Catcher in the Rye Test

Holden's answer on his history exam

Mr. Spencer read Holden's exam answer for history. He wrote about the Egyptians: The Egyptians were an ancient race of Caucasians residing in one of the northern sections of Africa. The latter as we all know is the largest continent in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Egyptians are extremely interesting to us today for various reasons. Modern science would still like to know what the secret ingredients were that the Egyptians used when they wrapped up dead people so that their faces would not rot for innumerable centuries. This interesting riddle is still quite a challenge to modern science in the twentieth century. DEAR MR. SPENCER [he read out loud]. That is all I know about the Egyptians. I can't seem to get very interested in them although your lectures are very interesting. It is all right with me if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyway.

Mr. Spencer's Navaho Indian blanket

Mr. Spencer showed Holden and some other guys when they were over for hot chocolate a old beat-up Navajo blanket. You could tell old Spencer'd got a big bang out of buying it. That's what I mean. You take somebody old as hell, like old Spencer, and they can get a big bang out of buying a blanket.

"The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wishes to live humbly for one."

My. Antolini tells Holden this after he says Holden is riding for a terrible fall. Mr. Antolini says he can see Holden dying nobly for a cause. Mr. Antolini says this to Holden and writes it down for him.

Ossenburger

Pency alumnus who made a fortune opening funeral homes. Gave a speech in the Pency chapel. Talked to Jesus, asking Him to send a few more stiffs (17).

Peter Lorre and Gary Cooper

Peter Lorre and Gary Cooper are famous movie actors.

Phoebe

Phoebe is Holden's ten-year-old sister, whom he loves dearly. Although she is six years younger than Holden, she listens to what he says and understands him more than most other people do. Phoebe is intelligent, neat, and a wonderful dancer, and her childish innocence is one of Holden's only consistent sources of happiness throughout the novel. At times, she exhibits great maturity and even chastises Holden for his immaturity. Like Mr. Antolini, Phoebe seems to recognize that Holden is his own worst enemy.

"You don't like anything that's happening"

Phoebe tells Holden this when they're having a conversation on why Holden failed out of Pencey. Phoebe asks Holden to name one thing he likes. Holden starts thinking of the two nuns and James Castle. Holden says he likes Allie and Phoebe says that doesn't count because Allie's dead. Then, Phoebe asks Holden what he would like to do. Holden eventually says he'd like to be the catcher in the rye.

What did Salinger suffer from after seeing the horrors of WW II?

Salinger was depressed and suffered from PTSD especially from the D-Day landing, the Battle of the Bulge, and the concentration camps.

Trimming the Christmas tree with that special somebody

Sally Hayes invited Holden over to help her trim the Christmas tree. Trimming the Christmas tree is a old special tradition where couples would trim the Christmas tree together.

What is Holden's mission (John Green)?

Should one die nobly for a cause or live humbly for one? Holden clings to innocence—a fool's innocence that only leads to his "madness" and months in an asylum. But it is a heroic mission, too. He's trying to protect the weak and the frightened who are preyed upon by the ruthless, adult world

Holden's composition on Allie's baseball glove

Stradlater told Holden to write a composition for him for English. Holden decided to write about his brother Allie's baseball mitt. He talked about how Allie was left-handed so he had a left-handed fielder's mitt. He wrote all over the mitt in green ink. Allie died of Leukemia.

Jane's checkers in the back row

Stradlater was going on a date with a girl who Holden knew (Jane Gallagher). Holden talked about what she used to do and how he used to play checkers with her. Holden said when they were playing checkers, Jane would always leave her kings in the back row. Holden says how that stuff usually doesn't interest people.

Jane Gallagher

A girl with whom Holden spent a lot of time one summer, when their families stayed in neighboring summer houses in Maine. Jane never actually appears in The Catcher in the Rye, but she is extremely important to Holden, because she is one of the few girls whom he both respects and finds attractive.

What is "Comin' Thro the Rye"?

A song/poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Carl Luce

A student at Columbia who was Holden's student advisor at the Whooton School. Luce is three years older than Holden and has a great deal of sexual experience. At Whooton, he was a source of knowledge about sex for the younger boys, and Holden tries to get him to talk about sex at their meeting.

