Themes
Name two examples of how Holden struggles with Lonliness.
1. Everyone else is at the football game and Holden is off on his own.
2. Holden calls for a prostitute with no intentions to do anything with her
3.Holden feel as though he cannot go home to his family because he flunked out of school
4. The root of it all, the death of his brother Allie.
Red Hunting Hat
Symbolizes youth. Protection from being phony.
Holden paid for this character to ride a carousel
Phoebe
What does it mean? Who said it? "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole […]. Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you'd be so much older or anything. It wouldn't be that exactly. You'd just be different, that's all. You'd have an overcoat on this time. Or that kid that was your partner in line last time had got scarlet fever and you'd have a new partner. Or you'd have a substitute taking the class, instead of Miss Aigletinger. Or you'd heard your mother and father having a terrific fight in the bathroom. Or you'd just passed by one of those puddles in the street with gasoline rainbows in them. I mean you'd be different in some way – I can't explain what I mean. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it. (16.24)"
Chapter 16 Holden likes the natural history museum because it is one of the only constant things in his life. He is adverse to change and it never changes.
What is the name of the hotel Holden Stays in?
The Edmont Hotel
Name two examples of Holden loss of innocence/protection of innocence.
1.The metaphor of the Catchers in the Rye protecting the children from the cliff,
2.Taking his sister on the carousel.
3.His brother death is a loss of innocence for holden as well.
Duck's in Central Park
Represent Holden's youth and curiosity. Eventually the ducks will move on and fly away. Holden's unwillingness to accept that represents his difficulty with change and coming of age.
Died of Leukemia
Allie
Who says it? What does it mean.“I’m just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don’t they?”
Chapter 2. Holden says it talking to his teacher Mr.Spencer. He recognizes that he is going through a hard time right now. This set the pace of the novel as we witness Holden hit a rock bottom.
How did Holden end up in the Home at the start of the book.
He got sick from his adventures in the city and almost contracted tuberculosis.
What does "Phony" mean to holden? Give him an example of someone who he calls phony.
Phony represent being disingenuous, but Holden aligns it closer with growing up. He refers to numerous adults throughout the story as phony, while looking to children as pure and innocent.
Allies Baseball Mitt
The poems on the mitt represent Allies authentic and kind nature. It is also is representative of Holden struggling to move past his brother untimely death.
Holden agrees to help this character put up their Christmas Tree
Sally Hayes
Who says it? What does it mean? “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. I know that’s impossible, but it’s too bad anyway.”
Chapter 16. This quote represents Holden holding onto the past and struggling to grow up.
Describe two instances where Holden lied
1. Holden lied to Mrs.Marrow on the train.
2. He lied to his sister about why he was home early
3.He lied to Sunny claiming he had just had surgery.
Hiding/Inaction: Give an example of how Holden refuses to grow up and hide or refuse to take action
He fails out of school as a result of not doing his work. Rather than staying at school or going home, he runs off into the city and hides from the world. He hides from his parents when he sneaks into his house.
The Museum of Natural History
The exhibits have been the same since Holden was a kid. It represents Holdens struggle with change and eagerness to hold onto childhood and the past.
This chapter had pimples and poor hygiene
Ackley
Who say it? What does it mean. “I think that one of these days...you’re going to have to find out where you want to go. And then you’ve got to start going there. But immediately. You can’t afford to lose a minute. Not you.”
(Chapter 24). Mr. Antolini says it to Holden. He recognizes Holden is lost and Mr.Antolini trying to get him to grow up and face the world.
Why does Holden Leave Mr. Antolini?
Mental Health: Give two examples of Holden struggling from depression or PTSD
1.After he is ruffed up for the money by Maurice he gets really sad in his apartment.
2.He cries leaving Pency.
3. The composition paper he writes about his brothers baseball mitt.
The Catcher in the Rye
Holden understands it is impractical, but when questioned what he was to do with his life. He answers that he was to be "The Catcher in the Rye" protecting the youth from the hardships of the world and preserving their innocence.
Holdens Brother's ex-girlfriend. Whom he describes as "Phony"
Lillian Simmons
What does it mean? “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.”
Chapter 22. Holden wants to be the protector of innocence for the youth. This represents his struggle to grow up, he desperately hold onto the innocence and safety of youth.
How does Holden view life after death?
Holden claims to be an atheist. He is obsessed with death and afraid of it. Nevertheless he holds his respect for Jesus. He is uncertain and it is definitely something he struggle with.