english discussion questions

What do you make of the differences between these two characters? Which character enjoys a higher social status in their high school? Which character's physical appearance aligns more closely with traditional standards of attractiveness? Which character seems more at ease when interacting with girls? Which character hails from a wealthier family? What other differences can you detect between Stradlater and Ackley? How might Stradlater and Ackley represent two generic "types" of students that can be found even in most contemporary high schools? What social type might each character represent?

Ackley and Stradlater are shown to be complete opposites. Stradlater is more outgoing and extroverted because he goes out, goes on dates, and has a higher social status. Ackley is more isolated and quieter because Holden states he rarely leaves the dorm to go out or take parts in school events. He also has a low social status. Stradlater represents extrovert, Ackley represents introvert.

How are these two football scenes similar and/or different? Why might the differences be important to Holden?

Both scenes involve football, but they differ because football is played for different purposes. The players are playing it roughly and "bashing" each other, while Holden and his friends are playing it as a source of fun and just to take a break. It's important to Holden because playing it as a source of fun reminds him of his childhood and makes him feel like a kid again, which is what he longs for.

To which kinds of people are these advertisements addressed? What do the words used in the caption reveal about what the school is selling? On what basis does Holden take issue with the advertisements?

By using the word "mold", we can infer that the message is selling an education suited for boys with behavioral issues in order to turn them into "splendid young men". Holden takes issue with it because he thinks the motto is phony and knows that their teaching is not effective. he states that there was no boy in the school who was splendid or clear-thinking.

How are Mr. Haas's actions likely to make different kinds of parents feel? What aspect of his behavior does Holden find objectionable? For which kinds of people does Holden reserve the word "phony"?

His actions make different kinds of parents feel welcomed or unwelcomed if he's phony to them. Shows how he wants the students at Pency to have a presentable image, so he acts unwelcoming to the families that don't have the right image to make a lesser chance of them going to Pency

Why might Holden begin to wonder about what happens to the ducks in Central Park?

Holden begins to wonder about the ducks because it relates to how Holden is taking to Mr. Spencer about what's best for the future.

where is Holden located when the events in the novel take place? What time of year is it? How old is he then? Second, where is Holden located when he is narrating the novel? What time of year is it? How old is he at that time? Finally, does Holden act his age? What evidence supports your answer?

Holden is located at pency during this time, he's 16 and it's the month of December. Evidence points to him being at a mental hospital during this time (pg.1). He doesn't act his age because he still in the mindset of childhood innocence.

Why might Holden have wanted to visit Mr. Spencer in the first place? What might he have hoped that such a visit might yield?

Holden might've hoped that the visit would yield a helpful piece of advice for Holden, since he was going off on his own. But instead, he just got told that he's making bad decisions.

What does their actual exchange reveal about how Mr. Spencer feels about having given Holden a failing grade? Do you think Mr. Spencer is justified in speaking to Holden in a stern tone? Why or why not?

It reveals that Mr. Spencer feels that Holden deserved the failing grade because he did not complete the assignments correctly. I think Mr. Spencer is justified because he's using the tone for the right motives, which Holden knew.

What do the opening chapters of The Catcher in the Rye suggest about how Holden's narrative will differ from a traditional coming-of-age novel?

Suggests that the book will be a lot more relatable and show no sympathy for Holden and his struggles. It is a book based on the struggles of growing up, which is not sugarcoated.

When recalling his experience of throwing the football with two friends at Pencey, how might Holden's description of the time of day — it "kept getting darker and darker" — be symbolic? Finally, is it significant that a "biology" teacher ends the boys' innocent play?

Symbolizes how time has passed by, and a science teacher symbolizes how Holden is an adult now because science is mainly factual

Why might Holden take an interest in this hat? Why might he wear the hat backwards?

The hat reminds him of his childhood and the hat is also red, and Allie has red hair, so it reminds him of Allie. He wears it backwards because it's reminding him of what a child would do.

Does the predicament of the ducks resemble Holden's predicament? How might the ducks function as a symbol?

The predicament of the ducks does resemble Holden's predicament because it resembles the two choices Holden has. Ducks being taken away: Holden being sent to preparatory school and staying there. Ducks flying away: Holden leaving school altogether and going off on his own.

What might this experience reveal about the school? Why might it reveal about the students? What might it reveal about Holden?

This experience confirms that the school's teachings aren't effective, and that the motto is phony because the students are not splendid and clear-thinking, but instead they're crooks. It reveals that just like Holden, the students don't pay attention to what the school teaches and that their behavioral issues aren't fixed. It reveals that holden is very observant and pays lots of attention to others.

Why might J. D. Salinger have chosen to juxtapose his American coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951), with an older British coming-of-age novel, Charles Dickens's David Copperfield (1850)?

To highlight the difference between sympathy in the books, and how there is none for Holden which is why the two books are different

What might Holden's desire to "feel some kind of a good-by" reveal about his personality? What is it about Holden's memory of playing catch that might give him the feeling of closure?

Since Holden is leaving the school now, he is also leaving his childhood, which is what his memory of playing catch reminded him of. It reveals that he longs to return to when he was just an innocent child, and that he doesn't feel ready for this next step into adulthood by leaving the school.

What does Holden mean when he describes Stradlater as "a Year Book kind of handsome guy"? Does Holden's description of Stradlater remind you of people who are skilled at appearing especially good-looking on social media platforms like Instagram? What is it about such people that Holden might be critiquing?

Someone who is good at making themselves presentful and put a lot of effort into their appearance. ("He was madly in love with himself"). It can connect to people who are especially good-looking online because those people tend to put a lot of effort into their looks. Holden's critiquing them because they can be possible phonies if they act differently than how they present themselves as.

For which kinds of people does Holden reserve the word "phony"?

People who act different around other people for the wrong reasons or people who act completely different than what they refer to themselves as.