Catcher In the Rye Chapters 1-7, Catcher in the Rye Chapters 1-7

What was Allie like?

"Perfect child", really nice, never angry, teachers loved him

Where is Holden telling this story?

A mental Hospital

What does Holden write Stradlater's essay about?

Allie's baseball glove that he would write poetry on to look at when nobody was at bat and he was in the outfield.

Which three schools was Holden kicked out of an why?

Elkton Hills, Whooton, and Pencey. He flunked out.

Edgar Marsalla

Farted in Ossenberger's speech interrupting the entire thing

On Saturday night when pretty much everyone else is out, what do Holden, Ackley, and Mal Brossard decide to do?

Go to a movie in Agerstown but they realize they've all seen the movie so they just get burgers instead.

What was Holden's reaction to his death?

Got really angry, punched/broke all the windows in their garage and broke his own hand.

Why is Holden's dorm named after Mr. Ossenburger?

He donated a lot of money to the school so they named a wing after him

What event does Holden recall that eventually allows him to feel like it is time to leave?

He feels it's time to leave when he recalls playing football with Robert Tich er and Paul Campbell through the night. They were forced to stop by a teacher when it got dark

What does this homework request say about Holden's performance in class?

He has the ability to do well in school, but he doesn't

What unfortunate event happens before one of the fencing matches that gives us a clear idea of what kind of manager Holden might be?

He leaves all the equipment on the New York Subway so they had to go back home. It doesn't seem like he cared about the team

What was Holden doing at the homecoming game?

He was trying to create a "goodbye" to leave Pencey

Why does Holden think Mr. Haas is a phony?

He would greet students parents with a handshake, smiling but he would talk longer with the more "normal" looking parents

How does Holden Help Stradler with his homework and why?

He writes a descriptive essay for Stradler so he can go in his date and read his history pages.

Briefly describe the topic of Holden's descriptive essay. Why is his prized possession so important to Holden?

He wrote about his Brother, Allie's baseball glove. The glove has all Allie's favorite poems written on it in Green Ink. Allie passed away of Leukemia.

What does Holden think of Mr. Ossenburger?

He's a "phony bastard" and his business is a scam.

What personality trait does Holden brag about?

He's a terrific liar

Why is Ackley most likely so nosy? (picking up Holden's pictures of girls...)

He's been at Pencey for four years so has probably never been out with many girls, curious to know what life is like when you don't go to Pencey

Why does Holden call D.B. a prostitute?

He's selling his stories to be made in to movies to make money, but Holden hates movies

In Chapter 1, why is Holden watching the football game?

He's the manager of the fencing team, but on the way to a meet in New York he lost all the equipment on the subway because he kept having to get up to look at the map, so everyone had to come home early.

Who is Mr. Haas?

Headmaster of Holden's old school (Elkton Hills)

Headmaster Thurman

Headmaster of Pencey, a phony

What was Jane's childhood like?

Her step dad was an alcoholic and always ran around the house naked which was probably scarring for her.

How does Holden plan to pay for his trip back to NYC?

His grandmother have him birthday money and he sold his typewriter for $90 to Frederick Woodruff

Who is Allie Caulfied?

Holden's brother

Who is D.B.?

Holden's brother

Who is Jane Gallagher?

Holden's friend who Stradlater goes on a date with

Who is Mr. Spencer?

Holden's history teacher

D.B

Holden's older brother is a screenwriter in Hollywood. He used to write great stories—so great, in fact, that Holden credits him (twice) with being his favorite writer. D.B. is the height of phoniness in Holden's mind because he's sacrificed his art (writing stories) for money (writing screenplays). In short, he's a sell-out.

Who is Ward Stradlater?

Holden's roommate

Allie

Holden's younger brother who died of leukemia on July 18, 1946, when he was eleven and Holden was thirteen. The night of his death, Holden broke all the windows in the garage and had to be hospitalized. Allie was red-haired and left-handed. He wrote poems on his glove in green ink. Holden idealizes him

What does Holden decide to do at the end of Chapter 7?