James Castle

A student at Elkton Hills, he jumped to his death rather than recant a statement about an arrogant bully.

Ernie

A talented pianist at his own club in Greenwich Village, he exemplifies Holden's concept of an artist who has sold out.

Sally Hayes

A very attractive girl whom Holden has known and dated for a long time. Though Sally is well read, Holden claims that she is "stupid," although it is difficult to tell whether this judgment is based in reality or merely in Holden's ambivalence about being sexually attracted to her. She is certainly more conventional than Holden in her tastes and manners.

"When in hell are you going to grow up?"

Carl Luce says this to Holden after Holden says he's got a flit for him. Carl Luce saying this shows how Holden is still trying to figure out the adult world and doesn't really want to grow up.

Why would the Catcher not make a good movie (John Green)?

Catcher was never made into a movie (Salinger's heirs won't allow it—Salinger never wanted it to be —-movies were phony, according to Holden, right?). Also, within Holden's long dramatic monologue (he is talking/writing to someone, right?) he often digresses [goes off topic] to make comments on leather suitcases, rainbow puddles, etc. Those digressions, crucial to the novel, would be tough to make work in a movie.

What is the point of view and method of narration in the novel (John Green)?

First person subjective narration (not much time has passed between the events at the novel and the retelling of the novel). The adolescent narrator is an inspired choice of Salinger's. Holden is in between both worlds.

What does Holden mistake the lyrics for in the song "Comin' Thro the Rye"?

He mistakes it for "if a body catch a body" (his mistake is important, because it underscores his "mistake" to believe that children need to be protected from every fall).

What did Salinger do after the publication of Catcher?

He secluded himself until he died.

Sally Hayes' mother

Her mother new Holden's mother. He didn't like talking to her on the phone. She even once told Sally that he was wild.

Where does Holden write the story from?

Holden Caulfield writes the story from a psychiatric rest home months after his breakdown after he is expelled from Pencey Prep before Christmas break.

Phoebe's Christmas money gift to Holden

Holden asks to see if Phoebe has any money because he's broke. Phoebe says she has her Christmas dough. She asks if he wants some and he says he doesn't want to take her Christmas dough. Phoebe gives Holden the money anyway. Holden starts to cry when Phoebe gives him the money. He said he couldn't stop crying.

The Lunts

Holden bought tickets for Sally and him to go see the Lunts. The show was about this one old couple. It starts out when they're young and all, and the girl's parents don't want her to marry the boy, but she marries him anyway. Then they keep getting older and older. The husband goes to war, and the wife has this brother that's a drunkard. I couldn't get very interested.

Phoebe riding the carousel and trying to grab the gold ring without Holden

Holden brings Phoebe to the carousel and gets her to ride it. While Phoebe and all the other kids were riding the carousel, they all tried to grab for the gold ring. Holden said "I was sort of afraid she'd fall off the goddam horse, but I didn't say anything or do anything. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them." Holden was so happy with Phoebe going around and around.

Holden "acting" after getting beat up by Maurice

Holden gets beat up by Maurice for not giving Sunny and him enough money when Holden asks for a hit with a prostitute. Maurice and Sunny took 5 bucks from Holden them Maurice snapped his finger on Holden and smacked him. Holden started pretending he had a bullet in his guts and how he was going to the bathroom to get a good shot of bourbon. Holden talks about how he'd go to Maurice's room and "plug" him (shoot him) six times. He would then crawl back up to his room and call Jane to fix him up. He would picture Jane holding a cigarette for him to smoke.

The skate key

Holden goes looking for Phoebe at a skating rink, but can't find her. He sees a girl about her age and asks her if she knows who and where Phoebe Caulfield is. She says Phoebe might be in the museum where the Indians are, but then Holden said it was Sunday and the kid said she's not there. Holden starts helping the girl with tightening her skates using a skate key. She thanked him and Holden thought she was a very nice, polite little kid.

Holden's date with Sally Hayes

Holden goes on a date with Sally Hayes. Holden got tickets to see a show called the Lunts with Sally. Then, they go ice-skating at Radio City. Holden starts to talk to Sally about being fed up with everything and hating everything. He talks about how everyone is phony. He starts shouting this at her. He even proposes the idea to run away. Sally says that unrealistic and not possible. Holden gets mad at her for rejecting his idea and calls her a royal pain in the ass. She starts crying and leaves because Holden says that.

