Catcher in the Rye - Study Guide

9.3 How does Holden's voice (style, diction, etc.) change when he speaks to Faith Cavendish? What type of persona is he attempting to present to her?

" "Hello?" I said. I made my voice quite deep so that she wouldn't suspect my age or anything. I have a pretty deep voice anyway. ". The persona hes trying to show when talking to Cavendish is sort of a successful playboy who's overly confident, he does this because he's trying to get drinks with her and get some.

9.4 How does Holden break his own sex rules?

"Last year I made a rule that I was going to quit horsing around with girls that, deep down, gave me a pain in the ass. I broke it, though, the same week I made it--the same night, as a matter of fact. I spent the whole night necking with a terrible phony named Anne Louise Sherman."

6.2 How would a psychoanalyst argue that Holden's response to Stradlater's question: "Where the hell is everybody?" is a form of projection?

A psychoanalyst would argue that Holden's response to Stradlater's question is a form of projection because Holden was angery Jane lost her innocence to Stradlater. A projection is a defense mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.

3.5 How does Holden's interpretation of Stradlater's character differ from Ackley's?

Ackley does not like Stradlater while Holden doesn't mind him. Holden knows that Stradlater is stuck up and attractive, which Ackley dislikes, but nevertheless he thinks he is generous and does not have any bad intentions. Despite being rich, he does not treat anyone worse than others, but Ackley envies him for it.

7.3 What does Ackley do that makes Holden feel unwanted?

Ackley starts telling him if that if he keeps talking and acting the way he does, someones going to beat him up and "bash your-". This makes Holden leave because he was tired of people always telling him that and he also didn't feel like listening. Ackley also doesn't let Holden sleep in his roommate's bed.

11.1 What facts about Jane Gallagher are reiterated at the beginning of this chapter?

Again, Jane played checkers and kept all her kings in the back row. Her dog used to pee on Holden's lawn, and Jane's step-father was an alcoholic.

23.1 Why does Holden cry when Phoebe gives him her money?

As a person who describes everything in a pessimistic way, Holden's view of the world is that everything is fake. He feels lonely because no one understands him and he consistently feels disappointment in his life. When Phoebe gave him money, it was like seeing a bright light in a dark abyss. He was viewing his only light and familiar love give him all the money she had so that he could go. Holden probably felt that Phoebe was the only person alive who was on his side and because he had to leave her, he was probably feeling extremely sad which caused the tears.

12.2 What is suggested about Horowitz's character in the statement, "if you was a fish, Mother Nature'd take care of you, wouldn't she? Right? You don't think fish just die when it gets to be winter, do ya?...goddam they don't"?

By Horowitz saying this this shows how he believes that not every question will have an exact answer and how every question shouldn't be a question. Horowitz also believes how there will be a higher figure that will overlook over nature , in this case the higher figure looking over the fishes in the inter is mother nature.

19.1 Based upon what Carl Luce says and does in Holden's flashback, how does he display his superiority over the other boys?

Carl Luce lectures the boys about sex and tells the boys that he has the knowledge to figure out who is a flit or not. Luce uses his knowledge as an authority figure.

19.3 What does the fact that Holden never mentions his volume in the narrative show about Holden's sense of awareness?

Carl and Sally told Holden to stop yelling, but Holden never acknowledges or recognizes his volume. He is unaware of his own behavior.

15.4 How is Catholicism "just like those suitcases"?

Catholicism is "just like those suitcases" because Holden believes just like objects, religion can get in the way of relationships. He tries to elaborate a point about suitcases is people judge what kind of suitcases others carry, signifying personality doesn't matter, only the appearance and possessions they carry. Holden specifically mentions he refuses to be a phony materialist however, wishes to live a holy life but doesn't know how to.

11.2 What does the reiteration of these facts suggest to us about the reliability of Holden as a narrator?

Even though Holden is young and an unreliable narrator, the facts about Jane are repeated and show that they are true.

2.5 When Holden first enters the Spencers' house, Mr. Spencer is reading the Atlantic Monthly. Holden refers to the magazine both times Mr. Spencer tries to throw papers onto the bed and misses. What is symbolic about the Atlantic Monthly? How is it significant to the theme of the text?

Every time the magazine is mentioned, it's being unsuccessfully thrown by Spencer. The magazine becomes a symbol of old age and weakness. It's the negative side of growing older.

4.4 In the passage about Jane Gallagher, what emotions does Holden's repetition of phrases display?

Hardcore nostalgia. Holden bounces from memory to memory of Jane, talking out loud to Stradlater about Jane and everything he remembers of her, noticing he doesn't care, but continuing all the same, entrapped by his memories. He also feels excitement that he can't contain for wanting to see her.

