Chapter+Questions+5-9

// Reading Assignment #2 // // The Catcher in the Rye // : Chap. 5-9 (35-66). Whenever possible, note down a page number as reference.

1. What did Holden write Stradlater's composition about? Holden wrote Stradlater's composition about his brother Allie left handed baseball mitt. His brother Allie had died on July 18, 1946 from Leukemia. 2. Why did Holden tear up the composition he had written for Stradlater? Holden tore the composition he had written for Stradlater because he was supposed to write about a room or a house instead he had written it about his brothers left handed baseball mitt. And stradlater started getting mad and saying "no wonder you're flunking the hell out of here," or "you dont do ne dame thing the way your supposed to." 3. Why did Stradlater hit Holden? Stradlater hit holden because, Holden started asking him questions such about Jane but Stradlater didn't answer him so Holden punched Stradlater and called him a moron. Which caused him to punch him. 4. Where did Holden decide to go? Holden decided to go to New York and stay in an expensive hotel with the money his grandma had given him. 5. Holden mentions reading magazines on p. 53. Why doesn’t he like magazines? Holden does not like magazines because he thinks the stories that are told inside it. He thinks they talk about phony people. 6. Who did Holden meet on his train ride? Why did Holden lie to her about Ernie? Holden meats Ernie's mom, he lies to her so he can make her feel good about her son even though her son seems to be annoying to Holden.

Part II. Answer the following questions, based on the passage below. 1. Describe the tone of the passage below from pages 36-37 and what does it tell us about Holden? The tone of the passage is quite and peaceful. There are no fights. It sounds like one of those December cozy nights. It tells us that he's caring and he doesn't trust people. 2. Underline all the references to snow. What mood do they create? They create this winter depressing mood.

3. Explain why you think Holden doesn’t throw the snowball? Holden wasn't the kind of guy that didn't respect other things or people's properties. He cared about them. Also, he didn't want to ruin the perfectly white shaped car and hydrant.

It took him [Ackley] about five hours to get ready. While he was doing it, I went over to my window and opened it and packed a __snowball__ with my bare hands. The __snow__ was very good for packing. I didn’t throw it at anything, though. I //started// to throw it. At a car that was parked across the street. But I changed my mind. The car looked so nice and __white__. Then I started to throw it at a hydrant, but that looked too nice and __white__, too. Finally I didn’t throw it at anything. All I did was close the window and walk around the room with the __snowball__, __packing it harder__. A little while later, I still had it with me when I and Brossard and Ackley got on the bus. The bus driver opened the doors and made me throw it out. I wasn’t going to __chuck it at__ anybody, but he wouldn’t believe me. People never believe you.

4. On page 60 Holden asks the cab driver about the ducks. He says, “You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it’s all frozen over?” (60) 5. Why is Holden concerned about where the ducks go? What does it tell you about Holden? Holden is not concerned about the ducks he is just trying to lighten the mood and get of the topic that he gave the driver the wrong address and that he has a long way back. This demonstraits that holden is a clever person for trying to get the man of the topic.

6. What do the two passages above tell you about Holden? The two passages suggest that holden has both a good and bad side because he wanted to throw the snow ball but then he thought for a minute and chose not it it is as if he has two people inside him a good person and a bad one. 7. How does the following quote at the beginning of chapter nine point to Holden’s need to connect with others, but his inability or unwillingness to do so? Holden wanted to call and communicate with someone but when he thought about it further he stopped himself by not wanting to tell his parents that he was kicked out of Pency so he couldn't call his sister. The first thing I did when I got off at Penn Station, I went into this phone booth. I felt like giving somebody a buzz […] but as soon as I was inside, I couldn't think of anybody to call up. My brother D.B. was in Hollywood. My kid sister Phoebe […] was out. Then I thought of giving Jane Gallagher's mother a buzz […]. Then I thought of calling this girl […] Sally Hayes. […] I thought of calling […] Carl Luce. […] So I ended up not calling anybody. I came out of the booth, after about twenty minutes or so.

8. Find another example of Holden’s need to connect, but his inability or unwillingness to do so. "Then I started reading this timetable i had in my pocket. Just stop lying. Once i get started, I can go on for hours if i felt like it. No kidding. Hours. We didnt talk to much after that..." (58) 9. What are Holden’s views on religion? After Holden's fight with Stradlater, he lay down on Ely's bed and was thinking about joining a Monastery. He asked Ackley about joining a Monastery, but of course you have to be a catholic. He decided not to join, and said, "I'd probably be with all the wrong kind of monks. All bastards. Or just bastards." (50) 10. What are Holden’s views on sex? Holden enjoys having sexual intercourse, but he's protective about it. When Stradlater and Holden went out on a double-date, Holden felt uncomfortable and embarrassed when Stradlater was having "the time" in the back seat. Also when Stradlater arrived to the room after the date with Jane, Holden asked him if he had "the time" with her; it eventually became a fight between Stradlater and Holden. (42) 11. Write a letter Holden. You could give him advice, castigate or encourage him, or anything else as long as your writing speaks to him. Dear Holden, You need to change your way of thinking. Your pessimism will lead you to dark places. It will lead you to a lonely life. You should be more optimistic. You can criticize someone, but not in such an evil and dark manor. You can criticize someone's personality and habits, but don't keep it to yourself. If you communicate with the people you have problems with they would probably be more understanding, and change their ways.

From Roni Nael Iskandarani P.S.: HOLDEN, I AM YOUR FATHER.