All About Holden
Characters
Symbolism
Quotes
Miscellaneous
100
What present does Holden buy for Phoebe and what happens to it?
"Little Shirley Beans" record - Holden drops it and it breaks. Why is this significant?
100
Who is the "pain in the ass" and loves the word "marvelous"?
Sally Hayes
100
What is significant about Holden's red hunting hat?
Uniqueness and individuality. Alienation from the rest of the world. Internal struggle between sticking out and being normal Form of protection.
100
Who said, “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"?
Holden Caulfield
100
Over how many days do the events of this novel span?
Three days (Saturday-Monday)
200
While on their date, what crazy idea does Holden have that he wants Sally to be a part of?
They should run away to Vermont or Massachusetts, get married, and live in a cabin.
200
Who beats up Holden which triggers him to fantasize about being shot in the stomach?
Maurice
200
What is the significance about the ducks in the Central Park lagoon?
Some changes are temporary - Holden hates change because of Allie's death. Ducks leave every winter when things get tough, but they return every spring - cyclical change which isn't permanent. Holden leaves when life gets too hard. Pond partly frozen and partly not frozen - transition between two states - like Holden between childhood and adulthood.
200
Who said, “You’re sorry. You’re sorry. That’s very funny. If you think I’d ever let you take me home, you’re mad. No boy ever said that to me in my entire life"?
Sally Hayes
200
Who is Holden's "catcher in the rye"?
Mr. Antolini
300
Why does Holden decide to stay and not go out West?
Phoebe surprised him by packing a suitcase with her belongings because she wanted to go with him. He can't let Phoebe ruin her life like he ruined his, so he tells her that he isn't going anymore.
300
Who is Holden's old English teacher who pats Holden on the head while he sleeps?
Mr. Antolini
300
What is significant about the Museum of Natural History?
Things are frozen and unchanging - simple, understandable, infinite. Doesn't like that he has changed every time he returns to view the displays. Everything is in glass, preserved untouched for years.
300
Who said, “Oh, God!” Is this going to be a typical Holden Caulfield conversation”?
Carl Luce
300
Describe Holden's health throughout the last few chapters.
He is becoming sick - headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, passing out
400
Where is Holden now (i.e. at the end of the book)?
In a mental institution
400
Who is the Columbia student who advises Holden to see a psychoanalyst?
Carl Luce
400
What is the importance of the carousel?
Represents Holden growing up. He didn't go on - matures and understands he's not a child anymore.
400
Who said, “You did get kicked out! You did! Oh Holden”?
Phoebe Caulfield
400
Phoebe reprimands Holden because she thinks that he...
Doesn't like anything
500
Why does Holden get upset when he sees graffiti with the f-word?
Little kids can see it, which will ruin their innocence. He soon understands that he cannot possibly erase all of the profanities out of the world and realizes that he cannot save every child.
500
Who jumped out the window rather than take back what he said about another student?
James Castle
500
What is the significance of the "catcher in the rye"?
Holden's dream job - preservation of innocence. Imagines children playing in a field of rye near a cliff. Catch children before they fall out of innocence into the knowledge of the adult world. Stop kids from growing up so they are not miserable.
500
Who said, “I have a feeling that you’re headed for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall"?
Mr. Antolini
500
Where does Holden sleep after leaving Mr. Antolini's house?
On a bench in Grand Central Station
M
e
n
u