***All questions should be answered in this packet. After we have finished reading the book. This packet will be collected and counted as a TEST GRADE.

Name___________________________________________

English 10-___________

Ms. Cardino

The Catcher in the RyeStudy Guide Questions

Chapter 1

1. Where is Holden at the beginning of the novel?

2. As he stands on the hill during the football game, how does Holden describe the school he attended? Include several details.

3. What problem had Holden encountered earlier that day that allowed him to be at the game?

4. What time of year is it? Why is he getting kicked out of school?

5. Who does Holden decide to visit before he leaves school?

Chapter 2

1. How does Mr. Spencer describe life and what is Holden’s reaction to this idea?

2. What is Holden’s physical description?

3. What test had he failed? What did he write on his exam paper?

4. What does Holden wonder about as Mr. Spencer is talking to him?

5. Why does Holden tell Mr. Spencer not to worry about him?

Chapter 3

1. What personality trait does Holden reveal at the beginning of this chapter? Include details.

2. Who is Mr. Ossenberger? According to Holden, what kind of person is he? Why?

3. What had Holden bought when he was in the city that day? How does he like to wear it?

4. What is one of Holden’s hobbies? List several examples that he mentions.

5. Who interrupts Holden? Describe him. Why does he annoy Holden?

Chapter 4

1. How does Holden describe his roommate, Ward Stradlater?

2. What does Stradlater ask Holden to do for him? Why? Why is this ironic?

3. Who is Stradlater’s date? How does Holden know her? What bothers him about Stradlater’s attitude towards her?

4. Describe several specific memories Holden has concerning Jane Gallagher.

Chapter 5

1. What does Holden decide to do that evening? What does he make while he is waiting for his friends? Why doesn’t he throw it?

2. Who does Holden plan to go to the movies with? Why don’t they see the film? What do they do instead? What is his reaction to not seeing the film?

3. When he returns to his dorm, what and whom does Holden write the composition about?

4. Describe Holden’s brother, Allie. What happened to Allie? What did Holden do that night?

Chapter 6

1. How does Stradlater react to Holden’s composition? What does Holden do as a result?

2. Why is Holden so concerned about the details of Stradlater’s date with Jane?

3. How does Holden react when Stradlater implies that he fooled around with Jane?

4. How does the scene in the bathroom end?

Chapter 7

1. What’s Holden’s reaction when Ackley refuses to let Holden sleep in his room to avoid Stradlater?

2. What decision does Holden make that night? Why?

3. What was the problem with the skates that Holden received from his mother that month?

4. What was Holden doing when he left the building? Why? What were his last words?

Chapter 8

1. Who does Holden meet on the train?

2. Whose identity does he assume when he meets her? Why?

3. Cite a direct quote that shows what Holden’s really thinks about Ernest Morrow. Explain.

4. What does Holden claim is the reason he is going home a few days early?

5. RECAP – List three lies Holden tells Mrs. Morrow

1. ______

2.

3. ____________

Chapter 9

1. What odd question does Holden ask the cab driver? Why? What does this reveal?

2. What hotel does Holden stay at? Why doesn’t he just go home?

3. What two odd scenes does Holden see through the window?

4. After viewing these scenes, what does Holden realize about himself? Why does he say he doesn’t understand sex?

5. After thinking about these things, who does Holden call? Why?

6. What lie does he tell her? Why?

Chapter 10

1. Who is Holden’s sister? Describe her.

2. Who does Holden’s sister write about in her fictional writing?

3. Where does Holden go dancing? Who does he meet there? Describe them.

4. At the end of the evening, why is the dance lounge a depressing place?

5. RECAP – List three lies Holden tells while he is in the dance lounge.

1.

2. ______

3. ____________

Chapter 11

1. How did Holden and Jane first meet?

2. What caused Holden and Jane to “almost neck”?

3. Explain the romantic situation Holden describes when he and Jane went to the movies.

Chapter 12

1. What question does Holden ask the cab driver on the way to Ernie’s Bar?

2. What does Holden notice about the couples at nearby tables at Ernie’s?

3. Who is Lillian Simmons? Why does she suggest that Holden join her and her date?

4. What lie does Holden tell Lillian? Why?

Chapter 13

1. Describe Holden’s fantasy about confronting the person who stole his gloves.

2. Why does he feel more depressed the more he thought of his gloves and his “yellowness”?

3. Who is Maurice? What does he offer Holden?

4. Who is Sunny? How old is she? How does Holden react when he meets her?

5. What excuse does Holden give Sunny to explain why he doesn’t want to have “a throw”?

6. What things depressed Holden at the end of his encounter with Sunny?

7. RECAP – List the lies Holden tells Lillian Simmons and Sunny

1.

