€¦ · web view · 2016-01-29describe the film in one word or a short phrase? the catcher in...

Name _______________________________

Period ______

Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

“A Date with Your Family”

1. Who is the audience? Listen carefully to the narration to draw conclusions. Whom does the narrator address? Who seems to be the focus of the film?

2. Identify at least three claims that are made in the film? Remember that claims are assertions that need support. They are generalizations.

3. What seems to be the filmmaker’s purpose?

4. In your opinion, what is the overall message of the film?

5. Describe the film in one word or a short phrase?

The Catcher in the Rye

Characters: For each character, write a sentence or two description. As you read, note important page numbers where the person appears, things he says or does, his general importance to the book, and his relationships to others in the novel.

DB

Spencer

Ackley

Stradlater

Jane Gallagher

Bossard

Allie

Mrs. Morrow

Phoebe

Sally Hayes

Faith Cavendish

Bernice

Lillian Simmons

Maurice

Sunny

Nuns

Carl Luce

Mr. Antolini

Mrs. Antolini

Mr. Caulfield

Mrs. Caulfield

Directions: As we read and discuss the book, fill out this chart with the name of themes, and two to three examples that show where that theme occurs in the novel. Examples should be in the form of specific textual references, or quotations from the text, with the corresponding page numbers. Explanations should be the type of literary analysis that you would incorporate in a paper -- How does this example demonstrate the importance of the theme?

Although some themes are listed below, look for others as you read,

Theme Examples ExplanationFamily

Innocence

Treatment of Women

Maturation

Individual vs. Society

Values

Chapters 1-3 Discussion Questions

1. Who is telling the story? What are your impressions of the narrator?

2. How much time has passed since the events in the story? What do you think is Holden’s purpose in

telling the story?

3. What is Pencey Prep like? Why is Holden leaving? How does he feel about leaving?

4. Why does Holden go to see Mr. Spencer? Why does he regret the visit?

5. Where did Holden get his red hunting hat? Why does he wear it indoors?

6. What is Holden’s opinion of Ackley? How do you suppose Ackley feels about Holden? Does Holden treat

Ackley badly?

7. What is Stradlater like? Provide at least three details.


1. What is the favor Stradlater asks? Why do you think Holden agrees to grant the favor?

2. Why does Holden nearly “drop dead” when he learns that Stradlater is going out with Jane Gallagher?

3. What kind of relationship did Holden have with Jane?

4. What does Holden decide to do with Mal on Saturday night? Why do they invite Ackley? What does that

show you about Holden?

5. What mental image of Allie do you have? How do you learn about Allie? When did he die?

6. Why does Holden tear up the composition?

7. Why does Holden fight Stradlater?

8. Why doesn’t Holden sleep on Ely’s bed?

9. What are Holden’s plans?

Chapters 8 and 9 Discussion Questions

1. Who sits down next to Holden on the train? Why does he lie to her?

2. Describe the settings of each of these chapters.

3. What kind of hotel does Holden stay in? What sort of people are there?

4. Who is the first person Holden calls? Why? Do they meet?


1. How does Holden feel about his sister Phoebe?

2. Retell what Holden does in the Lavender Room. Include at least three events.

3. Describe Jane. (Discuss the specific characteristics Holden reveals to the reader.)

4. In the cab, Holden comments that something is terrible about New York at night. What is it?

5. What is the driver’s explanation about the fish in the lake in Central Park?

6. Why does Holden leave Ernie’s bar?

7. Who is Maurice?

8. Describe Sunny. Provide three details.

9. What does Holden have against the Disciples?

10. What does Holden do before he gets into bed?


1. Who does Holden meet when he goes out for breakfast?

2. What does Holden buy for Phoebe that makes him extremely happy?

3. Holden and Sally go to a show and then ice-skating. As he tells his story, does it sound as if Holden

enjoyed himself with Sally?

4. What jogs Holden’s memories about his roommate Dick Slagle? Why did Holden put his suitcases out of

sight when rooming with Dick?

5. How does Holden get along with the nuns? Are you surprised that Holden – who is so critical of so many

people – seems to feel sympathetic toward the nuns?

6. Holden has time to kill before Carl Luce at the Wicker Bar, so he goes to a movie. How does Holden feel

about movies in general?


1. When Holden gets home and gives Phoebe the broken record, what does she do with it?

2. What does Phoebe say when Holden tells her he was expelled?

3. Who was James Castle, and what did Mr. Antolini do that made Holden respect him?

4. Phoebe seems to have a more realistic attitude than Holden, even though she is much younger. When she

asks Holden to name even one thing he likes, what does he say?

5. Who is the “catcher in the rye”?

6. When their mother returns, how does Phoebe lie to protect Holden and keep their mother from knowing he

is there?

7. What does Holden do when Phoebe loans him all her Christmas money?


1. How does Holden react to the Christmas decorations in New York?

2. When Holden got to the end of the block and stepped into the street, what did he feel was going to

happen?

3. To whom does he start talking?

4. What does Holden do when he sees obscenities on the wall at Phoebe’s school?

5. After reading the story, do you feel that Holden has changed much since the beginning? Do you think he

was right ending the story when he did? Why?

6. What is the significance of the title? Keep in mind the following things:

His concerned, almost protective attitude toward the ducks in Central Park

His attempt to erase obscenities from the museum walls

€¦ · web view · 2016-01-29describe the film in one word or a short phrase? the catcher in...

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