15.1 Why does Holden call Sally Hayes a phony?

He does this because he notices how acts to please society by using fancy words that made her seem more educated (correlation with wealth) and she acts politely but exaggerates most of her emotions in public to gain attention from those surrounding her. Her actions and reactions make her seem like a copy of every woman in society and shows that she cares about fitting into the stereotypical female.

25.2 How are Holden's symptoms psychosomatic?

He feels nauseous and can't swallow. He feels depressed, and then he passes out and feels like he is disappearing. When he walks across the street, he talks aloud to his dead brother for help.

25.3 What are other ways Holden's actions convey elements of insanity?

He has an irrational fear of disappearing when crossing the street. He talks to Allie out loud.

24.1 What does Holden mean when he says Mrs. Antolini is lousy with dough?

He is moved by Phoebe's generous offer. She has very little money and saved up, but she offers all her Christmas money to Holden without a second thought. While Holden thinks he is alone in the world, Phoebe sincerely loves and cares for him.

1.11 Is the narrator reliable? Use evidence from Chapter 1 to support your answer.

He is not reliable. He is young and incorrect at times. He exaggerates often which distorts the facts. He doesn't take responsibility for his faults and he's not serious about most events in his life.

1.6 What memory leads the narrator to say, "If I get a chance to remember that kind of stuff, I can get a good-by when I need one—at least most of the time I can"

He remembers tossing a football with friends until it became so dark outside that a teacher told them to get inside. It's a carefree, fun memory.

14.1 How is Holden's anger about his isolation projected onto the Disciples?

He shows it by saying that the disciples were useless to Jesus while Jesus was alive maybe trying to say that people don't really care about someone until they're gone.

1.2 How does the opening line "if you really want to hear about it..." intentionally lower the reader's expectations of the novel?

He sounds hesitant to tell his story. He can't be held to the same standards of a typical autobiography because the narrator is telling his story against his will.

1.5 Why does the narrator say he has a difficult time saying goodbye?

He's left so many schools, but he didn't know he was leaving them for good. He doesn't have experience saying goodbye. He's lacked the sense of closure.

21.2 How do the objects that Holden describes in Phoebe's room help characterize her?

Her clothes and shoes are neatly placed throughout the room, showing that she is organized and likes things the be precise. Additionally, with the Arithmetic Is Fun! book and her various notebooks placed on the desk, it shows that she is studious and intellectual. All of these traits show how mature she is for her age.

6.4 Why does Holden attack Stradlater?

Holden attacks Stradlater because Stradlater is ungrateful and insults the composition Holden made for him. Also, Holden thinks Stradlater doesn't really like Jane and just wants to take advantage of her.

18.1 What does Holden think is skewed about girls' perception of guys? What is the implication of their perception?

Holden believes girls have a double standard. Holden explains that if a girl likes a guy no matter how big of a conceited bastard they might be they have an inferiority complex, but if a girl meets a sweet guy she doesn´t like, they will find the smallest flaw to not be with them. He believes that this perception is unreasonable and states that girls are phoney.

17.6 At the end of this chapter, Holden says, "I swear to God I'm a madman." Is he using this as an expression, or does he believe himself to be emotionally troubled?

Holden believes himself to be emotionally troubled because he questions why he suggested this plan to Sally and why he actually meant it. At this point he was questioning the plans he was making and his dedication to actually going through with it. He himself did not know the truth behind the actions he was making.

15.3 Why does Holden believe it could be awkward for a nun to teach English?

Holden believes it could be awkward for a nun to teach English is the sexual symbolism contained in literature books that might be against their religion. For example, he gets disturbed over the fact the nun's favorite play is Romeo and Juliet, described as a "romantic" and "sexy" play that be inappropriate for their beliefs.

3.3 What importance does Holden place on the name "Ackley"? How is Robert Ackley's identity different if he is called "Ackley" instead of "Bob," "Ack," or his first name?

Holden believes that Ackley's name will forever remain a part of him. This is due to his personality never changing even when he grows old. His name will stick with him for the rest of his life as that is what he known for and he doesn't hold much respect for him.

3.2 In the paragraph beginning with "The book I was reading was this book I took out of the library by mistake," what does Holden believe makes a good book? Furthermore, what connection does Holden make between books and their authors?

Holden believes what makes a good book is the occasional comic relief or as Holden puts it, " a book that's at least funny once in a while." After reading a book Holden says how he wishes he can call the author, like the author is a friend of his. Holden gains attachments to the books he enjoys and finds some company when reading them. This is why he wishes he can call the authors of books, because the sense of companionship is gone when the story is over.

17.3 What reasons does Holden give Sally for his hating Pencey?

Holden calls school a terrific bore and begins to go on a tangent about how he hates everything phony.

4.1 Why does Holden consider Stradlater a "secret slob"? What does Stradlater's hygiene say about his character on a deeper level?

