What is the significance of the ducks in

What is the significance of the ducks in Central Park? • They represent the vulnerable, innocent characters (Phoebe, Jane, Holden) who at risk of being harmed by events/people in the cold, cruel world. Holden’s concern for the ducks represents his own concern about growing up: is it possible for him to stay the same unique and authentic person once an adult? Or, is it inevitable that he’ll change and become cold-hearted, phone, and uninteresting?

What is the significance of the Museum of Natural History? (121) • It’s a symbol. Holden loves the exhibits at the Museum of Natural History because they never change. He wishes people/his life wouldn’t ever change (then Allie would still be alive). The fact that time stands still at the museum satisfies Holden’s desire to remain in childhood.

What is the significance of the hunting cap? • The hunting hat represents Holden’s attachment to childhood – what serious adult would where a silly hat backwards? Because of his attachment to the innocence of childhood, Holden needs to protect himself from the cruel world (just like a hat would protect your head from cold weather). We’ve observed that he puts it on when he feels vulnerable and is in pain: after fighting Stradlater, when leaving Pencey, etc. It protects him and makes him feel unique: not many 16 year olds worry about protecting children’s innocence. .

Continued • However, it also singles him out as strange, which in turn reinforces his alienation. At times, Holden realizes he needs to conform and not be so different/strange: we see he takes the hat off when he checks into the Edmont; it was okay to be himself in private, but sometimes he realizes it’s beneficial to blend in with others

Continued • Pg 180: He is leaving home and wants to protect her, so he offers her the hat. • • Pg 212: Phoebe puts the hat on his head and Holden acknowledges he’s happy and that the hat protects him. It’s a moment of self-acceptance- he’s going to be okay. He embraces who he is and is ready to go home and deal with his pain/reality. He’s moving in the right direct and sees that growing up is inevitable and, perhaps, you don’t have to completely change who you are when you grow up.

List evidence of Holden’s physical deterioration from pages 194 - 206. – Shaking “like a madman” and sweating profusely – Has a headache and sore eyes – Feels like he getting the flu – Feels like he’ll vomit – Can’t swallow – Feels like he’s disappearing again – Can’t catch his breath – Upset stomach/gastrointestinal issues – Passes out

Why does Holden want to lead a solitary life as a deaf-mute? (198 -199) • He doesn’t want to have pointless conversations with anyone anymore. Sadly, that’s how he sees talking to people. (ultimate act of self-alienation. Remember, this is after his encounter with Mr. Antolini and in the middle of his physical breakdown. )

Holden’s epiphany has two parts: • The first occurs as he’s leaving the school. What does Holden observe about the obscenities on the wall at school and at the museum? What realization does he come to? (201 -2, 204) • Holden sees “F You” written on the wall of Phoebe’s school and the museum and worries about how this exposure to an obscenity will pervert young, impressionable, innocent kids. He rubs it off but encounters another. The epiphany: he comes to realize that’s impossible to rub off all of the “F Yous. ” He CAN’T protect innocent children from the harsh realities about life.

Continued • The next occurs while at the carrousel with Phoebe. What understanding does Holden reach while watching Phoebe on the carousel? (210212) • A wonderful moment of innocence where Holden watches his little sister ride the carrousel - a perfect representation of childhood. He enjoys watching her but gets nervous as she attempts to grab the gold ring on the carrousel. He’s afraid she’ll fall.

Continued • The epiphany: He accepts that life involves risks, and you can’t keep people from getting hurt. In fact, he concludes that you HAVE to let kids grow up; it’s actually a bad thing if you try to stop them: “If they fall off, they fall off. ” • Analysis: Holden sees Phoebe is willing to risk getting hurt to get what she wants. Ultimately, he agrees to do this to. Soon after the carrousel, he puts on his hat, goes home to his parents, and checks into a hospital to deal with his pain and, hopefully, to heal.