Holden's rant on his date with Sally

Holden goes on a date with Sally Hayes. Holden got tickets to see a show called the Lunts with Sally. Then, they go ice-skating at Radio City. Holden starts to talk to Sally about being fed up with everything and hating everything. He talks about how everyone is phony. He starts shouting this at her. He even proposes the idea to run away. Sally says that unrealistic and not possible. Holden gets mad at her for rejecting his idea and calls her a royal pain in the ass. She starts crying and leaves because Holden says that.

Mr. Antolini's advice and actions

Holden goes to stay at Mr. Antolini's house until he goes back to his parents house. Mr. Antolini says he thinks Holden is riding for a terrible fall. Mr. Antolini says this fall is one where you just keep falling and falling while not realizing that you're falling. Mr. Antolini writes down a note for Holden saying '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.' Mr. Antolini says Holden needs to start applying himself and school and find something he likes to do. While most of Holden's confusion stems from what he interprets as a homosexual come-on from Mr. Antolini, some of it stems from the conversation they have. Both the conversation and Mr. Antolini's head-rubbing serve a similar purpose: they upset Holden's view of the way things are or the way he believes they ought to be.

Holden's first conversation with Phoebe

Holden goes to visit Phoebe in their house. He wakes her up and has a conversation with her. She asks him to go to her play. Phoebe talks about many different things and eventually Phoebe realizes Holden got kicked out of school. Phoebe keeps repeating Daddy's gonna kill you when she realizes this.

The Radio City Christmas Show

Holden had some time to kill so he stopped at Radio City. He came in when the Rockettes were performing. A guy came and started skating to tables and telling jokes. Then, they had this Christmas thing that they always do where angels come out. Holden thinks if Jesus saw this, he probably would've puked. Holden and Allie have come to this show before and they thought the best part of the show was the kettle drum player. This is because Holden thought he was good and even though he had a small part he looked like he enjoyed every second of it.

Holden's thoughts on Jesus and the disciples

Holden is sort of an atheist. He likes Jesus, but doesn't really like the disciples. They were all right after Jesus died, but while he was alive, they were about as much use to him as a hole in the head. All they did was keep letting him down. Holden has got into a couple arguments about this. He argued with Arthur Childs about this. Arthur was a Quaker and read the Bible. He said that if you didn't like the disciples then you didn't like Jesus. This is because Jesus picked the disciples. However, Holden claimed Jesus picked the disciples at random.

""Life is a game that one pays according to the rules." Game my ass. Some game. If you're on the side where all of the hot shots are, then it's a game."

Holden is talking to Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer asks what Dr. Thurmer said to him. Holden says he talked about life being a game and all and how you should play it according to the rules. Mr. Spencer says this in response to that. When Mr. Spencer says that Holden thinks about how life isn't really a game unless you're on the side where all the hot-shots are.

Having a drink with Carl Luce, an older friend of Holden's

Holden met up with Carl Luce at the Wicker Bar. Carl Luce was Holden's Student Adviser when he went to Whooton, but the only thing he ever did was give these sex talks and stuff. When Holden starts having a conversation with him, he says when are you going to grow up to Holden. Holden keeps asking about his sex life and he doesn't really answer Holden's exact question. Carl keeps saying how Holden is very immature. Carl Luce recommends Holden go to be psychoanalyzed.

Little kids on the see saw

Holden passed by this playground and saw a couple of very tiny kids on a seesaw. One of them was sort of fat and Holden put his hand on the skinny kid's end to try to even up the weight. Holden could tell they didn't want him around so he left.

Yelling out "digression" in Oral Expression class

Holden said he flunked Oral Expression Class to Mr. Antolini. Holden says it's a course where a boy has to get up and make a speech. The boy has to stick to the point and if he doesn't, the students have to yell out digression. Holden said likes when somebody digresses and Mr. Antolini asks if you don't care to have somebody stick to the point when he tells you something. Holden says there was this one guy named Richard Kinsella who always went off topic when he was speaking and everyone would yell digression at him.

"I'm always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though."