Holden considers Stradlater a secret slob because he doesn't change his razor even though it is rusty and old. This shows how Stradlater wants everyone to think he's this amazingly perfect dude but in reality he's a "phony" just like everyone else. He cares more about his appearance that he doesn't notice that little things like a dirty razor show how he's actually not as "perfect" as everyone thinks he is.

7.4 Why does Holden decide to leave Pencey? Use the text to support your answer.

Holden decides to leave Pencey because he feels overwhelmed with all the phony people around him. After his conversation with Ackley, he says "I just didn't want to hang around any more. It made me too sad and lonesome." (57-58) Being around the people at Pencey, Holden became fed up with the environment.

8.3 What lies does Holden tell Mrs. Morrow? What is his justification for these lies?

Holden decides to lie to Ms. Morrow about her son and a variety of other things (like his name) because Holden thinks it is very entertaining to see her reactions/how proud she is of her son. His justification for lying about his name was because "he didn't feel like giving her his whole life history."(61) He lied about her son because he is very happy when Mrs. Morrow is very delighted and pleased.

10.2 In the same passage about Allie and Phoebe, how does Holden demonstrate nostalgia?

Holden demonstrates nostalgia by his tone of voice of positivity when reminiscing about Phoebe and Allie. Holden's diction are usually full of words such as "phony" or curse words but when remembering and describing his younger sister, his tone changes and is full of favorable examples.

17.4 How does Holden describe his ideal adult life?

Holden describes his ideal adult life as living in a place like Vermont or Massachusetts away from all the phonies that live in the city. Somewhere with a brook, where he would be able to cut down his own wood.

18.4 Why does Holden dislike the movie (that he watches by himself)?

Holden dislike the movie because it was about an English Duke named Alec in war who ends up in the hospital that lost memory but the movie becomes a romantic story as Alec marries a publisher. This made Holden think about his brother D.B. being in war and Holden can't imagine himself being in the army for such a long time (approx. 4 years) and Holden would rather sit on an atomic bomb.

11.4 Why does Holden dislike Ernie?

Holden dislikes Ernie because he believes that he is a phony. Holden thinks he acted like he was a "helluva humble guy," but he is being sarcastic.

17.2 Why does Holden dislike the show (he watches with Sally)?

Holden dislikes the show because he felt as if he was surrounded by phonies that pretend to like these shows when in reality they just want people to see how they look and who they're with.

20.3 What is the big catastrophe that happens to Holden when he is in the park?

Holden drops Phoebe's record and it breaks.

15.2 How did Holden's suitcases prevent him from forming a friendship with Dick Slagle?

Holden felt bad for Dick because Holden had more than Dick and wanted to make him feel more comfortable and probably would have considered being his friend. After he realized that Dick was trying to be as phony as everyone else by pretending that the suitcases were his, Holden lost the desire to befriend him.

22.2 Why does Holden get upset during Veterans' Day at Pencey?

Holden gets upset during Veteran's Day at Pencey because that was the day "that all the jerks that graduated from Pencey around 1776 come back and walk all over the place (Page 186)". Really, he is sad because the alumnus keeps telling them how high school was the best, yet Holden is miserable.

7.6 Why does Holden get depressed when he packs his bags? How does this passage show that he has sympathy for his mother?

Holden got depressed when packing his bag because he had just gotten a new pair of ice-skates from his mom and knowing they were a gift made him sad. This passage shows the sympathy for his mother because he knew the effort that was put into buying those even though they were the wrong kind.

6.5 Holden tells Stradlater, "That's the trouble with you morons. You never want to discuss anything. That's the way you can always tell a moron. They never want to discuss anything intellig[ent]." Why does this statement make Holden a hypocrite, considering what he has done in this scene?

Holden is a hypocrite because he is speaking about people that don't speak over their problems yet, he swung at Stradlater before discussing the conflict he felt against him. Holden is angry about Stradlater being intimate with Jane, but Holden never directly confronts Stradlater about it.

20.5 How does the passage beginning with, "Finally I sat down on this bench..." and ending with, "...the sun only comes out when it feels like coming out" illustrate projection?

Holden is expressing his feelings about death and his grief for Allie. When he remembers his family visiting Allie's grave and the rain falling, Holden worries about Allie and if his family will leave Holden when he dies.

24.4 What is the significance of Holden's paradoxical statement, "I didn't cut any classes. You weren't allowed to cut any. There were a couple of them I didn't attend once in a while, like that Oral Expression I told you about, but I didn't cut any"?

Holden is getting defensive. He can't rationally deny that he skipped classes, but he doesn't want to admit that his carelessness is the reason he is being kicked out. He deludes himself into believing that he is voluntarily leaving due to his disgust at the phony behavior. He can repress his guilt instead of accepting his responsibility in being kicked out.

