The_Catcher_in_the_Rye

Catcher in the Rye Review Questions: Robin Sutcliffe 10C Chapter 1. 1. What is unusual about the opening of Chapter 1' What is your first impression of Holden Caulfield' (1) Chapter 1 can be read from the end of chapter 26 through to the end of the book (You can begin at chapter 26 and read through and everything will read the same) My first impression of Holden is that he is a bit lazy because he will not apply himself. 2. What is "this crumby place" that Holden refers to' (1) The crumbly place Holden refers to is his school, Pencey Prep. 3. What do we learn about DB' (1) DB, Holdens older brother, turned down a career in literature because he wanted the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. We also lean that Holden has little respect for him. 4. What did Holden like about Selma Thurmer' (2) Holden likes the fact that she does not shower her father (The Headmasters daughter) because she doesn’t shower her father with praise. She is also a bit unattractive and slightly pathetic. 5. Why was Holden late for the football game' (3) Holden is head of the fencing team, and he left the foils on the train while they were on their way to a meet with another school and they were late getting back. His sudden unpopularity means that he does not attend the big football game because he does not want to get shunned away. 6. Why did Holden have to leave Pencey Prep' (3) Holden has flunked out of Pency Prep passing only one of his five classes, English. But Holden didn’t enjoy the school much anyway so it isn’t really a major loss for him. Chapter 2 7. Why does Holden call on Mr Spencer' (7) He wants to say goodbye before he leaves Pency Prep, Holden seems close to Mr. Spencer and his wife, Holden does show respect for Mr. Spencer. 9. What upsets Holden when he sees Mr Spencer' (7) Mr. Spencer’s sickness seems to upset Holden, he is also upset when Mr. Spencer grills him about his future and his time at Pency Prep. 10. What does Holden admit about himself ' (8) Holden admits that sometimes doesn’t act his age. 11. What things irritate Holden about Mr Spencer' His bumpy chest and the fact he smells of vicks nose drops and how Mr. Spencer reminds Holden about his subject failures. Also how he misses the bed whenever he tries to throw something onto it. 12. Why was Holden "beginning to sort of hate" the old man' (10) Holden begins to hate Mr. Spencer because of his attempts to change Holden’s attitude towards school, Holden begins to view Mr. Spencer as a bit of a phony. 13. What, according to Holden was the main reason for his leaving "Elkton Hills" school' (12) Holden alleges that Elkton Hills was a school full of phonies. 14. What do we learn about Holden in this chapter' We learn that: Holden has a poor vocabulary, he is ‘six-foot-two-and-a-half’ and the right side of his head is full of grey hairs. Also his mind tends to wander when he is bored. Chapter 3 15. What does Holden admit at the start of this chapter' Why do you think he does this' Holden admits that he is ‘the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life’. He admits this because he actually isn’t the most terrific liar; he just believes that he is. 16. Why doesn't Holden like Ossenburger' (14) Holden doesn’t like Ossenburger because he believes that he is a bit of a phony (although that is never mentioned in the book) Ossenburger displays all the qualities that Holden links with phony-ness eg. Making that huge speech in chapel and driving to the first football game of the year in a big Cadillac. 17. Who is Ward Stradlater' (15) Ward Stradlater is Holdens sporty roommate. Ackley has a strong dislike for him. 18. What does Holden want to do when he finishes a good book' (16) When Holden finishes a good book he wants to be able to call the author up whenever he wants to and talk to them. 19. Who is Robert Ackley, and what does Holden find unpleasant about him' Robert Ackley is a senior who rooms next to Holden. Holden finds several things unpleasant about him. He doesn’t like the fact that whenever you ask him to do something you have to yell it out more than once, Holden doesn’t like Ackley’s teeth because he never brushes them and he also doesn’t like the fact that Ackley always barges in on himi several times a day and will not leave him alone to enjoy piece and quiet. Chapter 4 20. What favour does Stratlader ask of Holden' (24) Stradlater wants to borrow Holdens Hounds Tooth Jacket because he spilled something on his grey flannel. 21. What is significant about Jane Gallagher' Jane Gallagher is a girl that Holden both respects and finds attractive. She and him spent a lot of time together one summer when their families were staying in neighboring houses in Maine. 