Slang
Give someone a buzz
Call someone on the phone
"I felt like jumping out the window."
Thoughts of suicide
Holden asks a few people about this and eventually visits the place to see for himself
Where do the ducks from the lagoon at Central Park go in the winter?
A classmate at Elkton Hills driven to end his life by bullying.
James Castle
“I saw something that drove me crazy. …I thought how Phoebe and all of the other little kids would see it, and they’d wonder what the hell it meant…” refers to this.
Someone writes, “F**k you” on a wall at Pheobe's school.
booze hound
alcoholic
I kept sitting there getting drunk and waiting for...
substance abuse
A symbol of protection, comfort, or individuality
red hunting hat
A prostitute and her pimp who have an uncomfortable encounter with Holden
Sunny and Maurice
Holden is warned that he is "heading for a terrible fall" by this person.
Mr. Antolini
lousy with dough
having a lot of money
As a matter of fact, I'm the only dumb one in the family.
feelings of worthlessness
When Phoebe saves the remains of this is suggests that she's protecting her innocence.
the record of "Little Shirley Beans"
Holden's egotistical and predatory roommate
Stradlater
Holden says, "I don't want you to get the idea she was a goddam icicle or something, just because we never necked or horsed around much," about this character.
Jane Gallagher
necking
making out/kissing
All I could think of was this boy I knew at Elkton Hills...
thoughts of death
A symbol of defensiveness and possibly virginity
keeping kings in the back row
The two girls Holden has romantic interest in
Sally Hayes and Jane Gallagher
The context of this moment, “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab the gold ring, you have to let them do it.”
Phoebe rides the carousel at the park
she hit the ceiling
she got very angry
After the Christmas thing was over, the goddam picture started. It was so putrid I couldn't take my eyes of it.
loss of interest or pleasure in all or most activities
the dioramas at the natural history museum represent this two ideas
changing, growing up, loss of innocence
Holden encounters this person on the subway and lies to him/her a lot
Mrs. Marrow
"Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it. No kidding. Hours.” Holden is speaking about this.
lying