Holden said that after the Navy guy and him said they were glad to've met each other. Holden says that always kills him and he does it all the time even though he doesn't mean it.

The nuns

Holden saw these two nuns with very inexpensive-looking suitcases. They struck up a conversation. One had one of those straw baskets and the other one was reading a Bible-type book. Holden gave them 10 bucks as a contribution. The nuns said they were schoolteachers who just came from Chicago. They said they were going to start teaching at some convent. One said she taught English and the other one taught history. They started talking about Romeo and Juliet.

"Money. It always ends up making you blue as hell."

Holden says that after the nuns left and he was regretting that he didn't give more money to the nuns. Even though he needed the money to get tickets and stuff, Holden still felt sorry. Holden is saying that money makes you sad.

"The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them."

Holden says this about Phoebe and the other kids trying to grab for the gold ring when they're going around the carousel. This is the first time Holden realizes that you have to let kids discover things for themselves instead of protecting them from it.

"The trouble was, that kind of junk is sort of fascinating to watch, even if you don't want it to be"

Holden says this about all the crumby stuff he sees when he's staying in a hotel. Like the one girl who was getting water squirted all over her face. Holden can see how this sort of stuff can be fun at times and can stink too.

"What I think is, you're supposed to leave somebody alone if he's at least being interesting and he's getting all excited about something. I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice."

Holden says this about his Oral Expression class and digressing in response to Mr. Antolini's argument that if you wanted to talk about something then just pick that as the topic. Holden says that a lot of the time you don't know what interests you until you start talking about it. Also, if someone is interested in something you should just leave them be.

Holden "not" throwing the snowball at the fire hydrant

Holden started throwing a snowball at a car parked across the street, but changed his mind because the car looked so nice and white. Holden then started to throw a snowball at a hydrant, but stopped because it looked so nice and white too.

"Anyway, I kept walking and walking up Fifth Avenue, without any tie on or anything. Then all of a sudden, something very spooky started happening. Every time I came to the end of a block and stepped off the goddam curb, I had this feeling that I'd never get to the other side of the street. I thought I'd just go down, down, down, and nobody'd ever see me again. Boy, did it scare me. You can't imagine. I started sweating like a bastard - my whole shirt and underwear and everything. Then I started doing something else. Every time I'd get to the end of a block I'd make believe I was talking to my brother Allie. I'd say to him, "Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Allie, don't let me disappear. Please, Allie." And then when I'd reach the other side of the street without disappearing, I'd thank him."

Holden started walking toward Fifth Avenue after stopping for food and coffee. Holden kept walking up Fifth Avenue and started talking to Allie. Holden was asking for Allie to help him and not let him disappear. This shows how emotionally unstable Holden is and how he needs help.

The uncertainty of Holden's future (the end of the book)

Holden tells the last chapter from the mental hospital. He says he doesn't know if he's going to apply himself in school next September. Holden says he was missing everyone he talked about. He gives the advice: "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."

The Museum of Natural History

Holden tells us the symbolic meaning of the museum's displays: they appeal to him because they are frozen and unchanging. He also mentions that he is troubled by the fact that he has changed every time he returns to them. The museum represents the world Holden wishes he could live in: it's the world of his "catcher in the rye" fantasy, a world where nothing ever changes, where everything is simple, understandable, and infinite. Holden is terrified by the unpredictable challenges of the world—he hates conflict, he is confused by Allie's senseless death, and he fears interaction with other people.

What is an important theme in the novel (John Green)?

Holden wants to stop time to keep innocence in the world, but will eventually realize that it impossible. 1. Museum of Natural History—certain things should stay the way they are 2. Jane Gallagher and Phoebe [Jane is dating Stradlater and Phoebe is saying words like "shut up"] 3. He wants to stay innocent himself [though he has picked up some of the phoniness of the adult world, too] 4. Red hunting cap is his emblem of being the protector, but even that changes, so that it offers him protection [from the rain] at the end of the novel —-Holden buys it, wears it, it gives him protection, he later gives it to Phoebe, and then she gives it back.

Jane's tear plopping on the checkerboard

Holden was playing checkers with Jane. This booze hound Jane's mothers was married to asked Jane if there were any cigarettes in the house. Jane didn't answer him and he asked again but she still didn't answer him. Eventually, the guy goes back in the house. After that, Jane plopped a tear on the checkerboard. Holden went to sit next to her and she started to really cry. Holden started comforting her and kissing her everywhere.