22. Holden does a lot of "horsing around". Give some examples of his strange behaviour. Why do you think he acts in this way' An example of Holden’s horsing around behavior is when he is in his room with Ackley. Holden pulls his hat over his eyes and irritates Ackley by pretending to be blind and asking for Ackley’s hand. Chapter 5 23. What is the reason, according to Holden, that steak is served at Pencey on Saturday nights' (31) Many parents visited the school on Sunday, and when they asked their children what they ate last night they would reply with ‘steak’ and the parents would think their children were getting good food. 24. What stops Holden from throwing the snowball at the car and the hydrant' (32) Holden notices that both the car and the fire hydrant are too nice and white to throw a snowball at. 25. What do we learn about Holden's younger brother Allie' (33,34)… Holdens younger brother Allie died of leukemia when they were up in Maine, he died on July 18 1946. Allie was two years younger than Holden but ‘fifty times more intelligent’. Allie had red hair and never got angry at anyone, Holden describes him as the nicest member of the family. 26. How did Holden react to Allie's death' What does this reaction suggest about Holden's personality' (34) The night Allie died Holden slept in the garage and punched all the windows out. That behavior shows that Holden was very sensitive about his younger brother’s death and he needed a physical way to vent his frustration. Chapter 6 27. Why is Stradlater angry with Holden' (36) Stradlater got angry with Holden because he didn’t like the composition Holden had written for him, he told Holden to write it about a house but Holden wrote about a baseball glove instead. 28. Why did Stradlater and Holden fight' Stradlater returns to the dorm, after abusing Holden about his composition Holden starts smoking in the dorm, this annoys Stradlater because he hates people breaking the rules. Following this Stradlater refuses to tell Holden any details of his date with Jane and they begin to fight, Holden ends up with a punched nose. Chapter 7 29. What reason does Holden give Ackley for the fight with Stradlater' Why do you think Holden does this' (42) Holden says that his fight with Stradlater was about Ackley, Holden was defending his honor. 30. What worries Holden about Stradlater' Do you think that Holden's concern might be part of a bigger problem' (43,44) Holden worries that Stradlater may not have the best intentions towards Jane. His concern probably comes from some feelings towards her himself. 31. Why does Holden decide to leave Pencey' (45) Holden decides to leave Pencey because he doesn’t want to be home when his parents get the letter about his expulsion. Go back over Chapters 1-7 and note examples of failure involving Holden. What things really upset him' Can you explain his strange ideas and his unusual behaviour' Chapter 8 32. What lies does Holden tell Mrs Morrow' Why does he do this' The first lie Holden tells Mrs Morrow is his name, the second is how Ernest adapts himself really well to things. Holden also lies about the story of his blood nose, he claims he was hit with an icy snowball, he also lies about Ernest being one of the most popular boys at school, along with that he lies about most of the boys wanting Ernest to be class president, but Ernest not wanting to be nominated. Holden also lies that Ernest is too shy and modest. He tells Mrs Morrow that he has a tiny tumor on his brain, and when Mrs Morrow gets off the train he says that he is going to South America with his aunt. He does this because he wants to change her impression of her son, and he sometimes finds it hard to stop lying. Also he could’ve just been bored and looking for entertainment. Chapter 9 33. Which people would Holden like to ring up and why, in each case does he decide not to' (53) He wants to call D.B but he is in Hollywood. He wants to call Phoebe, but she would be asleep and his parents would answer the phone, he almost calls Jane but he decides that he just doesn’t feel like it, also it was pretty late to call. His reason for not calling Sally is that he is afraid that her mother would answer, and Sally’s mother is friends with his mother. He was going to call a boy from Whooton, Carl Luce but he decides against it because he doesn’t like him much. 34. How did Mrs Hayes describe Holden to her daughter' Do you think she was right' (53) Mrs Hayes describes Holden as a wild boy with no direction in life. I don’t really believe that she is right because really everyone must have some direction because everyone is headed towards something. 35. Why does the taxi driver look at Holden as if he is "a madman"' (54) Holden asks a silly question about where the ducks go in winter at the taxi driver and when he turns around Holden is shocked at his facial expression. 36. Why do you think Holden asks firstly Mrs Morrow and then the taxi driver to join him for a cocktail' (50,54) Like I said before, Holden is probably bored and looking for company, he doesn’t have an anti-social personality, he is just picky about who he acquaints himself with and who is phony or not. 37. Why was Holden depressed when he was at the Edmont Hotel' (54-56) 38. What is becoming clear about Holden with regard to his very troubled personality' 39. Holden fails again when he rings Faith Cavendish. Why does he ring her, and what goes wrong' (59) Chapter 10 40. What does Holden like about his kid sister, Phoebe' What does she represent' (60-61) 41. Who does Holden meet in the Lavender Bar' (62-63) 42. What does Holden find so depressing about the three girls' Chapter 11 43. How did Holden originally meet Jane Gallagher' (69) 44. Why led Holden to kiss Jane' (71) 45. Why does Holden take a cab to Greenwich Village' (72) Chapter 12 46. Holden