American Literature - Catcher in the Rye Ch. 1-13

Find a sentence on page 80 that is a good example of Holden's general confusion about himself, other people, and life.

"I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it."

What dryly humorous observation does Holden make about the naval officer? What literary term is used?

- "He was one of those guys...shake hands with you" (86-87). - The term used is hyperbole (exaggeration).

Although Holden does not like Lillian Simmons and thinks she is another phony, why does he feel sorry for her?

- He thinks that probably no one likes her, not even her date. - Feeling sorry for people because of their looks or personality seems to be a habit of Holden's - Crocked means totally drunk

What does Sunny's green dress represent?

- Holden imagines that when Sunny bought the dress, the salesperson thought he was selling it to an ordinary, innocent girl. - Holden imagines that when Sunny bought the dress, the salesperson thought he was selling it to an ordinary, innocent girl.

Why does Holden think the girls in the bar are "morons"?

- Lavender Room - Holden pegs the girls as being shallow - focus on appearances, not having depth - They don't seem to be very smart when he tries to converse with them; they only care about seeing celebrities

What does the blonde's language reveal, and how does she behave on the dance floor in the Lavender Room?

- She doesn't seem very smart, not interested in the conversation; stereotyped as a dumb blonde - When she's on the dance, she's looking all around and showing that she has little interest in Holden or the dance - His judgments are very hasty because he has few facts to base his judgments on

Holden can't stand the thought of Jane being sexually involved with Stradlater because he sees her as pure and innocent. In what way is her innocence - her shy, naïve manner of living - emphasized in this chapter?

- She kept her kings in the back row when they played checkers - she is associated with things not changing - He mentions a tear of hers falling on the checkerboard - she harbors some kind of secret pain within herself - he tries to kiss her - he tries to comfort her

What literary term could be applied to the nearly two-page diatribe about gloves and galoshes that begins this chapter? The end of it contradicts which previous declaration Holden made?

- Term = "digression" (stream of consciousness technique) - Goes against when he says he is a "pacifist." - He's a coward - yellow. He doesn't want to feel guilty about hurting someone. He is not afraid of getting hurt.

How does Holden feel about his sister Phoebe?

- Very positive about her - Pretty, very smart, roller skate skinny, good dancer, she is very mature for her age, she always listens to Holden, she knows when a movie is bad or it's good - Her stories feature a fictional character named Hazel Weatherfield - very creative and imaginative - Only negative - "she's a little too affectionate sometimes."

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?" (89-90). What does this tell the reader about Holden's character?

- Very protective and can take things to the extreme - Unable to confront things - he's a coward

What kind of tone is established in the first paragraph and how is it done?

A casual, disrespectful tone -- uses slang, rambling sentences, and free association of ideas. Uses inner dialogue as contrast to straight approach to facts abt. people or setting

Why does Ackley hate Stradlater?

Ackley, to begin with, "hated everybody's guts, damn near" (19). Stradlater is everything Ackley is not (rich, outgoing, generous) so Ackley says he is conceited.

Why does Holden think Mr. Ossenburger is a phony?

Because Ossenburger talks about Jesus in a manner that Holden sees as being insincere, Holden regards Ossenburger as a phony. Holden is against insincerity.

Find two examples of Caulfield repeating himself excessively. What might this repetition contribute to the book?

Between pages 31 and 33, Holden says that he was excited, "I really was," twice and repeats three times that he really "oughta go down" and see Jane Gallagher. This conversational tone, trying to capture the true patterns of speech, makes the story seem more real.

Holden is confused and has many ambivalent feelings about sex, but in what respect is the point of view he operates from a moral and ethical one?

Does not view a girl as a sexual object & he doesn't take advantage of a relationship even though he is sometimes not sure that the girl may not secretly wish he would

Why does he give her a false name? He wants to keep his anonymity. It saves him a lot of explaining.

Explain the phrase, "Boy, was she lousy with rocks" (55). He sees big expensive fingers on her fingers.

