Catcher in the Rye: 122-144
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Introduction |
Holden goes on his date and winds up even worse than before. |
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Questions |
The following selections of text are important to either understanding Holden or some of the other characters. Explain the selections.
1. "You figured most of them would marry dopey guys."
2. "Absolutely marvelous. Am I late?"
3. "I know that boy from somewhere."
4. "It did look pretty cute too. I have to admit it."
5. I do that quite a lot when I am in a certain mood. I sort of let them burn down till I can't hold them any more, then I drop them."
6. "You're the only reason I'm around, practically."
7. "We'll have oodles of time to do those marvelous things-all those things. I mean after you go to college and all."
8. "The terrible part is that I meant it when I asked her."
9. "You know what that is? That's precision."
10. "She kept telling him to sit still and behave himself."
11. "Allie said Emily Dickinson." |
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Writing |
Holden calls Sally a “pain in the ass” Explain how he’s right. |
Catcher in the Rye; 141-174
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Introduction |
Holden annoys some more old friends and keeps returning to the Wicker Bar. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. What was phony about the Wicker Bar?
What unusual thing happens to him at the bar?
2. What does Holden remember Carl talking about all the time?
As a result, what does ask him about?
Why is Holden asking him this stuff so earnestly? (three possible reasons)
3. Is Carl a Phony?
Explain.
Is he one of the worst people for Holden to see?
Why?
4. Holden says one thing to Carl that is very, very true-from his deepest heart. What is it? Please Quote.
5. Holden pretends an odd thing at the bar. What does he pretend?
Get psychological. Why?
6. Who does Holden want to call?
Who does he call instead?
Why does he call her?
7. Why is he getting depressed? |
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8. Why does he go to the park?
What is the lagoon like?
How is that similar to Holden's state of mind?
9. What is the most worrisome thing he thinks of in the park?
Why doesn't he want Phoebe to go?
What does he hate about visiting Allie's grave?
Read into that. What does that show you about Holden?
What keeps him going?
10. How does Holden feel about Phoebe?
Show with Quote
11. How are Holden and Phoebe similar?
What does Phoebe do that thrills Holden
What does Phoebe do with the record?
Why is that "perfect"
12. When Phoebe starts talking, what does Holden worry about?
Is that Adult or Child?
Explain.
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13. What happened on Veteran's Day at Pencey?
What depressing thing did the Alumna say?
Explain why that is depressing?
14. What does Holden like?
15. Who is James Castle?
What happened to him?
Why might Holden really like him?
16. What does Holden like? |
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Writing |
What does a Catcher in the Rye do? |
Catcher in the Rye; 174-194
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Introduction |
Holden returns to the house, but not in the way that he wants. Also, he has to borrow money from his sister. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. Who does Holden call?
What time does he call him?
What did he do for James Castle?
2. What does Holden do when his mother comes home?
Is she a phony?
Explain.
3. Why does Holden cry in his sister's room?
How is he failing at being a "catcher"?
4. What does Antolini tell Holden he is heading for?
What might Holden be like in ten years, according to him?
What is the quote that Antolini hands him?
What cause does Holden hold dear?
6. How true is this quote: "You and Mrs. Antolini really saved my life tonight."
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7. Was what Antolini did a very perverty thing?
Is Holden reading him correctly or incorrectly?
Look at what Antolini says to him when his wife leaves. Do any of those words sound odd? |
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Writing |
In your own life, do you know anyone who holds true to Antolini’s quote? Explain. |
Catcher in the Rye; 194-214
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Introduction |
Holden winds to a close with a small, uplifting ending. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. What is Holden fixated on?
2. What bothers him with the two workmen and the Christmas tree
3. What very spooky thing starts to happen to him?
What is that a sign of?
How is this incident a part of a theme that runs through the entire book?
4. What does Holden plan on doing with the rest of his life?
Why do you suppose he wants to be a deaf-mute?
5. What does Holden see written on the wall?
Why does that drive him crazy?
What does he do to it? Why?
Why is the second one he sees even worse?
Where is the third one?
Holden explains what the "whole trouble" is. What is the trouble? (204)
Interpret that? |
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6. Holden meets two little kids in the Museum of Natural History. How do they act like little kids?
What does he explain to the little kids?
Where does Holden get his information?
7. What bad things have been happening to Holden?
Why have they been happening?
8. What are the rules about Holden's cabin?
Knowing what you know about J.D. Salinger, why is this passage ironic?
9. What is Phoebe bringing with her?
How does Holden react?