25.10 The subject of Ancient Egyptians and mummies is a framing motif: the topic is first brought up in the exam paper Holden wrote for Mr. Spencer, and it is mentioned again in Holden's conversation with the boys. The motif shows that the text has come full circle. What has Holden learned and how has he changed since the beginning of the story?

Holden learns that growing up is inevitable. He wants to scratch the F-you that is by on the museum wall, but he realizes he can't. In addition, Holden wants to take care of Phoebe, and when she rides the carousel, Holden stands with the parents instead of riding himself.

1.10 What happened to the fencing team's equipment? Who is at fault?

Holden left the equipment on the subway. Even though it was his fault, he doesn't take full responsibility for it.

3.1 At the beginning of the chapter, Holden admits that he often lies when people ask him where he is going. Why does Holden lie? What does his motivation to lie say about his character and his reliability as a narrator?

Holden lies for his own amusement. His child like nature causes him to lie pretending to go somewhere of greater importance. He admits he knows it to be wrong, but continues to lie anyways. He might be lying to the readers, but he at least admits that he lies which might be an attempt at honesty.

24.6 How does Holden misinterpret Mr. Antolini's message?

Holden only hears the first part of Mr. Antolini's statement and takes it literally. Holden says that he doesn't hate people but that he misinterprets them at first and eventually misses them.

7.5 What does Holden plan to do once he leaves Pencey? Why?

Holden plans to go to an inexpensive hotel in New York until Wednesday. He decides this to let his parents digest the fact that he'd been kicked out of Pencey and he wanted a little vacation.

24.3 What type of monologues does Holden find the most interesting? Why? How does it contribute to the motif of psychoanalysis?

Holden prefers when people digress. He believes the digressions are more personal and reveal more feelings and desires. He believes they are more interesting. This is how Holden tells stories, and his digressions reveal more about Holden than the actual plot.

20.1 How do Holden's actions and behavior illustrate his intoxication?

Holden pretends to be injured, holding onto his stomach acting as if he got shot in the guts. He then calls Sally Hayes because he is too drunk to talk to Jane.

13.4 Why does Holden refuse to pay Sunny an extra five dollars?

Holden refuses to pay Sunny an extra five dollars because Maurice said it would cost $5. Holden thinks people should live up to their word, and Sunny just shrugged and left with the $5.

8.5 How does Holden respond to Mrs. Morrow's tone?

Holden responds to this tone by going along with it. To explain during the whole ride with Mrs. Morrow, he continues to act like a child by lying. Additionally he askes her for a drink in which she declines. This shows that Holden is still oblivious to how innocent and childlike he is.

13.2 Why does Holden say, "I'd rather push a guy out the window or chop his head off with an ax than sock him in the jaw?" What does this tell the reader about Holden's character?

Holden says that he hates fist fights, he doesn't "mind" getting hit, but what scares him most is the the guy's face. This reinforces Holden's fear of confrontation.

1.9 What are some examples of false information, exaggerations, and understatements that the narrator presents in Chapter 1?

Holden says that he's a heavy smoker and grew six and half inches last year. He also says that he got TB because of that. "You were suppose to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn't win" "I forgot to tell you about that. They kicked me out."

19.2 How is the volume of Holden's voice conveyed in the conversation he has with Carl Luce?

Holden seems to be yelling because Carl Luce repeatedly asks him to quiet down and relax.

20.2 How does Holden's syntax and diction illustrate his intoxication?

Holden slurs most of his words when talking to Sally and repeats himself multiple times. He keeps repeating how "drunk he was" after every action he does.

5.1 What does Holden say and do that reveals he pities Ackley?

Holden states "The reason I asked was because Ackley never did anything on Saturday night except stay in his room and squeeze his pimples or something," (page 41) emphasizing how he pities that Ackley always stays in the dorms even on Saturdays instead of going out with friends.

20.4 Explain in detail what repressed anxiety emerges as Holden sits alone in the park?

Holden states that when people die they're buried and when it rains those who came to visit the dead get to go home except for those who died. The ones that are buried in the cemetery get to stay and don't get the chance to go home. This shows that Holden is afraid of dying and staying alone. This reminds Holden of Allie's death.

7.1 What does Holden tell Ackley the fight was about? Why does he lie?

Holden tells Ackley that the fight was about him, Ackley. Holden lies because he thinks it funny and amusing.

2.4 Read Holden's essay and his letter to Mr. Spencer. How does Holden's voice in these documents differ from the voice in his narrative? Is one voice more sincere than the other? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Holden uses formal diction like "the latter" and "innumerable" to make himself sound serious, educated, and persuasive, but he also uses informal words like "dead people" and "flunk." This shows his informal true voice.

