catcher in the rye1234567890
1. Who is Allie, and why is his baseball mitt so special to Holden?
Allie is Holden's younger who died of leukemia. The mitt belonged to Allie and Allie had written many poems on it.
2. Why do you think he tells her these things?
Because she is a grown up and he think they are phonies.
What does Holden say about Allie that contradicts all his other statements about being an atheist?
He believes that Allie is in heaven.
4. Holden calls other people phony. Does he count as one sometimes as well?
He changes personality depends on who he's with and lies a lot.
What happens to Phoebe's record? How does he feel at this point?
He drops it and it shatters. He feels very depressed.
4. How did Holden let the fencing team down?
He forgot the fencing gear on the subway, so they could not compete.
After he leaves the park, where does Holden go?
He goes home to his apartment where his parents live because he wants to talk to Phoebe.
Where does Holden go after he leaves the bar?
He goes to Central Park to the lake where the ducks were. He tries to find the ducks.
5. Why was Holden being kicked out of Pencey Prep?
He had 4 F's in his five classes, and he wasn't putting forth any effort.
2. Where is Holden as the story begins?
He is in a mental hospital
How does Holden treat little kids? Give an example.
He is protective and kind to them. He cares very much for his little sister Phoebe and buys her a record.
4. Why do you think he doesn't have sex with the prostitute?
He is scared, and he does not want to lose his virginity to a prostitute.
4. What is he wondering about in terms of the ducks?
He is wondering where do the ducks go when the pond freezes in winter. He wonders this because he likes the ducks.
2. Why is Holden so concerned about what happened with Jane Gallagher and Stradlater? What does this possibly reveal about Holden?
He is worried because Stradlater is a playboy. Holden likes her and cares about her because he was friends with her in the past.
1. What does Holden mean when he says, "I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot?" Give examples of what he reads.
He likes to read, but he is not very interested in learning school stuff. He is reading a book called Out of Africa, and he also likes to read his brother's work.
1. Who does Holden make a date with? Why does he call her up if he thinks she's a phony?
He makes a date with Sally Hayes because he is lonely and knows she will meet him.
What does Holden pretend happens to him at the Wicker Bar?
He pretends that he has been shot and keeps holding his hand inside of his jacket to keep the blood from leaking out.
4. What does Holden put on after the fight? Have we seen him put this on before (45)?
He puts on his red hunting cap. Yes, he bought it in New York earlier that day and put it on to show Ackley earlier.
2. What does Spencer do that particularly annoyed Holden?
He repeats himself and keeps throwing papers over to the bed, but misses and Holden has to pick them up.
1. What does Stradlater criticize Holden for?
He says that Holden never follows any rules and does not care about doing things right.
How do Holden's feelings for women compare to his feelings for men?
He seems very comfortable with men and jerks them around because he thinks they are all full of themselves. He is very nervous around women and treats them kindly.
What is Holden's opinion of the Christmas show at Radio City?
He thinks it is lame and phony.
3. Why does Holden stop when girls tell him to?
He thinks it is the right thing to do. He doesn't want to make them do anything they don't want to. He doesn't know if he wants them to stop or not.
2. How does Holden treat the nuns?
He treats them kindly and respectfully and gives them money.
Why does Holden want to take off with Sally now instead of after college? What is the difference in his eyes?
He wants to escape the trouble that he's in and doesn't want to face his feelings. He seems sincere and even frightened.
Who was Luce to Holden?
He was his advisor at Whooton School.
5. Why do you think Holden was crying as he left?
He was scare to go home and deal with his parents.
2. Why doesn't Holden want to stay at Pencey any more? (50-51)
He's not getting along with anyone.
2. What's so terrible about the bellboy? (61) What does this reveal about Holden's character?
He's old and Holden doesn't like old people. He is never satisfied and judgmental.
1. What are some of the lies Holden tells Mrs. Morrow?
Her son is a good person and asked him to run for president.
What information does Holden finally tell us about Allie's funeral?
His whole family came to the funeral, but he didn't go because he had hurt his hand on some glass. I think he smashed his hand through a glass.
3. What can you infer about Holden's character through his note to Mr. Spencer?
Holden did not want Mr. Spencer to feel bad about having to fail him. He likes Mr. Spencer.
1. Who is Phoebe, and what is Holden's opinion of her?
Holden's little sister, he thinks she's smart and loves her.
2. Previously, Holden stated he was a "pacifist." Does his description of how he would deal with the "glove thief" support this, or is he just "yellow"?
I think he is just yellow. He would get into a verbal dispute, but probably not hit him.
1. What does Holden mean when he says that his brother D.B. is out in Hollywood "being a prostitute" (2)?
It means that he is selling his stories for as much as he can get to anyone.
1. Who is Mr. Spencer and why does Holden visit him?
Mr. Spencer is his history teacher. Mr. Spencer had sent him a note to come by, and Holden wanted to say good bye to him.
3. Where does Holden then decide to go? (51)
New York and then back home.
3. What is Pencey Prep, and why does Holden dislike it?
Pency is a school for boys. He dislikes it because he feels that the people are fake and that the whole place is fake.
1. What is the point that Holden tries to make about people when he elaborates about the suitcases of the nuns and of his former roommate?
People judge success or status by the nice things that you have. They are embarrassed if they don't have as nice things as you do.
3. What kind of person is Faith Cavendish? (66)
She is a open girl and Holden thinks he can have sex with her.
Why did Holden think the woman who cried through the movie was a phony?
She wouldn't take her son to the bathroom because she was so involved with her own feelings.
1. What is he thinking about while lying in bed? (49)
Stradlater and jane in the back of his car.
3. What do Holden and Stradlater fight over?
Stradlater would not tell Holden about his date. Holden was smoking in the room which was against the rules and calling Stradlater a moron.
What made Holden cry?
The elevator operator came to his door with the prostitute and demanded five dollars. Holden felt cheated and it made him cry.
1. The cab driver thinks Holden is kind of crazy for asking him a certain question. What is this question? Is it a question that he has been concerned with before? (a possible motif???)
Where do the docks go.
1. Does Holden have any guilty feelings about Allie? Do you feel this is abnormal in any way, or normal?
Yes, he wouldn't let Allie go and shoot the BB gun with him. I think it is normal to fell feel bad or guilty about things after a person dies.
2. Who is Ackley? Describe him.
lives in Holden's dormitory. He shares a bathroom with Holden. He is gross with pimples covering his face and his teeth are mossy from not being brushed. Holden does spend some time with him and asks him to go to the movies.
4. What is his final good-bye to Pencey Prep?
sleep tight morans