Questions...
Section 1 | Pages 1-52
1. What does Holden Caulfield's memory of the baseball glove reveal about him?
2. What does the grammatical structure of Holden's writing reveal about him? (through thought processes/personality) Why not?
3. What do we know of the time period of this novel?
4. How do you think Holden is being perceived in the eyes of the other boys?
Section 2 | Pages 53-104
5. What would you do if you were in Holden's situation? Would you go home? Would you have survived in busy New York City in the middle of a harsh winter?
6. What does Phoebe mean for Holden? Why do you think Holden likes her so much? What kind of relationship do you think they share?
7. Why do you think Holden is so persistent over Jane? Do you think he likes her or do you think it's just plain jealousy? What does Jane mean for Holden?
8. Holden often has moments of extreme imagination, for example, on Page 104, Holden imagines himself "...holding onto my guts, blood leaking all over the place-" (Salinger 104). What do you think is the purpose of these imaginations? What do these extreme exaggerations reveal about Holden and his personality?
Section 3 | Pages 105-156
9. Do you think Caulfield suffers from Bipolar or Depression or is he just going through a teen phase?
10. Based on Caulfield's description of women, what can you infer about the image of women in this time period's society?
11. What does sex mean for Caulfield? Is he really ready for it? Does he get along well with others intimately?
12. Holden often points out phoniness and talks about his hate for them. However, are there times where you feel like Holden himself is phony and hypocritical?
Section 4 | Pages 157-214
13. On Page 157, Holden claims "All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to." What is your viewpoint over Holden's claims? Do you agree?
14. Based on Holden's description, what kind of parenting style do Holden's parents use? Are they permissive, authoritarian, authoritative?
15. What does Holden's view of his sister, Phoebe show concerning his abilities as a brother?
16. What does Holden and Phoebe's reminiscence over Allie reveal about their sibling relationships? Has Phoebe and Holden ever gotten over Allie's death? What is Phoebe and Holden's relationship with D.B.?
Section 5 | Overall Questions
17. What do you think about Holden's personality? Do teens these days share the same negativity?
18. What do you think is the overall theme of the story? What made this book become the American Classic that it is today? What is the message behind this novel?
19. How much can you trust Holden's description of his wandering in New York? Do you think his descriptions are accurate or do you think the actual events are misleaded by his exaggerations and negative world view?
20. How has (or hasn't) Holden changed throughout the novel? Has this wandering through New York changed his personality and character?
1. What does Holden Caulfield's memory of the baseball glove reveal about him?
2. What does the grammatical structure of Holden's writing reveal about him? (through thought processes/personality) Why not?
3. What do we know of the time period of this novel?
4. How do you think Holden is being perceived in the eyes of the other boys?
Section 2 | Pages 53-104
5. What would you do if you were in Holden's situation? Would you go home? Would you have survived in busy New York City in the middle of a harsh winter?
6. What does Phoebe mean for Holden? Why do you think Holden likes her so much? What kind of relationship do you think they share?
7. Why do you think Holden is so persistent over Jane? Do you think he likes her or do you think it's just plain jealousy? What does Jane mean for Holden?
8. Holden often has moments of extreme imagination, for example, on Page 104, Holden imagines himself "...holding onto my guts, blood leaking all over the place-" (Salinger 104). What do you think is the purpose of these imaginations? What do these extreme exaggerations reveal about Holden and his personality?
Section 3 | Pages 105-156
9. Do you think Caulfield suffers from Bipolar or Depression or is he just going through a teen phase?
10. Based on Caulfield's description of women, what can you infer about the image of women in this time period's society?
11. What does sex mean for Caulfield? Is he really ready for it? Does he get along well with others intimately?
12. Holden often points out phoniness and talks about his hate for them. However, are there times where you feel like Holden himself is phony and hypocritical?
Section 4 | Pages 157-214
13. On Page 157, Holden claims "All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to." What is your viewpoint over Holden's claims? Do you agree?
14. Based on Holden's description, what kind of parenting style do Holden's parents use? Are they permissive, authoritarian, authoritative?
15. What does Holden's view of his sister, Phoebe show concerning his abilities as a brother?
16. What does Holden and Phoebe's reminiscence over Allie reveal about their sibling relationships? Has Phoebe and Holden ever gotten over Allie's death? What is Phoebe and Holden's relationship with D.B.?
Section 5 | Overall Questions
17. What do you think about Holden's personality? Do teens these days share the same negativity?
18. What do you think is the overall theme of the story? What made this book become the American Classic that it is today? What is the message behind this novel?
19. How much can you trust Holden's description of his wandering in New York? Do you think his descriptions are accurate or do you think the actual events are misleaded by his exaggerations and negative world view?
20. How has (or hasn't) Holden changed throughout the novel? Has this wandering through New York changed his personality and character?