English 3-CP:
You may choose either The
Catcher in the Rye by J. D.
Salinger or The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Reading Requirements
Choose ONE of the options below:
1. The Catcher in the Rye
"J.D Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, recounts the days
following his expulsion from Pencey Prep, a private school.
After a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden leaves
school two days early to explore New York before
returning home, interacting with teachers, prostitutes,
nuns, an old girlfriend, and his sister along the way. J.D.
Salinger's classic The Catcher in the Rye illustrates a
teenager's dramatic struggle against death and growing
up" (CliffNotes).
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
“Huckleberry Finn is a young boy in the 1840's, who runs
away from home, and floats down the Mississippi River. He
meets a run away slave named Jim and the two undertake a
series of adventures. As the story progresses the duo
exploit an array of episodic enterprises, while Huckleberry
slowly changes his views of racism. Along the way, Huck
and Jim meet the King and Duke, who ultimately send the
protagonists towards a different route on their journey. As
Huck begins to have a change of heart, he gradually begins
to distinguish between right and wrong, and conclusively,
Huck is faced with the moral dilemma between the world's
prejudice, of which he's grown up with, and the lessons Jim
has taught him throughout the story about the evils of
racism” (CliffNotes).
Journal Assignment:
for The Catcher in the Rye or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Directions: After reading either The Catcher in the Rye or The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, answer the following journal questions. Each journal entry must
be HAND WRITTEN. Entries should be at least a page in length each. Be sure to use
specific examples from the novel to support your answers. JOURNAL ENTRIES
WILL BE HANDED IN ON DAY #1 OF CLASS FOR A GRADE.
The Catcher in the Rye-Journal Questions
1. “Every setback is an opportunity for a comeback.” Apply this quote to Holden’s
life. Choose three events from Holden’s life that you would identify as setbacks.
These events can occur in his past or during the three days after he leaves
Pencey Prep. Explain how these events are opportunities for Holden’s
“comeback.” For each setback, provide a quote to support your choice.
2. Most people have vivid memories of certain events from their childhood or
adolescence. Choose three vivid memories from Holden’s life and explain
their relevance. The events must occur in his past. Why did he choose to
share these particular memories with his audience? What is their importance
to his life? For each memory, provide a quote to support your choice.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Journal Questions
1. Mark Twain said of Huck Finn : “it is a novel where a sound heart and a
deformed conscience come into collision and conscience suffers defeat. The
conscience – that unerring monitor—can be trained to any wild thing you
want it to approve.” In light of these comments, trace Huck’s moral
development throughout the novel. Your essay could examine Huck’s lies,
Huck’s decisions regarding Jim, Huck’s refusal to be “sivilized,” Huck’s
relationship with Jim, or the differences between individual and society. Be
sure to use at least one quotation as support.
2. Discuss the development of Jim as a character. How is he portrayed in the
opening chapters of the novel? How does his character evolve as the novel
continues. What do we learn about him? How is he ultimately a contrast to Pap?
Discuss the depiction of Jim in the closing chapters of the novel. Can you
reconcile him as both the victim of Tom Sawyer’s ridiculous “ambuscade”
and the noble soul who risks his long-sought freedom to save Tom’s life? Be
sure to use at least one quotation as support.
Study Guide Questions: You are NOT required to answer questions to
hand in on the first day of class.
However, you should read the novel you choose carefully. Utilize the
guide questions below. As in the past, you will have an objective test on
day two of class, which will count as your first grade in the course. These
questions serve as an excellent study tool for your exam.
Objective Test/follow up: Teachers will do follow up discussion and
writing on these novels at the beginning of the course, and may include
them on the semester final exam. Although both novels are considered
controversial, each is a classic American literature piece ideal for English 3
College Preparatory curriculum.
The Catcher in the Rye
Guide Question 3 – CP
Chapter 1
What does Holden tell us about his brother?
What are his feelings about his school, Pencey Prep?
What does he think of Selma Thurmer?
How had Holden ruined the day for the fencing team?
What were the two reasons for Holden’s not being at the game?
Why has Holden been kicked out of Pencey?
Chapter 2
What do Holden and Mr. Spencer discuss at his house?