What literary term describes Holden's explanation of meeting Jane, the scene on her porch, and the movie incident?

FLASHBACK - Jane's step-father was an alcoholic; her dog used to relieve himself on his parents' lawn - Although Holden likes Ernie's piano playing, what is it that Holden dislikes about Ernie? Holden thinks he's phony and a snob; Ernie will not talk to people unless they are "big shots."

Holden's understandings are false much of the time, but the basic ideas are correct. Find an example of this on page 16.

He describes Ossenburger as an undertaker who "probably just shoves them [the dead] in a sack and dumps them in the river." This is not based on any factual information other than Holden's imagination and dislike. The concept of Ossenburger being a "phony" and shallow, however, is accurate as Holden describes him.

Although Holden seems well-read, he continually leaves schools. Why?

He does so because he has no interest in any other subject than English. He makes no attempt to play the "game" Dr. Thurmer and Mr. Spencer talk about

Since he can easily afford it, why does Holden object to paying the prostitute another $5.00?

He feels like he's being taken advantage of, and the additional charge really bothers him. If Sunny had been more argumentative, Holden might have given her the money out of pity and in order to avoid confrontation.

At the end of this chapter, why is Holden on the verge of crying? Why does he decide to go home?

He feels like no one cares about him at school and there's no one there to say goodbye. He feels bad because he's always getting kicked out of school and he knows his parents will be disappointed in him. He feels alone because he really cannot seem to relate to anyone in a meaningful way.

In the second full paragraph on page 4, why is Holden hanging around the cannon, freezing? What does this say about his personality?

He is trying to work up some feelings about leaving Pencey, so feelings are important to him; apparently, leaving is something that he has to work at in this instance, unlike before.

Why does Holden feel "lonesome" and "rotten" in this chapter (Ch. 7)

He knows that Stradlater went out with Jane and subliminally he might be envious of Stradlater especially because Holden is still a virgin. He also has strong feelings of protection for Jane.

Explain the irony found on pages 61-62.

He says he's the only one who is normal but his normalcy is only on the surface. He is full of contradictions, confusions, fears, frustrations, misinterpretations, immaturity.

Why does Holden tell lies to Mrs. Morrow about her son?

He wants her to feel good about her son; once he starts, he cannot stop.

Why is Holden unwilling to have sex with the prostitute Sunny?

He wants someone to talk to. He gets very sad and depressed because Sunny is so young and she's reducing herself to this kind of work to get money. He feels alienated and he's also afraid of losing his virginity.

What is reemphasized about Holden's personality on the first page of this chapter?

He's lonely so he decides he wants to call someone on the phone and he thinks of 5 people. This scene suggests his alienation and separation from others; his inability to establish meaningful contact with other people. It takes him 20 minutes in the phone booth. This points to his lack of direction.

Holden admits to being confused about sex and cannot always keep to the rules he wishes to adopt. What does the code of conduct appear to be working toward?

His code of conduct about sex: the boy should actually like the girl and have a good relationship with her. It's about respect for the girl. Boys should not "horse around" with a girl. Girls should be treated properly. He calls Faith Cavendish, who wasn't exactly a ***** but didn't mind doing it once in a while.

Who is the narrator of this story, and at what point in time is he telling the story, and where is her when he is telling the story?

Holden Caulfield is the narrator. He is speaking about his past experiences with Christmas. He is in a "crummy place" for a rest (sanitarium) because he has gotten run down. He is reluctant to telling the story -- possibly to a therapist or the reader

How does Holden feel about Stradlater?

Holden defends Stradlater by saying that he is not a bad guy when a person gets to know him, but he does have a phony kind of friendliness. Holden, however, sees phoniness in everyone.

Despite his dislike for Ackley's behavior, how does Holden demonstrate sympathy for him in this chapter?

Holden invites Ackley to go to town alongside him and Mal Brossard; shows Holden has a capacity to feel sympathy and be sensitive towards another

Holden stops in to say good-bye to old Spencer; and as he sits there, he gets more and more upset. Why?