Holden forgetting the fencing equipment

Holden was the manager for the fencing team. The team had a meet in New York with the McBurney School. Although, the team had to forfeit the meet because Holden left all the equipment on the subway. The whole team ostracized him for doing that. Thus led him to standing on Thomsen Hill instead of going to the game.

"Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone. I know that impossible, but it's too bad anyway."

Holden was thinking about the museum he used to go to all the time for school. Holden thought about how everything in the museum stayed the same over time. Holden says he wishes that the world could be the same.

"That's the whole trouble. You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write '**** you' right under your nose."

Holden was walking through the tomb and he sort of liked it because it was all nice and peaceful. Then, he saw another **** you on the walls. Holden comes to the conclusion that there is never a place that is fully nice and peaceful.

Holden and the obscene graffiti in Phoebe's school

Holden was walking u pro the office in Phoebe's school to deliver a note to Phoebe. He sees someone has written **** you on the walls. Holden thought about how Phoebe and other kids would see it and how they would ask someone what it meant. Holden rubbed it out.

Little Shirley Beans

Holden went to get a record for Phoebe called "Little Shirley Beans." It was a very hard record to get. It was about a little kid that wouldn't go out of the house because two of her front teeth were out and she was ashamed to. I heard it at Pencey. It was a very old, terrific record that this colored girl singer, Estelle Fletcher, made about twenty years ago. Holden knew it would knock Phoebe out. When Holden got it, it made him very happy. Holden drops the record and breaks it into pieces by accident. He picks up the pieces and still gives it to Phoebe.

The ducks in the Central Park South lagoon

Holden's curiosity about where the ducks go during the winter reveals a genuine, more youthful side to his character. For most of the book, he sounds like a grumpy old man who is angry at the world, but his search for the ducks represents the curiosity of youth and a joyful willingness to encounter the mysteries of the world. It is a memorable moment, because Holden clearly lacks such willingness in other aspects of his life.

Mr. Antolini

Holden's former English teacher at the Elkton Hills School. Mr. Antolini now teaches at New York University. He is young, clever, sympathetic, and likable, and Holden respects him. Holden sometimes finds him a bit too clever, but he looks to him for guidance. Like many characters in the novel, he drinks heavily.

Mr. Spencer

Holden's history teacher at Pencey Prep, who unsuccessfully tries to shake Holden out of his academic apathy.

Ackley

Holden's next-door neighbor in his dorm at Pencey Prep. Ackley is a pimply, insecure boy with terrible dental hygiene. He often barges into Holden's room and acts completely oblivious to Holden's hints that he should leave. Holden believes that Ackley makes up elaborate lies about his sexual experience.

D.B.

Holden's older brother. D. B. wrote a volume of short stories that Holden admires very much, but Holden feels that D. B. prostitutes his talents by writing for Hollywood movies.

Stradlater

Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep. Stradlater is handsome, self-satisfied, and popular, but Holden calls him a "secret slob," because he appears well groomed, but his toiletries, such as his razor, are disgustingly unclean. Stradlater is sexually active and quite experienced for a prep school student, which is why Holden also calls him a "sexy bastard."

Allie

Holden's younger brother. Allie dies of leukemia three years before the start of the novel. Allie was a brilliant, friendly, red-headed boy—according to Holden, he was the smartest of the Caulfields. Holden is tormented by Allie's death and carries around a baseball glove on which Allie used to write poems in green ink.

"If you was a fish, Mother Nature would take care of you, wouldn't she?"

Horwitz, the cab driver, says this to Holden. It was about when Holden asked where the ducks went in the winter and the cab driver started talking about the fish. The guy is saying how Mother Nature would take care of the fish and make sure they don't die.

Lillian Simmons, Commander Blop, prep school jerks

Lillian Simmons was a girl who D.B. used to go around with. She was with some Navy Officer names Commander Blop. She was blocking all the traffic in the aisle. Holden didn't like her very much. Ernie's was jampacked with prep school jerks.

Ed Banky

The basketball coach at Pency. Stradlater was one of his "pets" so he let Stradlater borrow his car to go on his date with Jane Gallagher (43).

