PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DISCUSSION GUIDE IS LOCATED AFTER REVIEW AND HAS PAGE NUMBERS LISTED WITH IT.
Due Date Chapters
8/15 1,2,3
8/16 4,5,6,7
8/17 8,9,10,11
8/20 12, 13,14
8/21 15,16,17
8/22 18,19,20,21
8/23 22,23,24
8/24 Essay/Read
8/27 25,26—Review
8/28 Test
Catcher in the Rye Vocabulary
1. Boisterous-noisy and unruly
2. Nonchalant-showing a lack of concern; casual indifference
3. Sophisticated-worldly wise; refined
4. Bourgeois-relating to or belonging to the middle class of society
5. Unscrupulous-having no moral code; unprincipled
6. Incognito-in disguise
7. Atheist-a person who believes there is no God
8. Blasé-having done something so much as to be bored by it
9. Halitosis-bad smelling breath
10. Pacifist-one who opposed the use of force under any circumstances
11. Stenographer-one who takes shorthand
12. Qualms-feelings of doubt
13. Sadistic-getting pleasure from inflicting pain on others
14. Lavish-elaborate or luxurious
15. Exhibitionist-one who likes to show off and get attention
16. Ostracized-shunned; excluded; left out
17. Humble-lowly; unpretentious
18. Aristocratic-of an upper class; distinguished
19. Pedagogical-characteristic of teaching or teachers
20. Reciprocal-interchangeable; complimentary
The Catcher in the Rye Study Guide
-Be able to discuss the main conflict.
-What is the meaning of the title?
-Discuss the following characters:
1. Holden
2. Phoebe
3. D.B.
4. Allie
5. Stradlater
6. Ackley
7. Mr. Spencer
8. Jane
9. Sally
10. Mr. Antoline
-What is the affect of the beginning of the novel—in medias res?
-What is the comment about phonies?
-What do we find out about Holden's background? School/ family/etc.
-What is Holden's view toward children?
-Why might Holden say "I'm a madman"?
-How does Holden get along with people?
-Where did Holden get the red hat?
-In what way does the narration of the novel bias the story?
-Why does Holden wonder about the ducks?
-Why does the story stop where it does?
-List and discuss the theme.
-Is this a usual or unusual plot structure?
-In what was is the author's background important?
-Give examples of Holden's impressions/views.
Cather in the Rye
-Stream of consciousness -Sad/Depressed/ Madman
Ch. 1
1. First person “I”.
2. Who is D.B.? p. 1
3. Pencey Prep p. 2
4. What did Holden leave on the subway? p.3
5. What did Mr. Spencer teach? p. 3 grippe?
6. Heavy smoker or not? p. 5
Ch. 2
1. Mr. Spencer description p. 6
2. Mr. Spencer’s words of wisdom to Holden p. 8
3. Details about Holden p. 8
4. What did Holden pass? p. 10
5. Holden’s name p. 12
6. Ducks p. 13
7. Phonies p. 13
Ch. 3
1. Terrific liar p. 16
2. Killed me p. 17
3. Reads a lot but is illiterate p. 18
4. Ackley p. 19-23
5. Stradlater p. 23-25
Ch. 4
1. Stradlater p. 26
2. Jane (Jean) Gallagher p. 31
3. Stradlater-conceited p. 34
Ch. 5
1. Pencey Prep p. 35
2. Hunting had p. 37
3. Allie-mitt p. 38
Ch. 6
1. Stradlater p. 40
2. Madman p. 42
3. Fight with Stradlater p. 44
Ch. 7
1. Felt lonesome p. 48
2. Stradlater and his view of sex p. 49
3. Thoughts and where he is going p. 51
4. Presents make him sad p. 52
Ch. 8
1. Train and lady p. 53-54
2. Lying p. 58
Ch. 9
1. Felt like calling someone p. 59
2. Madman p. 60
3. What was the hotel like? p. 61-62
4. Doesn’t understand sex p. 63
Ch. 10
1. Describe Phoebe p. 67-68
2. Bar and thoughts p. 73-75
Ch. 11
1. Who is Jane? p.76-77
Ch. 12
1. Ducks p. 81
2. Horwitz p. 81
3. Surrounded by jerks p. 85
4. Why does he say “glad to meet you”? p.87
Ch. 13
1. What type of person is Holden? p.89
2. What is the hotel lobby like? Mentions sad and lonesome. p. 90
3. Holden is a virgin p. 92
4. Depressing—what is the deal with the prostitute? p.95-96
5. His thoughts on spooky prostitute. p.98
Ch. 14
1. Give 2 examples of Holden’s state of mind. (Depressed) p. 98
Ch. 15
1. Parents p. 107
2. Nuns p. 108-110
3. Catholics p. 113
Ch. 16
1. Title of novel p. 115
2. Phony p. 116
3. Kids p. 119
4. Hunting had p. 122
Ch. 17
1. Old Sally p. 127
2. Complaining p. 131
3. Wants to leave p. 132
Ch. 18
1. Trouble with girls p. 136
2. Called Jane p. 136
3. D. B. is in the army p. 140
4. Mentions classic novels p. 141
Ch. 19
1. Phonies p. 142
2. Old Luce p. 143
3. Where does Holden say he might go? p. 147
Ch. 20
1. How is Holden? p. 150
2. Madman p. 151
3. Depressed and lonesome p. 153
4. Felt blue p. 154
5. Thought of family p. 155-156
Ch. 21
1. Thoughts on home p. 158
2. Thoughts on Phoebe p. 159
3. Phoebe practices her name. p.160-161
Ch. 22
1. What does Phoebe say to Holden? p. 166
2. Phoebe tells Holden he doesn’t like anything. What is his attitude? p.169
3. Thought on Allie p. 171
4. Title of the book (poem by Robert Burns “Comin Thro the Rye”) p. 173
Ch. 23
1. Holden’s thoughts p. 175-178
2. Holden started to cry p. 179
Ch. 24
1. What were the Antolini’s like? p.180-185
2. Talk of death p. 188
3. Why did Holden hurry away from the Antolini’s? p.191-192
Ch. 25
1. Depressed p. 194
2. Extreme thoughts and sore in his mouth p. 196
3. Talks to Allie p. 198
4. What happened with Holden and Phoebe? p. 205-206
Ch. 26
1. Holden’s state of mind p. 213
2. Last sentence of the novel p. 214