The Catcher In The Rye - Chapters 21-26

Why doesn't Holden eat the doughnuts he has ordered?

If you get very depressed it's hard to swallow.

What two things does Holden say he likes? Why isn't Phoebe satisfied with his answer?

Allie and Phoebe. Allie's dead and Phoebe's his sister. Phoebe thinks that he needs to like something else.

How can you tell that Phoebe is thrilled to see Holden? What bits of news does she give him?

By the way she lit up when she first saw him, she hugged him and started to talk non-stop. She tells him she's in a play.

What is the "spooky thing" that happens to Holden as he is walking down Fifth Avenue?

Every time he came to the end of a block and stepped off the curb, he had a feeling that he'd never get to the other side of the street-that he'd just keep going down and nobody would ever see him again.

Where does Holden go after he leaves Mr. Antolini's?

Grand Central Station.

When Phoebe asks Holden why he flunked out of school again, what does he respond?

He didn't like the school, it was full of phonies, he defers the blame as always.

Why does Holden yell at Phoebe?

He doesn't want her to come with him. He is upset that she is so willing make a bad decision in her life.

How does Holden feel when he watched Phoebe on the carousel?

He feels like letting her reach for the ring is like he's letting her grow up.

How does Holden get along with the two little boys in the museum? Toward what other children in the story has he shown a similar attitude?

He get's along with them great. He shows similar attitude towards all children (people with innocence) in the novel.

What happens after Holden goes home? Why do you suppose Holden doesn't tell about that in more detail?

He goes to the hospital because he had a mental breakdown. He doesn't like talking about it.

When is Holden going back to school?

He is going back next fall.

What plan does Holden come up with for escaping everything?

He plans to leave town, never go to school again. He'd bum rides to go out West, then find himself a job pumping gas where he'd pretend to be a deaf-mute person so nobody would talk to him and he wouldn't have to talk anybody.

Why does Holden go to Phoebe's school? Why does the graffiti make him so angry?

He wanted to say goodbye and give her back her Christmas money, so he wrote a note and gave it to an old lady who would give it to her. He didn't want the little, innocent kids to see something so harsh and rude everyday.

What would Holden like to be and why?

He wants to be a catcher in the rye. He wants to save kids from growing up and loosing their innocence. In this metaphor, the rye represents childhood and the cliff represents adulthood.

Who is Whilhem Stekel and why does Mr. Antolini quote him?

He was a psychoanalyst and he talks about depression - he sees Holden as depressed.

Who was James Castle? Why do you think Holden thinks of him when Phoebe asks him to name one thing he likes?

He was a student who was bullied frequently and when he stood up for himself by calling a jock conceited, he was beaten again and committed suicide. Holden admires that James stood up for himself since Holden doesn't do that for himself.

What does Phoebe give Holden?

Her Christmas money.

Who is Mr. Antolini? Why does Holden like him?

His favorite teacher. When the guy jumped out a window, he was the one that covered the body and took him to the infirmary.

Why does Holden laugh as he watched the men unloading the Christmas tree? How does he feel?

Holden thought it was funny that one guy said "hold the sonuvabitch up" because "it was such Christmas spirit" Holden felt like throwing up after he laughed.

Where does Holden seem to be as he tells the story?

In rehab or a mental institution.

Why is Holden upset when he wakes up? Should he be? What do you think about "the kind of stuff's happened to me about twenty times since I was a kid"?

Mr. Antolini is touching his face. It was creepy and he was drunk. Holden was saying he's been inappropriately touched before.

Where does Holden decide to go? Why is he hiding from his parents until Wednesday?

Mr. Antolini's. He doesn't want them to know about being kicked out of Pencey and his mother is depressed and he doesn't want to upset her. They're all careful around her because she's fragile.

Why does Phoebe put the pillow over her head?

She is frustrated at Holden that he got kicked out of school.

Why does Holden feel worse after reading the article in the magazine about hormones?

The article described how you should look if your hormones were in good shape and Holden looks like the guy with lousy hormones.

How do you learn that both Holden and Phoebe are good dancers?

They dance together. The live in a well-off, privileged society, so they have to be able to dance at functions and things.

Where do Holden and Phoebe go after their argument?

They go to the carousel.

What sort of talk does Mr. Antolini have with Holden about his flunking out? How is that similar or different to the lecture from Mr. Spencer?

They have a serious talk, and he thinks that Holden shouldn't be flunking out. It's almost the exact same lecture, but Holden didn't mind hearing it from Antolini.