How did Holden do on his Egyptian paper?
Does Holden’s opinion of Mr. Spencer go up or down during the visit? Why?
Chapter 3
Who was Ossenburger?
What kinds of books does Holden like?
What kind of person is Ackley? Be sure to mention some of his disgusting habits.
What had Holden purchased in New York City?
Who is Sally Hayes?
What sort of a person is Stradlater?
Chapter 4
How does Holden react to his discovery of the identity of Stradlater’s date?
Why does he react this way?
What does Stradlater want Holden to do for him?
Chapter 5
Why does Holden think they have steak on Saturday nights?
What is Ackley’s reaction to going to a movie?
Who was Allie and what was he like?
How did Holden react to Allie’s death?
What kind of paper does Holden write for Stradlater?
Why does Holden feel sorry for guys like Ackley?
Chapter 6
What is Stradlater’s reaction to the composition?
What does Holden do with it?
Why does Holden smoke in the room?
Why does Holden punch at Stradlater?
Why does Stradlater really beat up on Holden?
Chapter 7
Why won’t Ackley let Holden sleep in his room?
What is Ackley’s reaction to the question on getting into a monastery?
What decision does Holden make at this point?
Why does Holden get sad at getting presents?
What is Holden’s money situation?
Why is Holden crying when he leaves Pencey?
Chapter 8
What does he usually do when riding trains?
What lies does Holden tell Mrs. Morrow on the train?
Chapter 9
Who does he plan to call?
What question does Holden ask the cab driver?
What is one of the guys in the hotel doing?
What kind of conversation does he have when he calls Faith Cavendish?
Chapter 10
What is one thing Holden does not like to do?
What does he think of Phoebe?
Why doesn’t he call Phoebe?
Describe the three girls at the table.
Who are the best dancers according to Holden?
Why does he think the girl is a moron?
Why does he say that he is twelve?
Why is Holden sorry he kidded the girl?
Who is Hazel (Hazle) Weatherfield?
Chapter 11
Are Holden’s memories of Jane good or bad? Why?
Why does he say the “girls I like best are the ones I never feel much like kidding?”
What circumstances brought about Holden’s getting close to Jane one night?
What are his theories on holding hands?
Who is Ernie?
Chapter 12
What kind of a discussion does Holden have with the cab driver?
How does Ernie play the piano?
Who does Holden feel are phonies at Ernie’s bar?
Holden thinks about “giving people a buzz.” Why does he think about calling people
so often but so seldom makes a call?
Chapter 13
Why does Holden walk home? What is he wearing?
What would happen if his gloves were stolen?
Who was Raymond Goldfarb?
What does Maurice set up on the elevator?
How does Holden feel when he is talking to Sunny?
Who is Jim Steele?
How is he able to get rid of Sunny?
What is Holden’s response to Sunny’s going to the movies?
Chapter 14
What does the Bobby Fallon story remind him of?
Is Holden religious? Explain. Why doesn’t Holden like ministers?
Why do Maurice and Sunny come to the room?
After Maurice slugs him, what does Holden fantasize?
Why does Holden feel the movies can ruin you?
Chapter 15
What telephone conversation does he have with Sally?
What are his plans for the evening?
What does he tell you about his father and mother?
Why is it hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs?
How does Holden feel about the two nuns? What does he give them?
What do they discuss about Romeo and Juliet?
Recount the incident with Louis Shaney.
What dumb thing did he do just as the nuns left?
Why does money end up making you blue?
Chapter 16
Why can’t Holden stop thinking about the two nuns?
Why is he sad they don’t get anywhere swanky for lunch?
What does he want to buy Phoebe?
What song is the boy in the park singing?
Where does he feel the people in the park are going?
Who does he want to call?
Why does Holden hate actors?
Why does Holden like the roller skating girl?
What memories does he have of the museum?
What is the best thing about the museum? What does he put on?
Why doesn’t Holden go in the museum?
Chapter 17
Who does Holden think most of the girls will marry?
Who was Harry Macklin?
Why isn’t it so bad that the girls will marry bores?
What is Holden’s opinion of Sally? Why isn’t he mad that she is late?
