The Catcher in the Rye
Honors 11th Grade
Summer Reading Assignments
This book can be purchased on-line using the following ISBN#’s
ISBN-10: 0316769487
ISBN-13: 978-0316769488
Welcome to Honors English 11
This packet includes the summer reading materials for Honors
English 11.
Be sure to read and follow all directions.
 There will be 2 assignments to complete.
o One will be a project of your choice from the ones given in
this packet
o The second will be chapter questions, you will choose 5
questions to answer per section (Chapter 1 and 2 etc)..
 Additionally there will be in class assignments for this book, so
please be sure you have completed it prior to the first day of
class.
When you are finished please sign the following statement attesting that you have completed all of the
work yourself and there is no plagiarism:
I (signature)_____________________________ completed this assignment and allof the work included is
my own original work.
Have a great summer and please feel free to contact me if you need any questions Angela Dozier
Adozier@ashebor.k12.nc.us
 The rubric for the projects is attached.
Catcher in the Rye Reading Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1-2
What does Holden (the narrator) reveal about his brother, D.B.?
What is Pencey Prep like and how does Holden feel about it?
Who is Selma Thurman and what does Holden say about her?
What event was going on at Pencey while Holden was on Thomsen Hill and why was
Holden missing the event?
5. Who is Mr. Spencer and why is Holden going to visit him?
6. How is Holden doing academically?
7. How does Holden describe the scene in Mr. Spencer's house?
8. What advice does Mr. Spencer give Holden and how does Holden react?
9. What does Holden reveal about his communication with his parents about his issues?
10. What does Holden reveal about his level of maturity?
11. Why has Holden failed history? What was his essay like and what "note" did he write Mr.
Spencer?
12. When Holden stops paying attention to Mr. Spencer's speech, what is he thinking about?
13. What happened at Holden's previous schools?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter 3-4
1. What does Holden reveal about lying?
2. Who is Ossenburger and what happens during his speech?
3. Describe Holden's hat.
4. How does Holden feel about reading? What books does he mention?
5. Describe Robert Ackley.
6. How does Holden feel about Ackley? How would you describe their conversation?
7. What does Ackley say about Holden's hat?
8. What do we learn about Ackley's hygiene?
9. How do Ackley and Stradlater feel about one another?
10. What has Stradlater been doing and why has he come back to the dorm?
11. How does Holden describe Stradlater?
12. Why is it funny that Stradlater wants Holden to write his paper? What is the paper supposed
to be about?
13. What does Holden do to Stradlater as he's shaving?
14. What information does Holden reveal about Jane Gallagher? Based on the way he talks
about her, how do you think Holden feels about Jane?
Chapter 5-6
1. What does Holden do with Mal Brossard and Ackley?
2. What does Ackley say about his own sexual experience and what does Holden think about
Ackley's conversation?
3. What does Holden reveal about his brother Allie and what he was like?
4. What did Holden do when he found out that Allie was dead?
5. What does Holden write about for Stradlater's composition?
6. How do Holden and Stradlater interact with one another when Stradlater gets home late from
his date with Jane?
7. Why is Stradlater upset about the composition? How do Holden and Stradlater differ in their
understanding of rules?
8. Describe the conversation that transpires between Stradlater and Holden about Stradlater's
date with Jane. What does this conversation reveal about Holden?
9. Describe the physical fight between Stradlater and Holden.
Chapter 7-8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Where does Holden go after his fight with Stradlater?
What does Holden keep thinking about? What does he reveal about Stradlater's past?
Based on what he says to Ackley, how do you think Holden feels about religion?
How and why does Holden plan on leaving Pencey that night? Why can't he go home
immediately?
What does Holden reveal about the ice skates from his mother?
How does Holden get to the train station and how does he feel about trains?
Whom does Holden notice on the train?
What does Holden tell Ernest Morrow's mother about her son?
What is Ernest Morrow actually like?
Chapter 9-10
1. Whom does Holden consider calling from the pay phone at Penn Station? Whom
does he actually call?
2. What question does Holden ask the cab driver that makes the driver think he's
crazy?
3. When did this question come up before and why do you think he asks it?
4. What was the Edmont Hotel like? Describe the scene at the hotel when Holden
arrives.
5. Who is Faith Cavendish and how did Holden learn about her?
6. Describe the conversation between Faith Cavendish and Holden.
7. Who is Phoebe? What is she like? How does Holden feel about her?
8. What is Holden's interaction with the bartender like?
9. Describe Holden's interactions with the girls at the bar.
Chapter 11-12
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How does Holden describe Jane? How did Holden meet Jane?
What do we learn about Jane's family life?
Describe the afternoon when Jane and Holden had an intimate encounter.
How does Holden feel about Jane and what details does he reveal about her that show how
much he cares?