What is the meaning of the title? • He wants to be the Catcher in the Rye: he imagines children running through a field of rye all wild and carefree. This field represents childhood. However, at the end of the field is a cliff, which represents a loss of innocence as children fall off and plunge into the harsh “real world. ” He dreams of catching innocent kids (like Phoebe and Jane) before they lose this innocence and change into adults. • Think about the carrousel scene. He ultimately realizes this is neither a realistic dream nor is it good thing- children must grow up and people must change. However, one doesn’t have to change everything about himself.

Explain the encounter with Mr. Antolini as the turning point (185 -193) • It’s the ultimate violation. Before the encounter, Mr. Antolini represented the one good adult: Holden so appreciated that Antolini covered James Castle’s body and carried him away (protecting him from the crowd) after James killed himself as a result of bullying. Antolini was a hero. When Holden thinks (we don’t really know for sure) Antolini made a sexual pass at him, it shatters him. Even this “protector of children” is perverse and threatening and not what Holden thought he was. It’s the turning point because Holden no longer has any place to go- he’s completely alone in this world.

What is the significance of Antolini’s caress? • It represents a violation of a child, and it devastates Holden. • After the caress, what is Holden’s condition at this point? • He physically deteriorates quickly • see question #4.

Contrast Holden’s attitudes toward Allie, Phoebe and D. B.

Allie • A child who will forever remain a child because he is preserved in Holden’s memory that way. • Holden loves him and finds him remarkable. He’s perfect and Holden offers NO criticism of Allie. Because he won’t continue to change, he’s perfect. Clearly, Holden creates a “lose-lose” situation: losing someone he loves is tragic yet the only way to preserve their perfect childishness- no wonder Holden is depressed.

Phoebe • A child, but a living child who will continue to grow and, thus, change. Holden doesn’t like change. • He loves her and finds her remarkable. However, she isn’t perfect. Holden has one small criticism of her: he said she gets too emotional. We can only assume (if HOLDEN doesn’t change) that as she grows/changes she will become less perfect to him.

DB • An adult, thus a disappointment • Holden thinks he’s turned into a phony sellout • D. B. has changed and adapted to the world as he grew; Holden struggles to change and adapt.

In what way does Holden seem a typical teenager and the product of his upbringing? • Feels confused about his feelings for girls • Sometimes acts immature; sometimes he’s quite mature • Sometimes he wants to do adult things (relationships with girls), but sometimes he wishes he were still a child (no serious problems/concerns)

Catcher has maintained tremendous popularity • Who hasn’t felt misunderstood at times or struggled to fit in? Most people can relate to feeling pain and struggling to cope with that pain. • Holden’s criticism of the world are accurate: people DO sometimes degrade others, take advantage of others, sacrifice their morals for profit, or act indifferent to people’s needs/pain.

Why do you love Holden, or why do hate him? • Sometimes Holden frustrates us, but his pain is understandable and arouses our sympathy. Also, his realizations about the world (shouldn’t spit water at someone you like, shouldn’t have physical relationships with people you don’t care about, shouldn’t allow fame to change you, shouldn’t disrespect others’ property, etc. ) are often profound! • Moreover, most people appreciate his compassion: he helps Ackley, he feels bad for Sunny, he wants to fight Stradlater for Jane, he gives the nuns money, he keeps Phoebe from seeing swear words. Holden may be fighting a losing battle, but his actions are noble. Then again, maybe it ISN’T a losing battle: perhaps the world simply needs more sensitive people like Holden who are willing to “fight the good fight. ”

Chapter 26: In what way is the first paragraph in this chapter similar to the first paragraph of the book? • He acknowledges he is talking to his therapist.

What is Holden sorry about? Why? • He’s sorry he told so many people about his experiences following his expulsion from Pencey because talking about him has made him miss the people who used to be in his life - even Maurice!

Do you think Holden has changed in any important way? Why or why not? • Your answers may vary. One way Holden has changed is that he is clearly more communicative with people. We observed him avoiding reality throughout the book, but the fact that he has “told so many people about it” now means he is talking about his pain/problems