What does Holden think of the people in the lobby?
Who does Sally talk to at the play?
Why did Sally get excited about going ice-skating?
What does Holden suggest they do? Why does he make that suggestion?
What is Sally’s reaction? Why does he then talk crude to Sally?
Chapter 18
What does he remember about Jane?
What does Holden conclude about girls’ opinions about guys and whether or not
they have inferiority complexes or are conceited?
Who does he decide to call?
What is the best part of the performance before the movie?
What was the movie about?
What is phony about the mother watching the movie?
What was D.B.’s opinion of the war?
Why doesn’t Holden like A Farewell to Arms?
Is it ironic he would like The Great Gatsby?
Chapter 19
Describe the people in the bar.
What is Luce’s favorite subject?
What kind of advice does Luce give Holden?
Chapter 20
Why does Holden say “people never give your message to anybody?”
Who does he call?
How is Holden a phony in this chapter?
Who is finally nice to him?
What does he go looking for in the park?
What does he say about visiting Allie’s grave?
How much money does Holden have left? What does he do with the change?
Where does he decide to go?
Chapter 21
What luck does Holden have concerning the elevator?
Why does he remove his hat?
What story does he tell the elevator operator?
Where does Phoebe sleep? How does Holden feel seeing her sleep?
What do you learn about Holden’s mother in this chapter?
Why does he look at Phoebe’s notebooks?
What questions does Holden keep repeating to Phoebe?
Chapter 22
What does Holden say his dad will do to him?
Why did he leave school? How were even the nice teachers phonies?
What was the returning alum looking for on the floor of his dorm?
What does Phoebe tell him that he finds upsetting?
What happened to James Castle?
What else does Holden tell Phoebe he likes?
Explain one thing Holden says he’d like to be.
Who does Holden plan to call?
Chapter 23
What does Holden remember best about Mr. Antolini?
When the radio is on, what do Holden and Phoebe do?
Why does Holden leave so quickly?
What do he and Phoebe give each other?
Chapter 24
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Antolini.
What does Mr. Antolini think of D.B.?
What irritates Holden about Mr. Antolini?
Who was Richard Kinsella?
What does Mr. Antolini predict lies ahead for Holden?
State the quotation Mr. Antolini shows Holden.
What does Holden try no to do while Mr. Antolini is talking?
Why does Holden leave the apartment?
Chapter 25
What does Holden worry about after he wakes up later in Grand Central Station?
How are the men talking as they lift the Christmas tree?
Who does Holden keep looking for?
What does Holden find “spooky” when he is walking down Fifth Avenue?
What is Holden’s latest “escape” plan?
What does he leave at the school?
How does Holden react to the obscenities he sees on the wall?
What does he do for the kids at the museum?
What happens to him in the bathroom?
What does Holden fantasize about leaving?
Why is Phoebe lugging a suitcase with her?
How does she act toward him when he says he won’t take her with him?
At the carousel, how do Holden and Phoebe show that they really love each other?
What did Phoebe return to him?
Chapter 26
What happened to Holden after the ride in the carousel?
Where is Holden now? What are his chances for “making it” in the world?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Guide Questions 3 - CP
Chapter 1
1. With whom was Huck living at the beginning of the book? What relation is
Miss Watson to the Widow Douglas?
2. What point of view is the story written in? Who is the narrator of the book?
3. Who takes care of Huck and Tom's money?
4. Who was waiting for Huck Finn after midnight?
5. How did Huck become wealthy and how much money does he have?
6. Is Huck superstitious? Explain how you know this using a specific example
from the novel as support.
