Sally?
 
Chapter 18
What does he remember about Jane?
What does Holden conclude about girls’ opinions about guys and whether or not they have inferiority complexes or are conceited?
Who does he decide to call?
What is the best part of the performance before the movie?
What was the movie about?
What is phony about the mother watching the movie?
What was D.B.’s opinion of the war?
Why doesn’t Holden like A Farewell to Arms?
Is it ironic he would like The Great Gatsby?
 
Chapter 19
Describe the people in the bar.
What is Luce’s favorite subject?
What kind of advice does Luce give Holden?
 
Chapter 20
Why does Holden say “people never give your message to anybody?”
Who does he call?
In what kind of condition is Holden?
How is Holden a phony in this chapter?
Who is finally nice to him?
What does he go looking for in the park?
What does he say about visiting Allie’s grave?
How much money does Holden have left?
What does he do with the change?
Where does he decide to go?
 
Chapter 21
What luck does Holden have concerning the elevator?
Why does he remove his hat?
What story does he tell the elevator operator?
Describe the apartment.
Where does Phoebe sleep?
How does Holden feel seeing her sleep?
What do you learn about Holden’s mother in this chapter?
Why does he look at Phoebe’s notebooks?
What questions does Holden keep repeating to Phoebe?
What discovery does Phoebe soon intuitively make?

Chapter 22
What does Holden say his dad will do to him?
Why did he leave school?
How were even the nice teachers phonies?
What was the returning alum looking for on the floor of his dorm?
What does Phoebe tell him that he finds upsetting?
What happened to James Castle?
What else does Holden tell Phoebe he likes?
Explain one thing Holden says he’d like to be.
Who does Holden plan to call?
 
Chapter 23
What does Holden remember best about Mr. Antolini?
When the radio is on, what do Holden and Phoebe do?
Why does Holden leave so quickly?
What do he and Phoebe give each other?

Chapter 24
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Antolini.
What does Mr. Antolini think of D.B.?
What irritates Holden about Mr. Antolini?
Who was Richard Kinsella?
What does Mr. Antolini think of the speech?
What does Mr. Antolini predict lies ahead for Holden?
State the quotation Mr. Antolini shows Holden.
What does Holden try no to do while Mr. Antolini is talking?
Why does Holden leave the apartment?
 
Chapter 25
What does Holden worry about after he wakes up later in Grand Central Station?
How are the men talking as they lift the Christmas tree?
Who does Holden keep looking for?
What does Holden find “spooky” when he is walking down Fifth Avenue?
What is Holden’s latest “escape” plan?
What does he leave at the school?
How does Holden react to the obscenities he sees on the wall?
What does he do for the kids at the museum?
What happens to him in the bathroom?
What does Holden fantasize about leaving?
Why is Phoebe lugging a suitcase with her?
How does she act toward him when he says he won’t take her with him?
At the carousel, how do Holden and Phoebe show that they really love each other?
What did Phoebe return to him?
 
Chapter 26
What happened to Holden after the ride in the carousel?
To whom is he speaking?
Where is Holden now?
What are his chances for “making it” in the world?