2.

Chapter 14

1. What does Holden start thinking about after Sunny leaves? Why?

2. Which Biblical characters does Holden not like? Why?

3. Why does Maurice return? What happens?

4. Describe Holden’s fantasy about confronting Maurice.

5. In his fantasy, Holden says he’s “wounded.” In what sense is this actually true?

6. What does Holden think about doing?

Chapter 15

1. Who does Holden call on Sunday morning? Why?

2. Where does he go to kill time? Who does he meet there? Why does he like them? What do they discuss?

3. What things make Holden feel awkward about his family’s wealth?

4. Why does Holden feel depressed again at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 16

1. What record does Holden buy for Phoebe? What is it about? Why is this significant?

2. What does Holden think of actors? Why?

3. Who does Holden hoping to see at the park? Who does he meet instead? How does he help?

4. Why does Holden like the museum so much? Why is this significant?

Chapter 17

1. What is Holden’s first impression of Sally’s physical appearance? What is his reaction?

2. How does Holden characterize the person Sally runs into during the intermission of the show?

3. What does Holden ask Sally to do while they are at the skating rink? Where does he want to go?

4. Why does Holden shout one minute and then whisper the next, as Sally observes? What does this reveal about him?

5. How does Holden insult Sally at the end of their date? Why? What does this reveal about him?

Chapter 18

1. Who does Holden call at the beginning of this chapter? How does he characterize him?

2. What is Holden’s impression of the show at Radio City Music Hall? Who does he admire most in the orchestra there? Why?

3. What does Holden think about people who cry at “phony” movies?

Chapter 19

1. How does Holden characterize the bartender at the Wicker Bar?

2. Which of Holden’s questions annoy Carl Luce? Why is Holden so obsessed about this topic?

3. What advice does Luce give Holden? Why?

4. What does Holden do after Luce leaves? Why? What does this reveal about him?

Chapter 20

1. Describe the telephone conversation between Holden and Sally.

2. What is Holden’s emotional state when he goes into the bathroom? Why?

3. Describe the encounter between Holden and the piano player. Why is this significant?

4. Where does Holden go after he leaves the bar? What is he looking for there? Why?

5. What happens to the record Holden bought for Phoebe? What does he do with it?

6. Why does Holden start thinking about cemeteries and Allie being in a cemetery?

7. Where does Holden decide to go at the end of this chapter?

Chapter 21

1. How does Holden manage to get into his apartment without anyone noticing?

2. What does Holden get a kick out of about Phoebe?

3. What does Phoebe realize about Holden returning before Wednesday? How does she react?

4. Where does Holden say he’s planning to go? Why?

5. RECAP – Motif of Running AwayList examples of Holden actually running away or planning to run away:

1

2

3

4

Chapter 22

1. According to Holden, why will Mr. Caufield not “kill him” when he finds out Holden got expelled from another school?

2. What does Holden keep thinking about when Phoebe asks him to name something he likes? Why?

3. What does Holden want to be? Why? How is this symbolic?

Chapter 23

1. Why does Holden admire Mr. Antolini?

2. Describe the conversation between Phoebe and Mrs. Caufield. What does it reveal about each?

3. What does Phoebe give Holden before he leaves? What does he give her? Why is this symbolic?

Chapter 24

1. Explain Mr. Antolini’s warning that Holden’s “fall” is a “special” type of fall.Why should a person be educated according to Mr. Antolini?

2. What quote does Mr. Antolini share with Holden? Why is this important?

3. Why does Holden leave the Antolini’s apartment suddenly? What are his thoughts as he waits for the elevator?

Chapter 25

1. Where does Holden go for the rest of the night? Where is he planning to go the next morning? Why?

2. What “spooky” thing happens as Holden is walking up Fifth Ave.? Who is he talking to? Why? How is this symbolic?

3. Why does Holden go to Phoebe’s school? Why does he erase the curses on the wall? How is this related to his desire to be “the catcher in the rye”?

4. At the Museum, what do the children want to see? What does Holden teach them about? Why is this ironic?

5. How does Phoebe surprise Holden? How does he react? What does she do then?

6. Where does Holden convince Phoebe to go? Wat does she give him? How is this symbolic?

7. What does Holden realize as Phoebe rides the carousel? How is this a breakthrough for him? Where do they go at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 26

1. Where is Holden as he narrates this chapter? Cite evidence.

2. What is Holden’s final advice?