Chapter 2
1. Who is Jim? To whom did he belong?
2. Who did Jim say gave him the 'five-center piece' he wore around his neck?
3. What trick does Tom play on Jim? What does this say about Tom?
4. What was the "line of business" of the gang?
5. Who was elected the First and Second Captain of 'Tom Sawyer's Gang?'
Chapter 3
1. How does Huck feel about prayer?
2. What kind of father was Pap Finn? Explain and be specific.
Chapter 4
1. How does Huck know he will have a bad day?
2. What does Huck do with his property? Why?
3. Who does Huck go to in order to ask about his future?
4. What is Huck’s fortune and how is it able to be foretold? Be specific and explain.
5. Who is sitting in Huck’s room when he gets home?
Chapter 5
1. What does Pap look like? Be specific.
2. Why is Pap upset with Huck?
3. What does Pap want from Huck? Can Huck give it to him?
4. What is the new judge’s decision about Huck?
5. Is Pap a reformed man? Use a direct quote to support your answer.
Chapter 6
1. Where does Pap take Huck?
2. Does Huck like living with Pap? Why or why not?
3. Does Huck want to be civilized? Explain.
4. What does Pap complain about?
5. What happens after Pap gets drunk?
Chapter 7
1. What does Huck find?
2. How does Huck escape? Where does Huck go?
Chapter 8
1. Why was the ferryboat firing the cannon?
2. How long is Jackson Island? Who else is on the island? Why?
3. What did Huck find that made his "heart jump up amongst his lungs?"
4. Why was Jim afraid of Huck?
5. Why didn't Huck believe that bees didn't sting idiots?
Chapter 9
1. Where do Huck and Jim find shelter?
2. What are some of the things they find that are useful?
3. What did Jim say that the little birds said? Were they right?
Chapter 10
1. What did Huck and Jim find sewed up in the lining of an old blanket overcoat?
2. What prank does Huck pull on Jim? What happens to Jim because of this prank?
Explain and be specific. What does Jim tell Huck to do to help cure him?
3. Why does Huck think that the snake bit Jim?
4. Describe the fish Huck and Jim caught for dinner. What did they find in the
stomach of the catfish?
Chapter 11
1. Who is Sarah Williams? Where is she from? Why has she come here?
2. Whose cabin does Sarah wonder into? What does she tell him Sarah about the
“murder”?
3. Who is suspected of “killing” Huck? What is their reward?
4. How does the lady know Sarah is lying about who “she” is? How does Huck
cover his true identity up? Be specific.
