Catcher Packet with Discussion Questions

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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
Family
Innocence
Treatment of Women
Maturation
Individual vs. Society
Values
Examples
Explanation
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.
Chapters 4-7 Discussion Questions
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?
Chapters 10-14 Discussion Questions
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?
Chapters 15-20 Discussion Questions
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?
Chapters 21-24 Discussion Questions
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?
Chapters 25-26 Discussion Questions
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
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