What does Holden argue with the cab driver about? (it should be something familiar).
How does Holden describe old Ernie at the piano?
What does Holden say about the people surrounding him at the bar?
Who is Lillian Simmons and what is she like?
Chapter 13-14
1. What happened with Holden's gloves? What does his reaction say about him?
2. What does the elevator operator offer Holden? How does Holden respond?
3. What does Holden reveal about his level of sexual experience and what is his philosophy
about sex? What concerns does he have about sex?
4. Based on her actions and statements, how does the prostitute treat sex?
5. How does Holden ultimately handle the situation with her and why do you think he ends
things the way he does? What do he and the prostitute argue about?
6. How does Holden feel about his interactions with Sunny and what does he reveal about the
way he usually tries to sort out his issues?
7. What are Holden's religious views?
8. What does Holden fight with Maurice about and how do things end between them?
Chapter 15-16
1. Who is Sally Hayes? How does Holden describe her and what does he think of her?
2. What do we find out about Holden's father?
3. What story does Holden tell about the suitcases? What does this story say about Holden?
4. What does Holden give to the nuns?
5. What did the nuns do for a living?
6. What does Holden say about Romeo and Juliet?
7. What does Holden think about Catholics?
8. When he reflects on his encounter with the nuns, how does Holden feel about them?
9. What is Holden's reaction when he hears a man singing "if a body catch a body"?
10. Why does Holden want to find a record store?
11. What happens when Holden tries to call Jane?
12. Where does Holden plan on taking Sally and why?
13. How does Holden feel about the movies and actors?
14. What does Holden say about Hamlet?
15. Describe the Museum of Natural History.
Chapter 17-18
How does Holden describe the people in the lobby of the theater?
How would you characterize Holden and Sally's initial interactions?
How does Holden feel about the show?
What is Holden's reaction when Sally sees a guy she knows? What does that say about
Holden?
5. Why does Holden think Sally suggests going ice-skating?
6. How does Holden describe his experience at Pencey/all-boys schools?
7. What does Holden tell Sally he wants the two of them to do together? Does this seem to fit
with his usual personality? How does Sally react to his plan?
8. What does Holden think about regarding Jane Gallagher?
9. Who is Carl Luce? What is he like and what does Holden think of him?
10. How does Holden describe his experience watching the movies at Radio City?
11. What details does Holden reveal about D.B.?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter 19-20
1.
2.
3.
4.
How does Holden describe the Wicker Bar?
What sort or talks did Holden have with Carl Luce in the past?
What is the relationship between Holden and Carl like at the bar?
What does Holden imagine happens to him at the bar (p. 150)?
5. How does Holden behave when he's drunk? What sort of things does he do?
6. What happens to Phoebe's record and how does it make Holden feel?
7. What do we find out about Allie's funeral?
Chapter 21-22
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How does Holden get the elevator boy to take him up to his parents' place?
What issues does Holden encounter and/or worry about when he gets to the apartment?
What does Holden find in Phoebe's notebooks?
How would you characterize the relationship between Holden and Phoebe? What do they
talk about? What are their attitudes toward one another?
What does Holden say about why he got kicked out and how he felt about Pencey? How
does Phoebe react to Holden's responses?
Who was James Castle and why do you think Holden thought about him at that moment?
What is the one thing that Holden says he likes when Phoebe says he doesn't like anything
and why do you think it is significant?
What does Holden say about the Robert Burns poem? How did he imagine the scene from
the poem? What does Phoebe say about the way he interpreted the poem?
Chapter 23-24
Who is Mr. Antolini and why does Holden like him?
What does Holden say about Phoebe's dancing abilities?
What happens when Holden's mom comes into Phoebe's room?
What does Phoebe give Holden and how does he feel about it?
What does Holden reveal about his issues in Oral Expression?
What sort of talk does Mr. Antolini give Holden when he finds out he is failing? What does
Mr. Antolini worry about with regard to Holden's future? What does he say about
education?
7. What does Mr. Antolini do that changes things with Holden and how does Holden react?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Chapter 25-26
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How does Holden's opinion of Mr. Antolini change at Grand Central station?
What sort of magazine article does Holden read and what does it make him think?
How does Holden calm himself down when he gets scared while he's walking?
What does Holden plan on doing to escape everything?
What sort of graffiti does Holden see and what does he say about it?
Why does Phoebe fight with Holden?
At the end, where do we find out Holden is telling his story from?
The Catcher in the Rye Projects
Directions: Choose one of the following options for your final project on The Catcher in the Rye.
Projects will be graded on effort, creativity, how well you demonstrate your understanding of the novel,
and how well you complete all parts of whichever option you choose. Variations on any of these options
must be pre-approved. You will also be required to present your project to the class.