10.1 From reading the paragraph about Allie and Phoebe, starting with "You should see her,"what does the content say about Holden's relationship with his sister?

Holden uses words such as "pretty", "really smart", "pretty little ears", and "nice skinny" to describe his sister Phoebe. Just with these adjectives that Holden uses, the reader can see that their relationship, as brother and sister, is a good one by that things that Holden has to say about her. He has more positive ways to describe her rather than negative ones. He then "swears to God" that you'd like her which reassures the reader that this is a bond that cannot be broken due to an older brother having so much potential in his younger sister.

25.8 How does Holden demonstrate how protective he is of Phoebe?

Holden wants Phoebe to stay home instead of going with him. He wants Phoebe to succeed, and he worries when he can't see her when they are walking separately on opposite sides of the street.

25.4 What does Holden plan to do when he goes out west?

Holden wants to live in a cabin in the woods and pretend to be deaf-mute. He wants to marry a woman who is deaf-mute and raise children, and he'd give the children books and teach them instead of sending them to school.

17.5 How does the passage about Holden's ideal adult life contribute to the motif of retaining innocence?

Holden wants to live somewhere where there is no one around, away from society and its standards. In a way these standards corrupt people into acting a certain way, acting and behaving in a way that they probably would not, by living away from society the innocence of being true to yourself is kept.

8.1 Why does Holden wear his red hunting cap and its earflaps in Chapter 8? In what ways does the cap take on new meaning in this chapter?

Holden wears his red hunting cap and its earflaps to keep warm. His cap takes on a new meaning because before he was self conscious about the hat and would not wear it when around others but in this chapter he did not care how he looked with it on.

26.1 What has happened to Holden since the afternoon in the park? What evidence in the text supports this?

Holden went home, and then he went to a hospital for the mentally ill. He says that he "got sick" and comments, "I could probably tell you...what school I'm suppose to go to next fall, after I get out of here." It's implied that he is being held somewhere against his will. He also refers to a psychoanalyst who keeps asking him to try harder.

25.1 How and for what reason does Holden attempt to excuse Mr. Antolini's actions?

Holden wonders if the pat on the head was an act of endearment instead of sexuality. After all, Mr. Antolini offered Holden a place to stay and good advice. Holden tries to rationalize so that Mr. Antolini isn't to blame.

5.2 How does Holden's diction in the passage about Allie denote grief?

Holden's diction denotes griefs grief because he constantly keeps his feelings hidden but when he remembers his brother, he becomes emotional and remembers all the good memories they had together which is why on page 44, Holden is giving a very descriptive essay about a baseball mitt his brother used to have.

4.2 What does Holden's disgust about Stradlater's secret bad hygiene say about him as a character?

Holden's disgust shows that he only ever notices other people's flaws and not his own. He thinks that everyone is phony or fake, and he can't see those issues in himself.

11.3 What about Holden's feelings toward Jane can be inferred from the passage about kidding, starting with, "But I didn't kid her much, though," and ending with, "—but it's hard to get started, once you've known them a pretty long time and never kidded them."

Holden's feelings towards Jane are very serious and intense which causes him not to "kid her much" the way he would with other girls. The more he got know Jane the more serious he took her.

8.2 What opinions about magazine stories does Holden reveal in the third paragraph?

Holden's opinion about magazine stories is that they are dumb, lousy stories full of phony characters.

12.3 What does Ernie do that supports Holden's opinion of him in Chapter 11?

Holden's opinion of Ernie in chapter 11 was that he believed that he was very good at playing the piano and that he is the type of guy who wouldn't speak to someone unless they're a big shot. Then in Chapter 12, Ernie would put show-offy ripples in high notes and other tricky stuff and once he finished he gave a phony humble bow.

3.4 What does Holden's red hunting hat symbolize in Chapter 3?

Holden's red hunting hat symbolizes confidence. As seen on page 21, Holden states that he believes he looks good when wearing it and since he was alone, he was willing to express himself without fear of being judged by others as he read a book he enjoyed. This shows that the hat gives him comfort.

9.2 What are Holden's sex rules? What do they say about his attitude toward women?

Holden´s sex rule(s) is that he was going to quit horsing around with girls that deep down, gave him a pain in the ass. He believes he´s also a sex maniac yet sex is something he does not quite understand. Holden´s attitude towards women is that he is not mature enough to have sex and the concept itself but he still respects women by not ¨horsing around¨ with them if he didn´t like them.

22.3 What admirable qualities do the nuns and James Castle possess that make them come to Holden's mind when he brainstorms the things that make him happy?

