The Catcher in the Rye ch 7-13
Read 7-13, Catcher in the Rye
Topics
- Aimlessness, avoiding responsibility
- Looking desperately for a distraction (phone calls, dancing with girls, drinking)
- Sour grapes everywhere (nothing around him is good enough)
- "He's so good it's almost corny. I don't know what I mean by that, but I mean it."
- Watching people through the window
- He's able to see the bad in everyone, but he himself has similar problems that he doesn't see. He's "one of those guys who always sees the worst, you know?" What bad he does see in himself he uses almost as an excuse, or maybe even a badge of honor.
- Everyone around me is better than me, so I'm just going to do what I want because it doesn't matter
So far, the whole story is about how Holden is trying to eke out the last little bit of freedom before he goes back to his parents' and faces the consequences of getting kicked out of Pencey. It feels like a kind of "what would you do if the world was ending tomorrow?" scenario, but all of his plans fall apart because of poor execution, or because he's got such a negative attitude.
The Book Report Essay
We have an essay coming up, so it's time to start thinking about topics and making notes for it. Here are a few possible essay questions:
- Think about Holden’s vision of the nature of childhood and adulthood. Are the two realms as separate as Holden believes them to be? Where does he fit in?
- The novel is structured around Holden’s encounters and interactions with other people. Does any pattern seem to emerge, or does anything change in his interactions as the novel progresses? How do Holden’s encounters with adults, children, women, and his peers evolve as the novel progresses?
- Throughout the book, Holden longs for intimacy with other human beings. Discuss the different types of relationships Holden attempts and the different types of intimacy in the book. What is the role of sexuality in The Catcher in the Rye? How do Holden’s sexual relationships differ from his nonsexual encounters? 4. The most ambiguous encounter in the book is Holden’s night at Mr. Antolini’s apartment. What do you make of Mr. Antolini’s actions? Was he making a pass at Holden? What is the significance of his actions, and how do they relate to his role as someone trying to prevent Holden from “taking a fall”?
- Holden often behaves like a prophet or a saint, pointing out the phoniness and wickedness in the world around him. Is Holden as perfect as he wants to be? Are there instances where he is phony and full of hypocrisy? What do these moments reveal about his character and his psychological problems?
- How has the interaction between Holden and the rest of the characters evolved throughout the story?
- How are the themes of self-understanding and growth portrayed in the book?
- Why is Stradlater obliged to comply with all rules?
- What religious beliefs are genuine, according to Holden’s thoughts?
- Why is Holden obsessed with phoniness and loneliness?
- How could one instance affect an entire novel as seen in ‘Catcher in the rye’?
- Which cultural and social challenges mentioned are relevant in the modern world?
- What things could be the death of Holden in his opinion?
- How fair is Holden’s judgment of his community?
- How does Holden’s past affect his connection with others?