"I have a feeling that you're riding for some kind of terrible, terrible fall. . . . The whole arrangement's designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn't supply them with. . . . So they gave up looking"

The conversation in which Mr. Antolini speaks these words takes place in Chapter 24. Holden has just left his parents' apartment, following his conversation with Phoebe, and he is reaching a point of critical instability, having just burst into tears when Phoebe lent him her Christmas money. He goes to Mr. Antolini's because he feels he can trust and confide in him—it seems to be his final chance to save himself. But Holden's interaction with Mr. Antolini is the event that precipitates his full-blown breakdown. It completely unsettles him, and leaves him feeling confused and unsure. While most of Holden's confusion stems from what he interprets as a homosexual come-on from Mr. Antolini, some of it stems from the conversation they have. Both the conversation and Mr. Antolini's head-rubbing serve a similar purpose: they upset Holden's view of the way things are or the way he believes they ought to be.

Maurice

The elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel, who procures a prostitute for Holden.

The kettle drum player

The only person Holden liked at the Radio Music Hall Christmas Show, because he played with passion.

Sunny

The prostitute whom Holden hires through Maurice. She is one of a number of women in the book with whom Holden clumsily attempts to connect.

Holden's red hunting cap

The red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. It is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality. The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him. At the same time, he is very self-conscious about the hat—he always mentions when he is wearing it, and he often doesn't wear it if he is going to be around people he knows. The presence of the hat, therefore, mirrors the central conflict in the book: Holden's need for isolation versus his need for companionship. It is worth noting that the hat's color, red, is the same as that of Allie's and Phoebe's hair. Perhaps Holden associates it with the innocence and purity he believes these characters represent and wears it as a way to connect to them. He never explicitly comments on the hat's significance other than to mention its unusual appearance.

The locomotive cheer

The students of Pencey Prep all had to give this cheer to Ossenburger.

What is the novel of criticism of (John Green)?

The world. What's wrong with the world so that we have atrocities like WW2, the Holocaust, etc. ? Salinger believed that the world failed Holden, NOT that Holden failed the world Schools are conservative, Ivy League factories Overemphasis on sports Religious hypocrisy Perverted ideas about sex and love Phony Friends No Role Models Culture of materialism Hero worship of movie stars and entertainers Fractured family support group (parents & D.B. a victim of PTSD)

The little kid singing "if a body catch a body comin' through the rye"

There was a family walking right in front of Holden with a father, a mother, and a six year old kid. The father and mother were talking and not really paying attention to their kid. The kid was walking in the street singing the song "if a body catch a body comin' through the rye." He was singing just for fun and this made Holden feel not so depressed any more.

"The three witches"

There were three girls around 30 that were all pretty ugly at the table next to Holden while he was in the Lavender Room. They were from Seattle, Washington. Holden asked them to dance and the blond one said she would. The blond one was a very good dancer and jitterbugged with Holden named Bernice. The two ugly ones were named Marty and Laverne. Holden told them his name was Jim Steele. They worked for an insurance office. Laverne wasn't too bad of a dancer while Marty was really bad. Holden bought them drinks. Laverne had a good sense of humor and was witty. Marty was very corny. Bernice hardly said anything at all.

The Jitterbug dance

There were three girls around 30 that were all pretty ugly at the table next to Holden while he was in the Lavender Room. They were from Seattle, Washington. Holden asked them to dance and the blond one said she would. The blond one was a very good dancer and jitterbugged with Holden named Bernice. The two ugly ones were named Marty and Laverne. Holden told them his name was Jim Steele. They worked for an insurance office. Laverne wasn't too bad of a dancer while Marty was really bad. Holden bought them drinks. Laverne had a good sense of humor and was witty. Marty was very corny. Bernice hardly said anything at all.

Where did Salinger attend school?

Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA.

What school was the model for Pencey Prep?

Valley Forge Military Academy.

Why is the Catcher a novel of empathy (John Green)?