The Soundtrack: Make a ten song mixed CD for Holden Caulfield, the movie. This could be in
the past or present. In the liner notes (or in a letter to Holden), explain why you are including each of the
ten songs on the mixed tape. Each song should have a paragraph of an in-depth analysis/description that
explains its connection to the novel, using evidence such as: themes, symbols, motifs, and situations that
Holden and the novel explore. You should use text based evidence (quotes from the novel). You must
also design a cover for your CD. You pick and choose which elements of the music to connect to the
novel. Be artistic. The final product should look like something you would buy in a store.
Newspaper: Create a newspaper for major events of the novel. You will create a newspaper
including a least four from the following: a news story, a review, an editorial, a feature story, a
commentary/editorial, a cartoon, and/or a profile piece. All must be linked to the book. You should
choose quotes from the book to act as your interviews, through you may embellish a bit. The different
news writing styles can be found in any newspaper, but if you need help I will instruct you on how to do
it. Your final articles must be put together in a newsletter template, 4 pages minimum. There should be
NO white space and your final product should look like a real newspaper or magazine. Include ads, table
of contents, photos/pictures etc.
Graphic Novel / Comic Book: Recreate the story in a graphic novel (i.e. comic book) format.
Choose the most important scenes – in your view – and tell the story of The Catcher in the Rye. The
quality of your project will be determined by the following: a) the extent to which your graphic novel
includes the entire story of the novel, b) the quality/effort put into the art work, and c) the inclusion of an
introduction in which you explain what you have tried to capture in your recreation of the novel. You
should use text book evidence (quotes from the novel) to narrate your story.
The Catcher in the Rye Game: Take your close reading of the novel and turn it into a game! Be
sure to use text book evidence. The purpose of this project is to share your knowledge with others and test
them on theirs. While you may have superficial questions, the bulk of your questions should explore
deeper levels of analysis. You may model your game on an existing game or create your own. The game
should help others learn in an innovative way. Use your class notes for ideas. Remember, Holden goes on
a type of journey, so you may incorporate this into your game.
Holden’s Scrapbook: Compile a scrapbook of memorabilia that Holden might have collected or
come across during the novel. All artifacts must be captioned with where he got it, its significance to him,
and the page you found it on. Think of the images that keep recurring in the novel, the places to which
Holden travels, and anything he collects. This project will be assessed based on the amount of
memorabilia for your scrapbook. Each item should have at least a paragraph explaining its significance.
You should use text book evidence to support your items: you will demonstrate where it was found and
then explain the significance.
Photographic or Artistic Montage: Create a photo documentary of the places in Manhattan that
Holden visited and also represent with flair the other places he visited. If painting, collage, or drawing is
your thing, draw these places. Compile montage of scenes depicting Holden’s adventures. All pieces must
be captioned with a paragraph that explains it, its significance, and incorporate text based evidence to
support your theory. Think of the images that keep recurring in the novel, the places to which Holden
travels, etc. This project will be assessed based on the number of scenes depicted and explicated. As a
benchmark, expect to get at least 10 scenes.
Music or Poetry: Write 5 songs/poems that illustrate points in the novel that are meaningful. For
each song/poem, be sure to include a paragraph explication/analysis (minimum) that connects what you
wrote to the novel using text based evidence.
Other idea? Propose another topic that will demonstrate your close reading of the novel in a
creative way.
Detach and submit this rubric with your presentation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student Name: _______________________________
Project Title: _____________________________________
CATEGORY
Preparedness
(Presentation)
4
Student is completely
prepared and has
obviously rehearsed.
3
Student seems pretty
prepared but might
have needed a
couple more
rehearsals.
2
The student is
somewhat prepared,
but it is clear that
rehearsal was
lacking.
1
Student does not seem
at all prepared to
present.
Attractiveness
Makes excellent use
of font, color,
graphics, effects, etc.
to enhance the
presentation.
Makes good use of
font, color, graphics,
effects, etc. to
enhance to
presentation.
Makes use of font,
color, graphics,
effects, etc. but
occasionally these
detract from the
presentation
content.
Use of font, color,
graphics, effects etc.
but these often distract
from the presentation
content.
Requirements
All requirements are
met and exceeded.
All requirements are
met.
One requirement
was not completely
met.
More than one
requirement was not
completely met.
Content
Covers topic in-depth
with details and
examples. Subject
knowledge is
excellent.
Includes essential
knowledge about the
topic. Subject
knowledge appears
to be good.
Includes essential
Content is minimal OR
information about
there are several
the topic but there
factual errors.
are 1-2 factual errors.
Originality
Product shows a
large amount of
original thought.
Ideas are creative
and inventive.
Product shows some
original thought.
Work shows new
ideas and insights.
Uses other people's
ideas (giving them
credit), but there is
little evidence of
original thinking.
Uses other people's
ideas, but does not give
them credit.