The Catcher in the Rye (Chapters 1 - 12)

Who is the narrator of the novel?

Holden Caulfield

About what does he promise to tell the reader

Those "mad man" times around Christmas of last year

Who is D. B.?

Holden's older brother who is a writer

Why does the narrator call D.B. a "prostitute"?

He is writing for the movies in Hollywood

What is Pencey Prep?

A private boys' school

Why is the narrator leaving Pencey?

Holden is flunking all of his subjects except English.

Why isn't the narrator in NYC with the fencing team?

The meet was canceled because Holden left the equipment on the subway and it was lost or stolen.

What does the narrator need to leave somewhere (like a school)

Some kind of memory about the place

What "good bye" does the narrator come up with for Pencey?

A snowball fight in front of a building.

Who is Mr. Spencer

Holden's history teacher

Why does Holden visit Mr. Spencer?

Spencer sent him a note asking Holden to drop by before he left.

How does Holden describe himself? (physically)

He's 6'2", and has gray hair on the right side of his head, can't make a fist with his right hand, has a crewcut.

How does Holden describe himself? (traits and habits)

A great liar, can talk about something and think of another, a heavy smoker.

Why does Mr. Spencer read the essay about the Egyptians?

He wants to show Holden why he failed history, and even Holden can tell Spencer feels bad about it.

How does Holden react to hearing the history paper read?

He's angry and calls it a "dirty trick" - he knows why a bad essay it was/

What (according to Holden) makes life a "game that one plays by the rules"?

If you get on the side where all the good players are on - and a good chance of winning.

What are Whooton and Elkton Hills?

Schools that Holden went to and then left.

Why does Holden say he left Elkton Hills?

He was surrounded by phonies, and the biggest one was Mr. Haas, the headmaster

What did Holden buy in NYC after the subway incident?

A red hunting hat

Three authors that Holden likes

Ring Lardner, Thomas Hardy, Isak Dinesen

Who is Ackley?

A boy who rooms next to Holden.

Describe Ackley.

Green mossy teeth, a bad complexion, annoying.

Does the narrator seem to like Ackley?

He's annoyed by him, but he puts up with him, and feels sorry for him.

Who is Stradlater?

Holden's roommate. He's as tall as Holden, athletic, "yearbook handsome", and has a reputation as a ladies man.

What favors does Stradlater ask of the narrator?

He asks to wear Holden's houndstooth jacket. He wants him to write a descriptive essay for him, but not so well-written that it isn't probable that Stradlater wrote it.

Who is Stradlater's Date?

Jane Gallagher

Why does Holden call Stradlater "a secret slob"?

He looks good on the outside, but he doesn't take care of his things - his razor is dirty, but he shaves twice to look good.

How does Holden happen to know Jane?

His family lived near to her's a summer, and they hung out and played checkers.

How does he feel about Stradlater dating her?

He's worried about it - because he's double dated with Stradlater before.

Where does Holden go on Saturday night?

He, a friend and Ackley go into town to see a movie, but end up eating and going back to the school. He spends most of the night talking to Ackley.

What topic does Holden choose for the composition he's writing for Stradlater?

He describes his little brother's baseball glove, that his brother wrote poems he liked on, so he would have something to read while he was playing outfield.

Who was Allie? What sort of person was he?

He was Holden's little red-headed brother who was "the nicest" in their family.

When did Allie die and why?

July 18, 1946; he had leukemia

What old was Holden and what did he do when Allie died?

Holden was 13, and he punched out all of the windows in his garage.

What were the consequences of Holden's reaction to Allie's death?`

He can't make a fist with his right hand.

Why is Holden worrying when Stradlater returns from his date with Jane?

He remembers a double-date he had with him and how Stradlater tried to "snow" his date into having sex with him.

Why doesn't Stradlater like the composition Holden wroter

He says its subject is wrong, and criticizes it.

How does Holden react to Stradlater's criticism of the composition?

He tears it up and throws it away.

Why does Holden attempt to punch Stradlater? What happens?

Holden's asks him about his date with Jane, and Stradlater smiles and implies he at least made out with Jane. Stradlater easily over powers Holden.

Why does Holden go to Ackley's room after the fight?

"Just to see what the hell he was doing" - Holden doesn't want to interact with Stradlater.

Why does Holden call Ackley a "prince, . . .gentleman . . . and a scholar"?

Holden has asked him for a small favor - and Ackley won't grant it - IRONY.

Why does Holden decide to leave Pencey in the middle of the night, days earlier than he had planned?

It was an impulsive decision - he decided it was too sad and lonely there.

What does Holden plan to do after he leaves Pencey, and before he goes home?

He decides to go to NYC, rent a cheap hotel room and take it easy until Wednesday night - after his parents have had a chance to get the letter from Pencey and "thoroughly digest it."

Who sits next to Holden on the train to NYC and what lies does Holden tell her?

Mrs. Morrow, an attractive mother of a boy who goes to Pencey. He tells her that her son is extremely popular, and so modest he refused to run for class president.

How does Holden explain to Mrs. Morrow why he isn't in school?

He tells her he has a small tumor in his brain and he needs an operation on it.

Who does Holden "think" of calling from Penn Station when he arrives?

D.B., Phoebe, Jane Gallagher, Sally Hayes, Carl Luce

What does Holden ask the cab driver about the ducks in Central Park?

Where they go in the winter.

What does Holden see from the window of his hotel room?

a transvestite, a couple taking drinks and spitting them on each other.

What is the "sex rule" Holden has made for himself? Why does he break it?

Not to get "sexy" with girls who give him a pain. He says he's confused about sex - caught between respecting girls and doing crummy stuff with them.

Who is "Miss. Faith Cavendish"? Why doesn't Holden meet with her?

He got her name and number from a Princeton guy who him she "didn't mind doing it". He wants to meet with her now - and she 'can't'.

What does Holden like about his sister Phoebe?

She has sense, she's pretty and smart.

What does Holden order to drink at the Lavender Room? Why does he end up drinking Coke instead?

a scotch and soda, but the waiter asks him for ID.

While Holden thinks the three out-of town girls are "strictly from hunger" and "dopey", what do they manage to do to him?

He gets stuck paying for their drinks.

What do we learn about Jane Gallagher in chapter 11

There's a strong suggestion that Jane's stepfather molested her, and that Holden was in love with her.

How is Jane different from most of the girls Holden knows?

He likes her, she's sensitive, she doesn't care if his hands are sweaty, she's a reader, and he told her about Allie's glove.