We should care about other people, especially people who feel disenfranchised and lonely like Holden. 1. Holden constantly seeks care, attention, and answers to life's questions from cab drivers, the three witches, Sunny/Maurice, Sally Hayes, Carl Luce, Antolini, etc. 2. Holden often says the words "Listen" & "sort of" [179 times]: Holden wants people to listen to him. Holden is "sort of" unsure of himself. 3. Holden cares about others: he's sorry that his mom has to go through the trouble to buy him ice skates; he feels sorry for Ackley even though he acts like a jerk; he doesn't think you should spit water in a girl's face if you like her; he cares for Sunny the prostitute; he cares for his old history teacher even though he embarrasses Holden by reading his answer; he doesn't want to die because he doesn't want to put Phoebe through all of the sadness of his funeral, etc.

Dick Slagle and the suitcases

When Holden was at Elkton Hills, he roomed with a boy named Dick Slagle. He had these very inexpensive suitcases. He kept his suitcases under the bed so nobody could see his suitcases next to Holden's. It depressed Holden and he kept wanting to trade with him or throw out his suitcases from Mark Cross. Holden finally put his suitcases under the bed and Dick Slagle put his suitcases back on the rack. Holden believes this was because he wanted people to think that Holden's suitcases were his. Dick Slagle was very funny, but he kept saying snotty things about Holden's suitcases like how they were bourgeois. They roomed together for 2 months and then asked to be moved. Holden missed him when he moved. Holden believes it's really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.

Holden's Mark Cross leather suitcases

When Holden was at Elkton Hills, he roomed with a boy named Dick Slagle. He had these very inexpensive suitcases. He kept his suitcases under the bed so nobody could see his suitcases next to Holden's. It depressed Holden and he kept wanting to trade with him or throw out his suitcases from Mark Cross. Holden finally put his suitcases under the bed and Dick Slagle put his suitcases back on the rack. Holden believes this was because he wanted people to think that Holden's suitcases were his. Dick Slagle was very funny, but he kept saying snotty things about Holden's suitcases like how they were bourgeois. They roomed together for 2 months and then asked to be moved. Holden missed him when he moved. Holden believes it's really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.

Holden teachings the little kids at the museum

When Holden was waiting for Phoebe at the museum, these two little kids came up to him and asked him if he knew where the mummies were. The one that asked Holden had his pants open and Holden told him. Holden horses around with the kids a little bit and asks what the mummies are. Holden tells the kids some things about mummies and leads the kids to where the mummies are.

"There was this one boy at Elkton Hills, named James Castle, that wouldn't take back something he said about this very conceited boy, Phil Stabile. [...] Stabile, with about six other dirty bastards, went down to James Castle's room and went in and locked the goddam door and tried to make him take back what he said, but he wouldn't do it. I won't even tell you what they did to him - it's too repulsive. [...] Finally, what he did, instead of taking back what he said, he jumped out the window. I was in the shower and all, and even I could hear him land outside. [...] There was old James Castle laying right on the stone steps and all. He was dead, and his teeth, and blood, were all over the place. [...] He had on this turtleneck sweater I'd lent him."

When Phoebe asked Holden what he liked, Holden could only think of this and a couple other things. Holden thinks bout this one boy named James Castle who said something to someone and wouldn't take it back. The bullies tried to make him take it back, but hw wouldn't and ended up jumping out the window and dying.

Phoebe meets up with Holden to run away with him

When Phoebe meets Holden, she brings a suitcase with her to run away with Holden. Holden originally tells her she can't go because he's going alone. Phoebe starts crying when Holden says that. Eventually, Holden says she can stop crying because he's not going anywhere.

Horwitz the cab driver

While Holden was in a cab, she struck up a conversation with the cab guy named Horowitz. Holden asked him if he knew where the ducks went from the lagoon in Central Park. The guy asks how he would know something like that. Horwitz says the fish stay in the lake and live in the ice. Holden inquires about his opinion on this. Holden asks if he would like to stop and have a drink. The cab driver says he's got no time for that.

What is the point of view of the story?

first person subjective narration—- written, of course, from Holden's perspective, in the first person. Holden is the modern day (1951 anyway) Huck Finn, the teenage narrator whom the author wants us to trust more so than the adults in the novel. However, given Holden's situation, how reliable is he? Should we embrace his critical views of the world or dismiss them? My answer: we should listen to what he says and then make our own decisions, though Salinger clearly depicts Holden as a someone heroic character.