Holden is a sensitive person who appears not to want to hurt Mr. Spencer's feelings, but Mr. Spencer seems to be completely insensitive to Holden's feelings. Spencer's habits, his bed, and his attitude all contribute to Holden's unease. Against Holden's wishes, he rehashes the test that they both know he failed.

What indications are there that Holden idealized the memories of his dead brother?

Holden recalls Allie to have been a very smart and nice person. He had red hair but never got mad at anyone. Holden uses the baseball mitt as a way of idealizing Allie, specifically his love for poetry. (Allie died of leukemia)

How do we know the death of Holden's brother, Allie was hard for him? What is unusual about the way Allie's death was first alluded to on page 38?

Holden says it so casually because he is dealing with his emotions. The comparison of baseball and death, two strikingly different ideas, says a great deal of Holden's difficulty.

In what way is Holden's red cap a symbol of his alienation?

Holden uses the red cap when he writes the composition. He associates this red cap as a "people shooting" cap. The red is associated with Allie's hair color.

Do the characters Mr. Spencer, Ackley, and Stradlater strike you as believable people?

Holden's observations about their personal habits, personality traits, and eccentricities seem correct and pointed; the actions of the characters do not contradict Holden's observations but do support his contentions. His descriptions sometimes deal with minutia, which accurately reflects the characters. Stradlater, for example, has a razor that "was always rusty as hell and full of lather and hairs and crap" 27).

"I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it."

Horwitz is a foil to Holden; Horwitz is loud and matter-of-fact about life and Holden is intellectual and sensitive

What kind of a person is Ackley, and how does Holden feel about him?

In his personal habits, Ackley is a slob; his personality, which is negative, grates on Holden. For these reasons, Ackley is something of an outcast; with all his faults, though, or maybe because of them, Holden can feel sorry for him.

What is ironic about the statement "I'm a pacifist if you want to know the truth"?

Pax, pacis - peace Holden says this right after he tries to sock Stradlater. The pacifism that Holden claims to have is directly contradicted by his actions. He's hypocritical.

Why is Holden so angry with Stradlater?

Stradlater will not be open about what he did with Jane in Ed Banky's car. This annoys Holden because it goes against his idea of "protecting the innocent" This instance shows that Holden is at a higher intellectual level than Stadlater and Ackley

What is it that Holden does not like about the Pencey Prep advertisement and about the headmaster, Thurmer?

The ad is false. There are not any horses "anywhere near" the school, and the school does not mold anyone. He calls Thurmer a "phony slob: (2-3). Equestrian sports are associated with the upper class and denote prestige.

Caulfield believes that Ernie is a phony because he pretends to be humble when he bows but is anything but humble. How has his performance hurt his talent, and what solution does Holden suggest for the problem?

The audience is uncritical it makes Ernie more complacent about his work. Ernie should play for himself in a closet to keep his talent more intact.

How does Holden's reason for leaving Elkton Hills School further show that he is a sensitive person?

The headmaster at Elkton Hills paid attention only to the attractive or fashionable parents and ignored the unattractive and unfashionable parents. This phony snobbishness really angers Holden. Holden claims that was the only reason he actually left the school.

What method does Salinger use for Holden's description of people?

The small detail makes the entire person more realistic. This method of description is similar to SYNECDOCHE, using a part to stand for the entirety

How is it possible that despite Holden's statement in the first line of chapter 3, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life," the reader believes nearly everything he says?

The statement is intended to refer to Caulfield's obvious lie to Spencer about the gym; however, because Holden is confessional and non-self-serving in his depiction of himself and his failings, the reader believes the incidents in the book are presented truthfully.

In regard to sex, Holden concludes that he feels sorry for girls. What observation does he make about this?

When a girl gets passionate, she begins to lose her brains. Apparently, he thinks boys do not.

What question does Holden ask the cab driver? Why?

Where do the ducks go in the winter? He cares about innocent things. Has to do with Allie's death as a child.