asks the second cab driver the same question about the ducks. What does this indicate about Holden's personality' 47. What annoys Holden when he gets to Ernie's' (76-77) 48. Who does Holden meet at Ernie's' (78-79) 49. What is on Holden's mind as he leaves the piano bar' (79) Chapter 13 50. Why does Holden walk back to the hotel' (80) 51. What is on Holden's mind on the way back' What is he admitting about himself' 52. What offer did the elevator operator make to Holden' (82) 53. What does Holden admit about his feelings when the prostitute took off her dress' (85-86) 54. Why does Holden feel so uncomfortable with Sunny' 55. What excuse does Holden offer Sunny for putting things off' (87) 56. What does the incident with the prostitute tell us about Holden' Chapter 14 57. Why does Holden feel guilty' (89) 58. Why didn't Holden like ministers' (90) 59. How is Holden cheated by Sunny' Chapter 15 60. Why does Holden have mixed feelings about Sally' (96) 61. What do we find out about Holden's father' (97)) 62. What troubles Holden when he is talking to the nuns' (97-102) 63. Why do you think Holden enjoyed talking to the nuns' (See also start of Chapter 16) Chapter 16 64. What does Holden want to buy Phoebe' (103-4) 65. What does Holden find interesting about the family out walking on the street' (104) 66. Why doesn't Holden like actors' (105) 67. Why does Holden go to Central Park' (106) 68. Why do you think Holden likes little children' (107-8) 69. What fascinated Holden most about the museum' (108-9) 70. "Certain things they should stay the way they are." What is the significance of this phrase' (110) 71. Why doesn't Holden go inside the museum' Chapter 17 72. What was "sort of depressing" for Holden in the Biltmore lobby' (111) 73. What was the main problem with Harris Macklin' (111) 74. What annoys Holden about most actors' 75. What really annoys Holden during the interval' (114) 76. What is Holden's nervous habit' (116) 77. What does Holden tell Sally that he hates' (117) 78. What does Holden think about school' (118) 79. He says "I'm in lousy shape." What does Holden mean exactly' (118) 80. What is Holden's fantastic idea' Why is it so unrealistic' (118-119) 81. What is the significance of the last three sentences of the chapter' (121) Chapter 18 82. Holden says of Bob Robinson that "he was a very nice guy." This is an unusual comment from someone who can be so critical and judgmental of others. Why do you think Holden is so positive about Bob' (122-3) 83. Why do you think Holden tries to make contact with people in his address book' 84. What annoys Holden about the lady sitting next to him during the movie' (126) What picture of Holden is developing at this stage in the novel' 85. What does Holden mean in the last four lines of the chapter' Chapter 19 86. Carl Luce makes quite a profound observation in a question to Holden. What is this' (130) 87. Both Carl and Sally notice something about Holden. What is this' 88. What advice does Carl give Holden' (133) Chapter 20 89. What happened when Holden arrived at Central Park' (138) 90. What is on Holden's mind as he is sitting on the bench in the dark' (139-40) 91. What does he plan to do next' (141) Chapter 21 92. Why is Phoebe angry with Holden' (148-9) 93. How does Holden deal with difficult situations' Chapter 22 94. What comment from Phoebe makes Holden even more depressed' What is significant about this comment' (150-51) 95. What happened to James Castle' Why do you think Holden recalls the incident involving James Castle, at this particular time' (154) 96. Why does Holden feel that talking with his sister is an example of something he "likes a lot"' 97. What is significant about Holden's version of the poem "If a body catch a body comin' through the rye"' Chapter 23 98. Who is Mr Antolini' Why do you think that Holden wants to see him' (157) 99. How does Phoebe defend Holden when their mother arrives' 100. Why do you think Holden starts to cry' (161) Chapter 24 101. What is significant about the Digression factor in Oral Expression' (165-6) How does this relate to Holden' 102. What does Mr Antolini tell Holden' (168-9) 103. Why does Holden leave so suddenly' (172-3) Chapter 25 104. Where does Holden spend the night' (175) 105. Why is Holden confused' (175-6) 106. What was the "very spooky" thing that happened as Holden was walking up Fifth Avenue' What does this suggest about Holden's personality' (177) 107. How does Holden plan his future' (178-9) 108. What upsets Holden on the stairs at Phoebe's school' Why does he react so strongly' (180-81) 109. What frustrates Holden about the second piece of graffiti' (182) 110. What incident cheers Holden up considerably' (182) 111. What is Holden looking for, but is unable to find' (183) 112. What has Phoebe decided to do' (185) 113. How does Holden react to Phoebe's plan' Can you explain why he does this' 114. What does Holden like about the carousel (merry-go-round)' How does this fit in with his view of the world' (190) 115. Why is Holden so happy at the end of this chapter' Chapter 26 116. How would you describe the change that has come over Holden' 117. "I could probably tell you …how I got sick..and…after I get out of here…." Where is "here"' What has happened to Holden' xxxxxxxxxxOOOOOxxxxxxxxxx