The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerStudy Guide

Name: _______________________________________Period: _______

English 11

Directions: Answer the following questions with as much detail as possible. Be sure to answer all parts of each question and use complete sentences.

Note the following symbols as you read:

The Central Park ducks

Allie’s baseball glove

The record

The carrousel and the gold ring

Holden’s hunting hat

Pencey Prep

The Museum of Natural History and the mummies

Unmade phone calls

Suitcases

Note the following themes as you read:

Innocence

Alienation

Mortality

Youth

Chapter 1

Vocabularyfoil: a fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a thin, flexible four-sided blade with a button on the tip to prevent injury.

1) What do we learn about the Holden’s childhood and home life?

2) a) How does Holden feel about his school’s football games?

b) What does this say about his character?

3) a) Why was Holden back at Pencey at 2:30 instead of around dinnertime?

b) What does this say about his character?

4) Why is Holden not going to return to Pencey?

5) How does Holden criticize Pencey?

Chapter 2

Vocabularygrippe: influenza or the fluchiffonnier: a high chest of drawers or bureau, often having a mirror on topqualm: disturbing feeling of uneasiness and self-doubt

1) According to Holden, Mr. Thurmer said life is a _______________. What is Holden’s reaction to this outlook on life?

2) What is Holden’s age? ________________ What does he say is ironic about his age and appearance?

3) a) What note did Holden write to Mr. Spencer on the bottom of his paper?

b) What does this say about Holden?

4) What is the only class Holden passed? ________________________

5) While Holden talks to Mr. Spencer, he claims to be thinking about something else. What does he think about?

6) Holden says that he didn’t fail out of Elkton Hills but rather he “sort of” quit. What bothers Holden about Elkton Hills?

Chapter 3

Vocabularysadist: someone who obtains pleasure from inflicting pain on othersfalsetto: an unnaturally or artificially high-pitched voice, esp. in a man

1) Holden declares himself to be the most terrific ____________________. Since he is our narrator, why might this be a problem for us readers?

2) Use detail to explain what Holden bought in New York after losing the foils:

3) Where do you see examples of Holden being a hypocrite in this chapter?

4) Who is Sally Hayes?

5) a) When Ackley says Holden’s hat is a “deer shooting” hat, what is Holden’s response?

b) How can you characterize Holden because of this response?

Chapter 4

Vocabularyexhibitionist: someone who deliberately behaves in such a way as to attract attention

1) What does Stradlater ask Holden to do for him?

2) While thinking about a time when he and Ackley went to a basketball game, Holden says: “Ackley kept saying… that Coyle had a perfect build for basketball. God, how I hate that stuff.” Why does Holden hate this “stuff”? Think about how it relates to his disgust with phonies.

3) What is unique about the way Jane Gallagher used to play checkers?

4) a) At the end of the chapter, why is Holden more excited to talk to Ackley now than he was before?

b) What does this tell us about him?

Chapter 5

Vocabularygalosh: a waterproof overshoehalitosis: a condition of having bad breath

1) What does Holden think is the reason the school feeds them steaks on Saturday night?

2) a) Where is Holden going with Mal and Ackley?

b) How is this another example of Holden’s hypocrisy?

3) a) Who is Allie?

b) Use detail to describe Allie’s mitt:

c) Use detail to describe Holden’s reaction to Allie’s death:

Chapter 6

Vocabularyunscrupulous: no regard for what is right or honorable

1) a) Holden says, “All the athletic bastards stick together.” What is this in response to?

b) How does this help to further develop Holden’s character?

2) Why do Holden and Stradlater get into a fight?

Chapter 7

Vocabularymonastery: community of persons, especially monks, bound by vows to a religious life and often living in partial or complete seclusiongladstone: suitcase

1) How does Holden feel about religion?

2) What reason does Holden give for feeling guilty about getting kicked out of school?

3) Holden admits that he cries as he leaves Pencey. What does this reveal about him?

Chapter 8

VocabularyLousy: abundantly supplied, or oversupplied

1) a) What does Holden tell Mrs. Morrow his name is?

b) Where did he get this name from?

2) a) What is Holden’s opinion of Ernest Morrow?

b) How does Holden’s view of Ernest differ from what Ernest’s mother thinks of her son?

3) a) Give examples of the other lies Holden tells Mrs. Morrow:

b) How does Holden’s lying add to his hypocrisy?

Chapter 9

Vocabularyincognito: when one's identity is disguised or concealed

1) a) Who are all the people Holden wants to call?

b) Why doesn’t he make the calls?

2) a) What question does Holden ask the taxi driver?

b) Why do you think Holden is curious about this? Think about what this might symbolize.

3) a) Once in the hotel, what does Holden see when he looks out his window?

b) How do you think this impacts him?

4) a) Who does Holden call at the end of the chapter? _________________________

b) Why does he call her, and what does this say about Holden’s character?

Chapter 10

Vocabularysterling: thoroughly excellent

1) a) Who does Holden want to call at the beginning of the chapter?

b) Why doesn’t he call her?

2) Use detail to explain how Holden describes his little sister:

3) Explain Holden’s interactions with each girl in the Lavender Room:a) Laverne:

b) Bernice:

c) Marty:

Chapter 11

1) While Holden sits in the “vomity-looking chair,” what does he think about?

2) Holden says Jane is the only person he has shown Allie’s mitt to. What does this reveal about their relationship and his feelings?

3) Use detail to explain the story Holden tells us about Jane. Why do you think this is significant?

Chapter 12

1) Use detail to describe the conversation that Holden has with the taxi cab driver:

2) Who does Holden run into at Ernie’s? _____________________________________

3) Why does Holden leave Ernie’s, and how is this ironic?