I believe that the two nuns and James Castle's commitment was the qualities that made them come to Holden's mind when he was brainstorming the things that made him happy. Holden doesn't like people and call them phonies because they don't commit to their ideals and adapt to the situation. The nuns have committed to the lives they chose and that was seen when he realized that they have only eaten small breakfasts like toast and coffee when Holden ate bacon and eggs. On the other hand James Castle committed to the words he called Phil Stabile, conceited, which caused him to instead of being pressured to apologizing, was steadfast in his beliefs and decided to commit suicide.

4.3 What does Holden remember about Jane Gallagher?

Immediately after hearing the name Jane Gallagher, Holden is reminded of how she used to be his neighbor, how she danced in ballet, and how the two would often play checkers. Holden also remembered the booze hound that was her father and her lousy childhood, as described by Holden.

18.2 Is this sentiment consistent or inconsistent with Holden's previous statement in Chapter 12, about unattractive girls?

In chapter 12 Holden explains that unattractive girls can only be with unattractive men. His perspective in chapter 12 is different than what he believes in chapter 18 where he doesn´t understand why girls go for guys who are conceited and rude.

12.1 How does Horowitz, the taxi driver, respond differently than the first cab driver to Holden's question about the ducks in Central Park? What do his statements say about his mental health?

In comparison to the first taxi driver, Horowitz kept the conversation going with Holden instead of completely ignoring his questions about the ducks at central park. Although Horowitz was rude and changed the topic about the ducks at central park, Horowitz still had responses to Holden's questions. What Horowitz statements show about his mental health is that it is unstable since his actions and responses back to Holden's questions don't require that much anger and actions.

10.3 What are some things that Holden experiences in the Lavender Room which may contribute to his feelings of isolation?

In the Lavender Room, a nightclub, Holden asks for a cocktail which is refused to be brought by the waitress. This can make him feel isolated due to not fitting in with the others by being one of the few that isn't drinking alcohol. Holden also experiences being made fun of by the women who he was dancing with which can contribute to the feeling of isolation by hearing unwanted comments about himself. Lastly, Holden claims that the women "depressed" him because they were obsessed with movie stars which can make him feel isolated for the reason that he isn't interested in movie stars himself and may feel like he won't find someone who is similar to him.

21.4 What is ironic about the question "What are you—a child, for God's sake?" Why is this use of irony significant?

It is ironic that Holden calls Phoebe a child because she is in fact a child. What is significant about this question is that although Phoebe is a child Holden does not see her that way. In his perspective, Phoebe is very intelligent and is unlike the kids around her age. She is very observant, smart, beautiful, and not a slob.

14.2 When Maurice comes to the door, Holden says, "Old Sunny just stood there with her mouth open and all." What does this facial expression tell the reader about Sunny's emotional state and the image she is trying to present to Holden?

It tells us that she's almost trying to explain why they are there but she is very outspoken. She acts very innocent, but her mouth is drawn closed and into a scowl. Her face shows a fake carelessness, but she is upset.

1.7 Why does the narrator "get a good-by" from the memory (that allows him to feel a sense of goodbye to Pencey) ?

It's a pleasant memory that made him feel a part of the school for once.

24.7 Mr. Antolini writes down and gives Holden the following quotation by Wilhelm Stekel: "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." How does this quotation relate to Holden's story about James Castle in the previous chapter?

James Castle died young for his pride. Castle jumped out the window rather than be labeled a coward for taking back what he said. Holden is immature because he admires Castle's actions.

14.4 What subtle gestures does Maurice make to intimidate Holden?

Maurice knocks the door really loud and unbutton his uniform coat which intimidates Holden.

14.3 Why does Maurice repeatedly refer to Holden as "chief?"

Maurice refer to Holden as "chief" in an ironic way because Maurice is Sunny´s pimp and Maurice is coming to Holden to change five more dollars. Also, it characterize Holden as tough guy knowing he is young, to butter him up.

24.5 Read the passage beginning with, "I have a feeling..." and ending with, "...what I'm driving at, at all?" What is the message Mr. Antolini is trying to give Holden?

Mr. Antolini is warming Holden that if he does not start applying himself and aim to become successful, he is going to end up miserable and depressed. Holden already has some education, and he will not be content with being average. Holden would be jealous and unhappy while those around him succeed. Mr. Antolini urges Holden to get his education and become successful.

24.2 What reason does Holden give for refusing to go to his Oral Expressions class?

Mr. Antolini is wealthy and belongs in the upper class.

24.8 What advice does Mr. Antolini give Holden that could help Holden rid himself of his feelings of alienation?

Mr. Antolini tells Holden to read what people who have similar experiences have written. If Holden can't relate to people in person, He can't find comfort in writings of people who have been morally and spiritually troubled.

24.9 What is the significance of the final scene at Mr. Antolini's?

Mr. Antolini was the only person Holden fully admired without reservation, but now that Mr. Antolini pet Holden's head, Holden perceives him as a pervert.

