The Catcher in the Rye

1. The Catcher in the Rye Chapter Questions and Discussion Points Part 2

2. What subject did Holden writeabout in “Stradlater’s” composition? • Description of Allie’s baseball glove • Poems written in green ink on Allie’s glove • Followed the assignment as Stradlater “assigned” it to Holden – descriptive composition about “. . .or something.”

3. Why didn’t Holden tear up the composition he wrote? • He DID tear it up! • He was angry about the way Stradlater put him down for the topic. • Holden was deeply invested in what he wrote because it allowed him to remember and grieve Allie’s death (Catharsis).

4. Why did Stradlater hit Holden? • Holden hit him (missed his mark) on the side of the head • Holden kept calling Stradlater a moron • Holden’s rage pushed him to attack Stradlater in reaction to Stradlater’s criticism of the composition and his treatment of Jane

5. Where did Holden decide to go? • Ackley’s room at first • To leave Pencey that night (after midnight!) • To go to New York City and to check into a cheap hotel until Wednesday so that his parents would have time to “cool off” after learning of his failure.

6. Who did Holden meet on the train, and why did he lie to her about Ernie? • Ernest Morrow’s mother • Ernie was “the biggest bastard who” ever went to Pencey • He was as “sensitive as a toilet seat” • Holden builds him up by lying about Ernie not running for class elections because he was so shy and modest and to impress Ernie’s mother • He tells her he is Rudolph Schmidt (Janitor!)

7. Who did Holden telephone when he arrived in Penn Station (NYC)? • He thought about calling a number of people but was either afraid he’s reach his parents or that the people he called would tell his parents that he had called in the early hours of the morning; he calls none of the people he thought about. • He mentions his little sister, Phoebe, for the first time!

8. Where does Holden “check-in” for the night? • After sending the cab driver toward Holden’s home address, he tells the cabby to take him to the Edmont Hotel. • He invited the cab driver to go have a drink with him, implying the level of loneliness Holden felt.

9. What symbolic act does Holden repeat when he gets to his room? • He stares out the window that offers only a view of the other side of the hotel. • He repeats how he is “very depressed.” • He doesn’t take off his coat and stares out the window at a man in another room who cross-dresses.

10. Who is Faith Cavendish? • After making up scenarios about calling a number of girls, he decides to call Faith Cavendish who was someone a Princeton student (Eddie Birdsell) had recommended for a “good time” if he was in NYC. • He calls her, but she is wise to his immaturity and turns him down to meet at that hour for a drink

11. And what is next? • Keep reading and annotating! • What do you think will happen as the story continues?