What cruel thing does he say to her?
What does that say about him?
Which is worse for him, when she says "Shut up" or when he does?
Explain.
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10. Where do Phoebe and Holden go in the park?
This is very symbolic. Who are the only people who can ride on it?
Why doesn't Holden try to ride it?
What does Holden want to do when Phoebe is reaching for the gold ring?
Why doesn't he do that?
What has Holden learned?
Why do you suppose he is so happy?
11. What is Holden's final piece of advice?
Explain it |
Catcher in the Rye: Words
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Introduction |
Holden uses many throwaway words that really have very specific meanings. |
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Words |
Find one example of Holden using one of these words and Define it as Holden would.
1. Grand
2. phony
3. kills
4. intelligent
5. terrific
6. corny
7. Dopey
8. Sir (see Spencer)
9. madman
10. goddam (what word is he not using) |
Catcher in the Rye: Essay Topics
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Introduction |
Because it is a relatively high thinking book, with a whole world inside it, Catcher lends itself to a lot of very creative projects. |
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Process |
Use the following process when you begin writing this essay.
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Step |
Action |
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1 |
Form the group |
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2 |
Decide on a topic |
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3 |
Freewrite |
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4 |
Outline |
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5 |
Take the outline home and write a draft |
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6 |
Edit it |
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7 |
Final Draft |
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Essay Topics
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Pick one of the following topics and write and essay.
1. Are all adults phonies?
2. Is there anyway to grow up and not be a phony?
3. What is wrong with Holden? Is anteing wrong in society?
4. Holden makes all sorts of social commentary about people and places. Look at a few examples of this.
5. Imagine Holden walks up Main Street during the height of the summer. Write how he would describe it (look at examples from the book)
6. Who is more like the normal, Nantucket kid: Stradlater or Holden?
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7. How similar is Charity to Sally? Phoebe?
8. Compare Sally to Phoebe? How are they different? How are they the same?
9. Trace the steps in Holden's depression?
10. How does the motif of falling used in the novel?
11. How is Holden different at the end of the novel?
12. Antolini gives Holden some advice about living humbly and all. Is this worthwhile advice?
13. Describe what Holden's dorm room must have looked like
14. Compare Holden to Stradlater.
15. Compare Holden's happiest moment to his saddest moment. What makes those two moments his happiest and saddest? |
A Great Day for Bananafishing
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Introduction |
This is a story even weirder than Catcher. Keep in mind that the same philosophy holds true. |
Questions
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Bananafish, Continued
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9. What are bananafish?
What do they do?
Knowing the end of the story, How is he a bananafish?
10. On page 17, after the break, the tone of the narrative changes. How?
11. How would the little girl react to the feet line? How does the woman? How is that similar to Holden?
12. Explain his final action. |
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Writing |
Compare Seymour Glass to Holden Caulfield. How are they very different? |
For Esme, with Love and Squalor
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Introduction |
This is possibly the best short story Salinger wrote. Think about the cat. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. Why can't he go to her wedding? What is his tone and mental state at the beginning of the story?
2. Why did Salinger name the mother in law "Grencher"
3. How is the girl different from everyone else he has met?
4. How does she act during the choir rehearsal?
5. What goes on at the cafe? How does he change?
6. What has happened to X during the war? How do you know?
7. What was the quote he tried to write? What did it mean?
8. How does the Corporal contrast with the Esme?
9. What happened with the cat? Why doesn't he want to hear about it?
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10. Why does her letter cheer him up?
11. How is she different from Phoebe? How is he different from Holden?
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Writing |
One critic has written that the key to understanding Salinger and his writing is to experience war first hand. How does this short story show this? |
Pretty My Mouth and Green My Eyes
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Introduction |
This is an odd story and a difficult one. In all the other stories, it was relatively easy to find the Holden character, but the Holden in this one is hidden.
Also you need to figure out the dramatic situation. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. When did you figure out who the young woman was?
2. What is wrong with Arthur?
3. Why has she started running around on him?
4. How are the two described poorly?
5. How is Arthur cruel?
6. Does she truly have no brains?
7. Why did he really lose the case?
8. What is he thinking of doing?
9. Why does he lie?
10. Why does the story end as it does? |
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Writing |
One of the most disturbing things about this story is its inevitability. Will most adults act like the couple? |
Allie and Phoebe
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Introduction |
Many, many critical works have been done on Catcher in the Rye since its writing. It is arguably the most popular book taught in schools. This particular piece of criticism makes a great deal of sense to me. |
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Questions |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper.
