Hi, i read catcher in the rye several times, and i was assigned questions. I dont understradn them please help

Question

1. Catcher in the Rye is an account of the breakdown of a sixteen-year-old boy. Aside from Holden's emotional problems, the first few pages give you clues as to his physical state. What is his physical state? (see pages 1-5 and later 140)

2. What are some of Holden's complaints about Pencey Prep?

3. What do you think Holden's "quest" is? In which ways is it like an archetypical quest in literature?

4. Is Holden guilty of some of the things he accuses others of doing? Explain.

5. How does his history teacher and classmates aggravate Holden's need for sympathy? Why does he yell, "Sleep tight, ya morons," as he leaves Pencey prep? (p. 69)

6. What does Holden mean when he says "Mothers are slightly insane"? (p. 55)

7. What does Holden mean when he states, "I'm always saying `Glad to've met you' to somebody I'm not glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to do that stuff, though." (p. 37)

8. Who are Holden's heroes?

9. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? "The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."

10. Explain J.D. Salinger's title, The Catcher in the Rye.

11. Why is Holden expelled from Pencey Prep?

12. The motto at Pencey is that it "molds" students. Relate this to Holden.

13. List five different things that Holden does while in Midtown New York.

14. Identify the following characters and explain Holden's attitude toward each of them: Spencer, Ackley, Stradlater, Sally Hayes, Mr. Antolini.

15. Name a few of the disappointments Holden has encountered since he came to NYC.

16. Who are the people in the novel that Holden Likes? Why does he like these characters and dislike others?

17. How does Holden feel about the world in which he lives? Are his reactions to the world negative or positive? Explain.

18. Although his motives (homosexual/parental) are never clarified, Mr. Antolini's caressing Holden has an intense affect on Holden. Why is this act so devastating?

19. What is the symbolic significance of the red hunting hat?

20. Catcher can be divided into three parts. Where does each part begin?

21. Which parts of Holden are "typical teen-ager" and a product of his upbringing?

22. What is his reaction to the foul words in the museum?

23. What is going on with Holden watching Phoebe on the carousel? What new "truth" does Holden learn?

24. Does Holden belong in a sanitarium?

25. Some critics have characterized this book as a "Peter Pan Syndrome." Explain what you think a "Peter Pan Syndrome" is?

Answer 1

If you have read the book several times you should have no problem answering these questions. Especially when they refer to the pages in the book where you can find the answer.

Stop trying to get others to do your work for you.

Answer 2

It's really quite a simple book, to be honest with you. Anyway, here's what I've got for you: Salinger's style and language is entirely appropriate in every way imaginable. The book is written like the journal of a depressed, angst-ridden teenage boy. Teenage boys swear and cuss and think about sex. To have written the novel in any other way would have been entirely unrealistic. Imagine Holden saying something like, "Golly! Sometimes I sure do dislike it when people aren't friendly to eachother!" Seriously, that's the stupidest thing ever lol. The language was important because the language was how Holden felt, and The Catcher in the Rye is Holden's story.

Answer 3

Sorry, but reading that list of questions there is absolutely NO WAY you read that bok several times. Most of the questions are very straight forward and others require you to form an opinion based on the reading. You simply cannot say you do not understand all 25 questions after having read what is a very tiny little book that most kids make it through fairly unscathed. Try honesty - it's the best policy.

I will only tell you that Peter Pan Syndrome refers to people who mentallly or emotionally refuse to grow up. It refers mostly to men who have the attitude "he who dies with the most toys wins."

Otherwise, I would suggest you start reading a classic in literature for the very first time and start working on the questions. Pax - C.

Answer 4

if you got to Sparknotes.com it kind help alot, well
#2 What are some of Holden's complaints about Pencey Prep

he saids all of the students are phonies,

16. Who are the people in the novel that Holden Likes? Why does he like these characters and dislike others?
He like his sister phobie, they have a really close connection, and he thinks she is not phony, but she is real smart and they share a good connection by the end of the book where she lets him borrow some of her christmas money that she was saving and did not waist, another prove that he like her and she like him, he dislikes the other b.c they were phony to him. and some other reasons


19. What is the symbolic significance of the red hunting hat?
The red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. It is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality. The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him. At the same time, he is very self-conscious about the hat—he always mentions when he is wearing it, and he often doesn’t wear it if he is going to be around people he knows. The presence of the hat, therefore, mirrors the central conflict in the book: Holden’s need for isolation versus his need for companionship.
It is worth noting that the hat’s color, red, is the same as that of Allie’s and Phoebe’s hair. Perhaps Holden associates it with the innocence and purity he believes these characters represent and wears it as a way to connect to them. He never explicitly comments on the hat’s significance other than to mention its unusual appearance.

Answer 5

You really want us to attempt to answer 25 questions for you? How about limiting it to one or two?

#24 In the minds of his parents he definitely does need to be in some sort of facility because he is not being functional, let alone successful, in a real world environment. In a way he has become both depressive and a bit of a sociopath. He thinks the rules of life apply to everyone else except him, while he is miserably failing by living according to his own set of standards.

Answer 6

2) he thinks that everyone there is a bunch of "phonies"
10) Holden wanted to be the catcher in the rye. he wanted to catch all the little kids from falling off the edge of the cliff.


*sorry i can't rememebr more, it's been so long since i've read the book

Answer 7

I'm impressed with your nerve and optimistic attitude--that someone would actually take the 8 hours necessary to acomplish this for you.

Here's some advice--do it yourself, and then you'll understand numerous important things. Among them: what it means to be an individual rather than a clone, the effects of peer pressure, and just how much courage it takes to be an individual in a world filled with fear and confusion, and led by psychopaths. Best of luck!!

Answer 8

25. The peter pan syndrome is the "I don't want to grow up" idea.

And as for the rest of them, those aren't really too bad because if you read closely, it will tell you the answers. Many of these are context questions.

Answer 9

you lie....you did not read the book.....read it.....the first question even tells you where to get the answer.....know that you know the questions read the book looking for examples for the questions mark them for later.....the book is very short, it shouldn't take you too long...

Answer 10

Do your own homework.