Leave Pencey that night instead of waiting until Wednesday, a few days later. He plans to stay in New York for a few days while his parents digest the fact that he got kicked out of school and then he'll go home once they've settled down.

How did he die?

Leukemia

Holden Caufield

Narrator and subject of the story. He's really smart but flunks out of school because he just doesn't care. He hates Phonies and isn't too close with his brother DB.

Jane Gallagher and her family life

Neighbor of Holden one summer. He has a huge crush on her but won't do anything about it. She went on a date with Stradlater and Holden wasn't happy about it. Her mother and father are divorced and her mother remarried a "booze hound"

Does Holden agree with life being a game?

No, he doesn't agree but he respects Mr. Spencer's opinion about it since he's an elder.

Mr. Spencer

Old and Gross. Holden goes to them to say goodbye. Introduces us to an adult view of Holden. He knows Holden's future is not bright, but he also doesn't know how to help him

What does Holden specifically remember about her from when they were kids?

She always kept her kings in the back row instead of using them.

What does this show about Jane?

She doesn't care about winning

Why did Pencey always serve steak on Saturday nights?

So when the mothers ask what the boys had for dinner "last night" on Sunday, they can say steak

Why does Holden tear up Stradlater's essay?

Stradlater is angry that he didn't write about a descriptive room/house so Holden gets angry and tears it up. Holden worked hard writing about his decreased brother and Stradlater didn't care

Why do Stradlater and Holden get in a fight?

Stradlater went on a date with a girl Holden knows and when Holden asked what they did Stradlater wouldn't tell him. Holden asked if he "gave her the time" and Stradlater wouldn't give him a straight answer so Holden threw the first punch.

What does Mr. Spencer mean when he talks about life being a game/what does Mr. Spencer do to Holden him to remind him of his flunking?

Talking about Holden & Dr. Thurmur talking about Holden being kicked out. Life is a game and you have to play by the rules. Mr. Spencer reads Holden his old essay about Egyptians and reminds him of how bad it was. Holden knows it was terrible and is embarrassed to have to hear it again.

What is the name of Holden's favorite short story written by his brother? Briefly reveal its storyline.

The Secret Goldfish. It's about a little kid that bought a goldfish with his own money. He wouldn't let anyone look at the goldfish

Ed Banky

The basketball coach. He lends Stradlater his car for dates.

Selma Thurman

The headmaster's daughter. Knows her father is a phony jerk. Wears "falsies." Clearly a phony.

Who is Ossenberger? How is his speech interrupted by one of Holden's classmates?

The rich alumnus who made all his money from inexpensive funeral parlors. Gives boring speeches about applying oneself and praying. Edgar Marsalla laid a terrific far

How does Holden Know Jane Gallagher? Why is Holden so upset about Stradler's date with her?

They used to be neighbors and he doesn't like them together because Stadler won't be good to her and Holden likes her.

Holden, Mal, and Ackley go out, where do they go?

They were supposed to see a movie but they already saw it. Instead, they played pinball and ate burgers

Why doesn't Holden like Ackley?

Thinks he's annoying/nosy, he can't take a hint, overall low opinion of him

Who is Robert Ackley?

Uncleanly senior at Pencey who dorms next to Holden

What is Ward Stradlater's personality/how does he act?

Vain, into himself, gets with lots of girls, player

Who is Mr. Ossenburger?

Wealthy man who graduated from Pencey

Is Jane's family pretty wealthy/how do you know?

Yes, they belong to a country club and can afford to send her to boarding school.

Ackley

dirty, pimply, and all-around unhygienic. He's annoying. He'll come into your room and pick up your personal stuff and put it back in the wrong place. He'll cut his toenails all over your floor. And he thinks being two years older than Holden makes him superior.

Who is Stradlater and why is he a closet slob?

is super dreamy: he's an athlete, he's handsome, he's got a nice body, he's always walking around in a towel to show off that body, and, oh yeah, he's a "goddam stupid moron." Also a player and good at sex. He is a closet slob because he is digestingly u clean. He uses dirty razors, etc.

Mal Bossard

went to the movies with Ackley and Holden. A wrestler

What does D.B. do?

writes short stories, sells stories to producers for movies