Name: ___________________________________
EN301: The Catcher in the Rye (chapters 15-26 / pages 105-214)
Reading Plan (chapter questions to be checked the day after chapter is read in class)
Thursday, 4/24: Chapter 15 questions/quotes
Friday, 4/25: Chapter 16 questions/quotes
Tuesday, 4/29: Chapter 17 questions/quotes
Wednesday, 4/30: Chapter 18 questions/quotes
Thursday, 5/1: Chapter 19 questions/quotes
Friday, 5/2: Chapter 20 questions/quotes
Tuesday, 5/6: Chapter 21 questions/quotes
Wednesday, 5/7: Chapter 22 questions/quotes
Thursday, 5/8: Chapter 23 questions/quotes
Friday, 5/9: Chapter 24 questions/quotes
Tueday, 5/13: Chapters 25-26 questions/quotes
Wednesday, 5/14: Review chapters 15-26 (in class)
Thursday, 5/15: Packet due; chapters 15-26 assessment
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I. Pre-reading: Vocabulary (50 points)
Directions: Before reading, on a separate sheet of paper…
1. Define each word, including the part of speech.
2. Use the provided information below to write a short story utilizing (10) of the words;
be sure to use each vocabulary word contextually!
a. Setting: Central Park (NYC)
b. Characters: Holden and Phoebe
c. Conflict: The lagoon is freezing over and the ducks are in danger
1. Matinee (106)
2. Squaw (121)
3. Dopey (123)
4. Blasé (126)
5. Inferiority (135)
6. Elementary (148)
7. Economize (153)
8. Fraternity (167)
9. Repulsive (170)
10. Infirmary (174)
11. Moderate (182)
12. Digression (183)
13. Pedagogical (184)
14. Reciprocal (189)
15. Bawl (213)
II. Comprehension Questions (100 points)
Directions: Answer each of the following questions and utilize textual support (Quote,
speaker, and page number). Your responses will serve as your notes on the reading!
CHAPTER 15
1. What is the point that Holden tries to make about people when he elaborates about the
suitcases of the nuns and of his former roommate?
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2. How does Holden treat the nuns?
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3. Why does Holden think it spoils a conversation if someone asks which religion he
practices?
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CHAPTER 16
4. Explain what Holden means when he states, “That’s what I
liked about those nuns… they never went anywhere swanky for
lunch.” What does this tell us about materialism and religion?
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5. Which item does Holden purchase as a gift for Phoebe?
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6. What is the significance of the young boy with his parents that
Holden sees on Broadway?
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7. Why does the Museum of Natural History particularly intrigue
Holden?
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CHAPTER 17
8. What does Holden’s comment about Sally, “Suddenly I felt like I was in love with her
and wanted to marry her,” show about his current emotional state?
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9. How does Holden feel about Sally as the date progresses?
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10. What does Holden admit to Sally about his health?
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11. As a result of his mental state, what two things does Holden suggest to Sally?
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12. Why does Holden feel the need to escape now rather than later in life?
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CHAPTER 18
13. Who is Carl Luce?
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14. What does the Radio City experience prompt Holden
to think about?
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15. What opinions does Holden have about war?
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CHAPTER 19
16. Describe Carl Luce.
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17. Is Holden homophobic or tolerant of homosexuality? Provide evidence from the text to
prove your reasoning.
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18. Why does Luce refer to Holden as the “same old Caulfield”?
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19. What has Carl suggested Holden do before (it has something to do with what Carl’s
father does for a living)?
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CHAPTER 20
20. What strange behavior does Holden exhibit while alone at the bar? When else have we
seen him do this?
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21. Who does Holden call while heavily intoxicated? What does he ask this person?
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22. What happens to Holden’s gift for his sister?
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23. Where does Holden wind up after the Wicker Bar? What is he searching for?
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24. What does Holden admit about Allie’s funeral?
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25. Describe Holden’s thoughts about death at the end of this chapter.
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26. Where does Holden decide to go at the end of the chapter?
Who does he plan on seeing?
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CHAPTER 21
27. Describe at least one thing about Phoebe which amuses
Holden.
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28. How does Phoebe react to Holden’s broken gift? What
does she do with the pieces?
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29. How does Phoebe react to Holden being kicked out of school again?
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CHAPTER 22
30. When Phoebe asks Holden why he got kicked out of school again, what does he tell
her?
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31. Phoebe tells her brother, “You don’t like anything that’s happening.” Then, she asks
him to “name one thing” that he likes. How does Holden respond?
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32. Who is James Castle? Explain the situation Holden experienced regarding James’
death.
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33. What does Holden, ideally, wish to do? Explain the
significance of the novel’s title.
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CHAPTER 23
34. Who is Mr. Antolini and why does Holden decide to
call him?
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35. Provide at least one way in which Phoebe is similar to Holden.
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36. Holden admits, “Then, all of a sudden, I started to cry. I couldn’t help it” (179). What
makes Holden cry?
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37. What does Holden give Phoebe before leaving home?
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CHAPTER 24
38. Describe Mr. Antolini.
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39. Why did Holden fail his ‘Oral Expression’ course at
Pencey? How does this help prove Holden’s inability to
conform?
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40. Explain what Antolini means when he writes down the following advice for Holden:
“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.”
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41. How does Antolini’s advice compare to Mr. Spencer’s wisdom from earlier in the story?
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42. Describe the strange occurrence at the end of the chapter. Why does Holden say, “I
don’t even like to talk about it”?
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CHAPTER 25
43. Later, after he has had time to think about it, what does
Holden think about Antolini?
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44. Why does the article on hormones upset Holden?
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45. What strange feeling does Holden start to have when he
steps off of curbs?
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46. Why does he keep repeating, “Allie, don't let me disappear”?
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47. What does Holden decide he must do next? Where does he first go?
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48. With all the bad language that Holden uses, why was he so upset that curse words
were written on a school wall?
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49. How does Holden treat the two small boys in the museum?
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50. Why is it so important to Holden that
Phoebe not be mad at him? Relate this to
his past, and Allie.
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51. Where do Holden and Phoebe wind up
at the end of the story?
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52. What does Holden mean when he states, “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab
for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall
off, but it's bad if you say anything to them”?
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53. Of what may the carrousel be considered symbolic?
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54. Why is Holden so happy that he is “damn near bawling”?
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CHAPTER 26
55. Does Holden seem to be better off or worse off after being psychoanalyzed in
California?
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56. According to Holden, why shouldn’t we “ever tell anybody anything”?
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III. After-reading: Becoming Holden (50 points)
Directions: After reading, choose (1) of the journal prompts
below and respond in 1st person point of view as Holden. Write
in the character’s voice and mimick JD Salinger’s writing style
to the best of your ability.
Write a reaction based on…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Union High School’s cafeteria
Union High School’s bathrooms
Union High School’s assemblies
Union High School’s pep rallies
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