Chapter 13

Vocabularyyellow: cowardly, easily scarednonchalant: unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcitedfrock: a gown or dress

1) a) What does Holden say he would do if he found out who stole his gloves?

b) What does this reveal about Holden?

2) Holden reveals his dark thoughts, but quickly brushes over them: “I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead. Then, all of a sudden, I got in this big mess.” Explain the importance of this quote and what it tells us about Holden:

3) Holden claims that he is different from other men when it comes to women. a) Explain how Holden is different:

b) How does this add to his characterization?

4) What does Holden do with the prostitute, Sunny, that Maurice sends over? Why?

Chapter 14

1) a) What does Holden do sometimes when he is depressed?

b) What does this say about him?

2) Explain Holden’s thoughts about religion:

3) a) What does Maurice do to Holden?

b) How does Holden react?

4) Holden again mentions suicidal thoughts. a) Why does Holden decide he doesn’t want to jump out the window?

b) What can you say about Holden’s view of mortality?

Chapter 15

Vocabularyspendthrift: One who spends money recklessly or wastefullybourgeois: Of, relating to, or typical of the middle class

1) a) Who does Holden make a date with? ____________________________________

b) What does he think of her?

2) a) What does Holden’s father do for work? _________________________________

b) Why do you think this is significant?

3) Use detail to explain the story Holden tells about the suitcases:

4) Use detail to explain Holden’s interaction with the nuns:

Chapter 16

1) a) What song lyrics does Holden overhear a child singing?

b) Explain how this makes him feel:

2) What does Holden buy for his sister? Why?

3) Holden calls Sally the “Queen of the ______________________.”

4) a) What does Holden say is the best thing about the museum?

b) What does this reveal about Holden’s desires?

Chapter 17

Vocabularyblasé: uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence

1) a) What does Holden wonder about when he is waiting for Sally?

b) What does this say about him?

2) “I told her I loved her and all. It was a lie, of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it.” Holden is clearly contradictory. In your opinion, does he love Sally in this moment? Why/why not?

3) What does Holden say about school?

4) a) What does Holden suggest he and Sally do?

b) After this bit of conversation, what makes Sally mad?

c) After Sally gets mad, how does Holden change his mind about this idea?

Chapter 18

Vocabularyfurlough: leave of absence or vacation

1) a) Who does Holden call after unsuccessfully calling Jane? _________________b) Why does he choose this person?

2) a) According to Holden, what would be the worst part of being in a war?

b) What does he say he will do if there is another war?

Chapter 19

Vocabularyflit: (Slang: derogatory and offensive) male homosexualinane: lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly

1) In order to make sure that the people at the bar didn’t think Holden was a minor, what did he do when he ordered drinks?

2) a) How does Holden act when talking to Luce?

b) What does Holden want to talk about?

3) What suggestion does Luce give to Holden?

Chapter 20

1) a) Who does Holden call? _____________________________________b) How does he act on the phone?

2) a) Why does Holden go to the park?

b) What happens while he is there?

c) What does this symbolize?

3) a) Why did Holden miss Allie’s funeral?

b) What impact do you think this had on him?

4) Why does Holden decide to go home?

Chapter 21

1) How does Holden feel when he gets home and why is this significant?

2) What does Holden do in D.B.’s room before waking up Phoebe?

3) a) What does Phoebe do with the record?

b) How does Phoebe react to the news that Holden got kicked out of Pencey?

c) How do your answers for 3a and 3b add to Phoebe’s characterization?

4) What do you think Holden’s relationship with his father is? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

Chapter 22

Vocabularyostracize: to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges

1) What does Holden remember about James Castle?

2) How does Holden respond when Phoebe asks him about what he likes?

3) a) What does Holden say he would like to be if he had a choice?

b) What does this symbolize?

4) a) According to Phoebe, what did Holden have wrong with the poem lyric?

b) Why is this significant?

Chapter 23

1) a) Use detail to describe what Holden reveals about Mr. Antolini and James Castle:

b) How does this help characterize Mr. Antolini?

2) a) What does Phoebe lend to Holden?

b) What is Holden’s reaction?

3) a) What does Holden give to Phoebe?

b) Why is this significant?

4) Holden says: “I figured if they caught me, they caught me. I almost wished they did, in a way.” What does this quote reveal about him?

Chapter 24

Vocabularypedagogical: educational

1) Mr. Antolini fears Holden is going to fall: “The whole arrangement’s designed for men who, at some time or other in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn’t supply them with.” How does this quote apply to Holden?

2) Antolini, quoting Wilhelm Stekel, says: “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” In your own words, what advice is Antolini giving Holden here?

3) Holden continuously says he is going to call Jane soon. Why do you think he never actually calls?

4) a) What causes Holden to wake up and run out of Antolini’s apartment?

b) What do you make of this situation (is this creepy or is it just a sign of affection)?

Chapter 25 & 26

1) Where does Holden end up sleeping?

2) a) What does Holden imagine every time he gets to the end of a street?

b) Who does Holden ask to help stop this? _______________________________

c) What does this show about Holden’s current mental state?

3) a) What does Holden see on the wall at Phoebe’s school that makes him very depressed?

b) Why is he so upset about this?

4) When Phoebe shows up at the Museum of Natural History:a) What is she wearing?

b) What did she bring with her and why?

c) Choose one word to characterize Phoebe in this scene and explain your answer:

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE5) Why does Holden like the carrousels?

6) a) What do the children do while riding the carrousel?

b) What does Holden realize while watching this? Think about the symbolism behind this:

7) a) Where is Holden telling this story from? _________________________________

b) Why is this significant?

8) Do you think the ending of this novel shows that Holden has matured? Why/why not?