Family
Where does Holden's brother, D.B. live?
Who is Old Spencer? What was Old Spencer sick with at the time of their conversation?
Holden's history teacher. The grippe (flu).
Who is Pheobe?
Holden's younger sister.
Share one theme of the novel.
Loneliness, coming of age, cynical, Holden's reluctance to leave the innocence of childhood
Answers will vary
How long is Holden in the phone booth (Chapter 9)
20 minutes
His parents are nice, but touchy.
How does Holden describe Pencey Prep?
Holden describes the school he attends as a "pretentious place that cultivates a false image of sophistication and propriety".
What is Holden's connection to Jane Gallagher?
They were summertime neighbors two years ago and became friends.
Is Holden consistent in his actions? Can you rely on him as a narrator?
Yes and No. Holden is hypocritical and only believes his perspective.
Who did Mark David Chapman consider himself to be?
The "Holden Caufield" of his generation.
Who is Allie and what caused his death?
Allie is Holden's younger brother and he died of leukemia/ blood cancer.
What did Holden forget on the subway? What was his "job" at Pency?
The fencing equipment. The equipment manager for the fencing team.
Where did Holden meet Mrs. Marrow? How old is she? What was his interaction with her?
On the train to NYC. She is 41 years old. Holden and Mrs. Marrow shared a conversation about Pency, her son and where he was going. Holden became inappropriately flirty.
Why does Holden wear the red hunting hat?
Symbolizes youthfulness, individuality, and confidence. However, he avoids wearing his red hunting hat in public for fear of being condemned for his individuality.
Name one TV show depicting the lifestyle of the 1950's.
"Leave it to Beaver"
"I Love Lucy"
How old was Allie when he died? How old was Holden at the time of the trauma?
Allie was 11 and Holden was 13.
Why does Holden run away from Pencey? Where does he go?
He is failing his classes. He goes to NYC.
What was Holden's impression of the three women he met at the "Lavender Lounge"
He was cynical and rude. He called the girls "ugly" and "morons".
Why does Holden depend on creating his own isolation?
Continues his detachment from the world and social relationships.
Name one popular musician in the 1950's.
Elvis Presley
Buddy Holly
Bill Haley and His Comets
Student answers will vary.
How does Holden react to Allie's death?
He goes into the garage and breaks every window. He also wanted to break all of the windows in the family's station wagon, but he'd already busted his hand too much to punch anymore.
What does Holden yell as he leaves Pencey Prep?
"Sleep tight, ya morons!"
What can you conclude about Holden's views on relationships and girls.
Student answers will vary
Confused, cynical, insecure, "girls they kill you"
What is a "Catcher in the Rye" and why does Holden want to be one?
Holden imagines himself as a kind of savior who can protect younger kids from the pain of growing up. The Catcher in the Rye is a reference to Robert Burns poem "Comin' through the Rye".
What two items that we use everyday became popular in the 1950's?
Television
Car