5. What does Huck do with the information he receives?
Chapter 12
1. What do Jim and Huck do to modify the raft?
2. What do they see on the river? How do Huck and Jim’s opinions differ?
3. What does Huck witness?
4. What happens to the raft?
Chapter 13
1. How do Huck and Jim get off the steamboat?
2. What do Huck and Jim find?
3. What story does Huck tell the watchman? Why?
4. What happens to the crashed steamboat? How does Huck feel about this?
Chapter 14
1. Jim and Huck argue about King Solomon. Who is King Solomon?
2. What are Jim and Huck’s differing opinions?
3. Jim and Huck also argue about languages. What is each of their positions on language?
Chapter 15
1. What is the weather like? Why is this problematic?
2. What lie does Huck tell Jim?
3. What happens after Jim realizes that Huck lied to him?
Chapter 16
1. As Huck and Jim get closer to Cairo, Huck starts to think. What is his problem?
2. What does Jim say he will do when he is free?
3. Why won’t the two men help Huck?
4. What is the conflict of Huck’s conscience?
5. What happens to the raft?
Chapter 17
1. Who does Huck stay with?
2. Who do they dislike?
3. Who is Buck?
4. Who is Emmeline Grangerford?
5. What did she do that Huck finds interesting?
Chapter 18
1. What is Col. Grangerford like?
2. How would you describe the Grangerfords?
3. What is a feud?
4. What does Miss Sophia ask Huck to do for her?
5. What has Jim been doing while Huck lived with the Grangerfords?
6. What happened to Miss Sophia? What happens to the Grangerfords because of this?
Chapter 19
1. What is life like on the raft?
2. Who do Jim and Huck meet? How and why?
3. What are these men like? Does Huck believe them?
Chapter 20
1. How does Huck explain Jim to the men?
2. Where are the townspeople?
3. What does the King do involving the townspeople?
4. What is the result of this?
5. What does the Duke do to protect Jim and allow daytime travel?
Chapter 21
1. Why do Huck, the King, and the Duke go into town?
2. What does the Duke recite? What is this called (type of figurative language)?
3. Who is Boggs? Sherburn? What does Sherburn do to upset the townspeople?
4. Explain why Boggs is so upset at Col. Sherburn, enough that he wants to kill him.
5. Explain why it is so unjustified that Co. Sherburn kills Boggs.
Chapter 22
1. What does Sherburn say to the mob? How do they react?
2. What trick is played at the circus?
3. What statement does the Duke put on the sign to draw a crowd to the show?
Chapter 23
1. Is the statement successful in drawing a crowd?
2. What is ironic about the outcome of the show?
3. What happens on the third night of the show?
4. What is Jim’s opinion of the King and Duke?
5. What story does Jim tell about his daughter?
Chapter 24
1. What is the Duke’s solution to leaving Jim tied up on the raft?
2. Who are the King and Duke pretending to be? Why?
Chapter 25
1. Are they successful in their deception of the townspeople?
2. What is wrong with the sack of money? How do the King and Duke react and
what is their solution to this problem?
3. What do they decide to do with the money? Who does not believe them?
4. What does Mary Jane do with the money?
Chapter 26
1. Why does Huck begin to feel bad for deceiving the sisters?
2. What does Huck decide to do?
3. What is the King and Duke’s plan?
Chapter 27
1. Where does the money end up? Is it discovered?
2. What does Huck tell the King he saw? What is the result of this?
Chapter 28
1. What out-of-character thing does Huck do?
2. Why must Mary Jane leave?
3. Explain the memory that causes Huck's eyes to "water a little."
4. Explain which biblical character Huck likens himself to when he tells us that
Mary Jane prays for him.
Chapter 29
1. How does the lawyer attempt to determine who the real brothers are?
2. How does the real brother try to expose the frauds? Is he successful?
Chapter 30
1. Is Huck able to escape the King and Duke? Explain.
2. What happens between the King and Duke?
Chapter 31
1. How is business for the two scammers?
2. What do Huck and Jim decide to do?
3. What goes wrong with their plan?
4. Huck has two choices. What are they and what does he decide to do?
Chapter 32
1. Where does Huck go?
2. Who does he pretend to be?
3. Explain whom Aunt Sally mistakes Huck for.
4. Explain Aunt Sally's response to Huck's telling her that a "nigger" was killed
on the boat.
5. Explain what Twain is trying to show that is so appalling about Aunt Sally's response.
Chapter 33
1. Who does Huck meet on the road?
2. Who does Tom pretend to be?
3. What happens to the King and Duke? How does Huck feel about this?
Chapter 34
1. Where is Jim being held?
2. What is Tom’s plan for freeing Jim?
Chapter 35
3. What is “escaping properly”? What do you think about this?
4. Explain how Jim is supposed to keep a journal. (What is his paper and what is his ink?)
Chapter 36
1. Explain why Tom gives up his first (37-year) plan to free Jim so easily.
2. Explain why Uncle Silas visits Jim in the shed every day or two.
3. Although Jim doesn't see the sense in Tom's plan, explain why he'll go along
with it.
Chapter 37
1. How do Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas explain the missing items?
2. What do Tom and Huck do to antagonize Aunt Sally?
Chapter 38
1. What else does Jim need to properly escape?
2. What do Tom and Huck steal?
3. What dos Tom think will give Jim glory?
4. How would you describe Tom’s personality?
Chapter 39
1. What do Tom and Huck collect to put in Jim’s shack?
2. What does Tom write? Why?
3. How do the boys’ actions affect the family?
Chapter 40
1. What is the result of the letters?
2. How do Huck, Tom, and Jim escape?
3. What happens to Tom?
Chapter 41
1. Who does Huck accidentally run into? What does he tell him?
2. What is the scene at the house? How does Aunt Sally react to Huck?
3. How does Huck feel about Aunt Sally?
Chapter 42
1. Who shows up at the house?
2. What does the doctor think of Jim?
3. What surprise does Tom reveal?
4. Who shows up to reveal the boys’ true identities?
Chapter 43
1. What happens to Jim? Explain the prediction that has come true for Jim.
2. What does Tom give Jim and why?
3. Explain Tom’s future plans for Jim.
4. What happened to Pap Finn?
5. What will happen to Huck? Explain and be specific.