1. According to the author, how did Catcher in the Rye reach "classic" status?
2. What are some of the reasons for the book appeal? What reason does the author see for the books appeal?
3. What is Holden's "Ultimate realization" in this book?
4. What is not completely clear in Holden's mind?
5. How is Antolini's analysis more applicable to himself than to Holden?
6. How does Holden save himself at the end of each block? Why does he appeal to Allie to save him?
7. Why couldn't he go to Allie’s grave on Rainy days?
What is the relationship between Allie, Holden and finally, Phoebe?
8. What is Holden's ideal world, his perfection? How do the cars embody this?
9. What is the importance of the Museum? Why doesn't Holden want to return there?
10. According to the writer, what is it that Holden doesn't like about Spenser? |
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11. How does reality complicate Holden's ideal world?
12. How does the phonograph record show a way that Holden could adjust to reality?
13. What does her affection allow Holden to do?
14. How does Phoebe change him?
15. According to the critic is Holden better off or worse at the end of the novel?
16. What is the main development in this novel? How is Holden different in the end than at the beginning? |
Catcher in the Rye: Exam
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Introduction |
The following exam should challenge your knowledge of the book and it’s companion works. Work thoroughly, but quickly. |
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Works |
The works covered on this test will be:
• A Great Day for Bananafishing • Allie and Phoebe • Catcher in the Rye |
Character Matching & Put In Order
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Matching |
Please match the person on the left to the characteristic on the right. (2 points)
1. b___Stradlater a. History professor 2. d___Sammy b. Jane's date 3. h__Karl Luce c. The stupid one in the family 4.f__Sunny d. Former A&P bagger 5.j___Antolini e.Cab driver 6.g___Sally Hayes f. Prostitute 7.c__Holden g. Phony girl 8.a___Spenser h. Phony boy (from Elkton hills) 9.i__Phoebe i. Rode the carousel 10. e__Horwitz(2nd taxi) j. Former English teacher |
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Put in Order |
Number the following events as they happened. |
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__Holden loses the foils 1 __Stradlater punches Holden in the nose 3 __Holden watched Phoebe on the carousel 10 __Holden meets and turns down Sunnie 5 __Holden calls Faith Cavendish 4 __Holden meets Sally Hayes 7 __Holden gets punched in the gut by Maurice 6 __Holden runs from Antolini 9 __Holden writes Stradlater's essay 2 __Holden visits Phoebe at home 8 |
Object Identification
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Instructions |
Identify the following objects fully. How were they used in the book or what importance did they have.
Example: Cheese Special: Holden dumps on Sally’s head.
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Objects |
Identify the following objects
1. The gold ring
2. Two Eskimos fishing on a pond.
3. The curb
4. A goofy looking cover
5. Baseball mitt
6. An inflatable raft
7. A suitcase
8. A one dollar hunting hat
9. James Castle
10. "Little Susie Beans" |
Quotes
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Instructions |
Read the following quotes then identify who said them and explain why they are significant or what the speaker meant.
Example: “Donuts are for phonies”: Holden to the Nuns, he believes that donuts are pretentious, while bagels are real. |
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Quotes |
Identify the following quotes. Pick 15.
1. "Because you're not going, I'm going alone, so shut up."
2. "Did you give her the time?"
3. "Hey, is that Gary Cooper?"
4. "How do you feel about all this, I'd be very interested to know."
5. "I don't owe you five bucks"
6. "I got Bud Thaw's girl's roommate now...Hey, I almost forgot, she knows you."
7. "Are you looking at my feet?"
8. ""Did he try any funny business with the trees?"
9. "I'm taking belching lessons from this girl, Phyllis Marguilles."
10. "If you was a fish, Mother Nature would take care of you, wouldn't she?"
11. "Listen do you want to play a little Canasta?"
12. "Love to. Grand."
13. "Sleep tight, ya morons"
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Quotes, Continued
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14. ""The fall I think you're riding for.... It's a special kind of fall."
15. "You know how the Egyptians buried their dead?"
16. "You've been more than generous, you're a very sweet boy."
17. "You and Mrs. Antolini really saved my life tonight."
18. We'll have oodles of time to do those marvelous things-all those things. I mean after you go to college and all." |
Essay
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Instructions |
Read the following questions and answer it in one or two pages. Organize your thoughts into paragraphs.
Remember to use: |
• Active verbs
• Proper Nouns
• Transitions
• Good Structure
Question
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Extra Credit |
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