2.6 Why is Mr. Haas the "the phoniest bastard [Holden] ever met in [his] life"? What does the story of Mr. Haas say about Holden's view of adults?

Mr. Haas treats the parents unequally because he judges people by their physical appearance. Mr. Haas wants to make a good impression even if he has to do and say things that are insincere to what he's feeling. Holden distrusts adults, especially those who have authority.

2.2 Note the use of imagery in the scene at Mr. Spencer's house. What are some prominent images J.D. Salinger presents?

Mr. Spencer is an old bathrobe, the smell of Vick's nose drops, and the image of Mr. Spencer picking his nose

2.3 What does this imagery at Mr. Spencer's house say about the relative age of the two characters? Does the imagery give credence to one character's argument more than the other's?

Mr. Spencer is very old and can't take care of himself well. The imagery undermines the serious advice that he gives Holden.

8.4 Does Mrs. Morrow speak to Holden as an equal, or is she condescending toward him? How is this apparent by her diction?

Mrs. Morrow tends to speak to Holden in a more belittling manner. To explain, when Mrs. Morrow discovers that her child and Holden go to the same school, she begins to call him "dear" which causes readers to feel like she treats him more like a kid, or someone lesser than her-- rather than an adult.

21.3 How does Phoebe demonstrate her love for Holden?

Phoebe demonstrates her love for Holden through her first reaction when she saw Holden. She was very affectionate even "too" affectionate according to Holden. It was also mentioned that Phoebe wrote Holden a five page letter about this play she was in at school.

25.9 What does the hunting cap symbolize in this chapter?

Phoebe throws back the hat to Holden when he doesn't let her leave with him, but she gently places it back on his head to keep him warm and dry. The gestures symbolizes their love and affection that is severed and then reconnected.

1.1 What does the introduction tell the reader about the narrator with regard to fulfilling the reader's expectations for an autobiography?

Readers expect an autobiography to start with birth and childhood, but Holden doesn't fulfill these expectations. He will express himself the way wants to without worry about social and literary standards

17.1 What can be inferred about Sally by her response to Holden's declaration of love? Is this inference consistent with her character?

Sally told Holden that he loved him back also and this is consistent with her character because it shows how phony she is to pretend to 'love' someone shes known in such little time.

16.3 How does Sally's taste in theatre reinforce Holden's opinion of her from the previous chapter?

Sally's taste in the theatre was sophisticated based on the characters in the theatre. He feels better about himself because they have similar interests.

6.3 What does Stradlater say when he reads Holden's description about Allie's baseball glove? How does Holden react? Why?

Stradlater: "(Gosh darn) it"/"You always do everything backasswards"/"No wonder you're flunking the hell out of here"/"You don't do one dam thing the way you're supposed to. I mean it. Not one damn thing." Holden reacts by ripping up the paper, litting a cigarette, and laying quietly. Holden reacted this way since he was offended Stradlater didn't understand the true meaning of the glove.

13.3 What does Sunny's green dress represent?

Sunny's green dress represents youth, fertility and spring. It symbolizes money or the beginning of something. Although for Holden it made him feel depressed or sad looking at her dress, because he was depressed.

25.6 What do the obscenities on the wall—first at the school and later in the Egyptian tomb—signify to Holden?

The F-you symbolizes how society corrupts the innocence of youth. Children don't understand what it means until they are taught. Holden wants to erase or scratch out the profane language to protect the innocence of children.

16.1 What does the album "Little Shirley Beans" represent?

The album is about a little girl who is afraid to go out because her teeth fell away. Similarity, for Holden, it is symbolic of childhood and the sense of innocence of which Holden is afraid to let go.

1.3 How does the allusion to David Copperfield characterize the narrator?

The allusion shows that the narrator is educated and well-read.

25.7 How is the innocence of the boy in the museum portrayed in his dialogue with Holden?

The boy's language is carefree and informal. His language conveys his age and innocence. The boy says "them dead guys" for the mummies and "toons" for tombs. He reference his "brudda" as well.

21.1 Holden describes the elevator boy as "sort of on the stupid side." How do the boy's actions and speech support Holden's opinion?

The elevator boy is very gullible. By listening to Holden's made up story, the elevator boy responds with a simple "oh", and takes Holden up to his floor, showing that he is "sort of on the stupid side", since he let a random child into the secured building.

6.1 What emotion is Holden feeling when Stradlater returns from his date with Jane? Why?

The emotion Holden is feeling when Stradlater returns from his date with Jane is anger. He felt anger due to the reason Stradlater took away Jane's innocence. Holden remembered playing checkers with Jane which he valued. However, Holden was worried Stradlater would make Jane do things that would change Holden's views.

12.5 What is the function of the italic text in Lillian's speech?

The function of the italic text in Lillian's speech shows how she is really phony and is not having a genuine conversation due to the fact that she wants to have a good conversation for Holden can tell DB about his run in with her.

1.4 The narrator describes the ads for Pencey Prep and says that they always show "some hot shot guy on a horse jumping over a fence." What values does this image represent, and what does the image say about the school?

The image is associated with the upper class. It suggests that the graduates from the school will become important and influential young men.

16.2 Why do the lyrics "If a body catch a body coming through the rye" make Holden feel less depressed?

The lyrics make Holden less depressed because he hears the little boy singing the song and brings back nostalgic memories from his past.

22.1 What reasons does Holden give Phoebe for being expelled from Pencey?

The reason that Holden gives Phoebe for being expelled from Pencey was because he was surrounded by phonies and mean guys. There was a secret fraternity that he joined that excluded students because they were boring or had pimples (Robert Ackely) (Page 185).

16.4 How does the setting in the paragraph beginning with, "It was lousy in the park" set the mood of the scene?

The setting in the paragraph sets the mood because it shows how he feels bad about society.

18.3 Why does Holden think Jesus would disapprove of the Christmas show?

The show is too extravagant with materialistic, flashy actors and props. When the actors are done, they rush outside to smoke cigarettes, ad Holden believes that all of this is not humble or sincere.

9.1 How does the taxi driver's dialect differ from Holden's? What is the significance of this difference in dialect?

The taxi driver´s dialect differs from Holden and the taxi driver is the class difference between the two characters. Although Holden cusses to the audience, he speaks properly to adults while the taxi driver speaks comfortably, improper, or slang. Holden may be suffering from depression but he is still defined as high class while the taxi driver is the job of a common person in other words, low class.

18.5 From this chapter, what can the reader discern Holden believes are qualities of good theater and film?

Theater should be realistic. The characters and the story should not be entirely predictable with everything ending happily.

12.4 What anti-feminist statement does Holden make in his description of the funny-looking guy and the funny-looking girl? Does this alter the reader's understanding of Holden's character? Why?

There was a couple who were both funny looking, and the guy only spoke about a football game and the girl had to listen because she was even more funny looking. He then speaks about how ugly girls have it tough and how he can sometimes not even look at them. This shows that Holden is superficial and shows that he is immature since he only cares/looks at the physical features of people.

2.1 What effect do idiosyncratic, repetitive phrases like "get a bang out of things" and "knocked him out" have on the story? What does the narrative style say about Holden Caulfield as a character?

These phrases depict him as a teenager. He is young even though he is insightful about what's happening around him.

4.5 What can readers infer about Holden's relationship with Jane Gallagher based on what he tells Stradlater?

They shared a childhood. As children the two would play checkers and it's apparent that the two had a somewhat strong relationship that whittled over time until the two fell out of contact.

22.4 Given the context that has been developing, state what is represented by Holden's desire to catch kids so as to prevent them from falling off a cliff while playing in a field of rye. What could Holden mean by this odd reference?

Throughout the story, it has been seen that Holden views life and age progression as a loss of innocence. As kids grow they will learn of the world and their innocence is lost. The innocence of the children is described by when they are playing in the rye field and when they fall of the cliff Holden speaks about, that is when they lose their innocence. Holden wants to catch these children so that they never lose the innocence they have of playing in the rye field and not worrying about the problems that adults have.

25.5 How does Holden connect verbal communication with belonging to a community?

Verbal communications is the key to forming meaningful relationships for Holden. His fantasy about being a deaf-mute stems from his desire to not connect to people because they won't be able to talk to him anymore.

13.1 Based on Holden's previous behavior, do you think the imagined scenario in which he retrieves his gloves is realistic? Why?

We have known Holden to be all about talk and not about actually doing what he says he would do. He is always trying to act tough, but in reality he rarely goes through with anything. The scenario with the gloves is most likely unrealistic because Holden is afraid of confrontation.

7.2 What does Holden mean when he says Stradlater "snows" girls in an "Abraham Lincoln, sincere voice?"

What Holden means is that Stradlater lures in girls by not only his looks but as "if was a nice, sincere guy."

1.8 When retelling events in this novel, the narrator's tone is cynical. Find two examples of the narrator's cynicism in the text, and write what underlying opinions he has on those subjects that influence his tone.

When he describes how all you ever did at Pencey was play polo all the time - the ad for the school isn't accurate. There were no "splendid, clear thinking young men" because the school is full of crooks and morons. What he liked about Selma Thurmer is that she didn't lie about what a great guy her father was. She knew her father, the headmaster, was a phony.

14.5 Does Holden respond to Maurice the way the reader would expect? Why?

Yes, because he wants to seem tough although he mentions he is scared. Also, unexpected because he still refuses.