Catcher in the Rye Study Guide
Part I: Vocabulary You need to be able to recognize the definition and part of speech of each of the following words.
There will be a word bank, but you will need to be able to match the word to its definition, and select the best answer to
fill in a sentence.
Monotonous
Rite of Passage
Naïve
Compulsory
Raspy
Sacrilegious
reciprocal
Digress
illiterate
unscrupulous
chiffonier
Hound’s tooth
Foil
grippe
Bildungsroman pacifist
Gladstone
Incognito
cynical
sadist
innumerable
halitosis
fiend
rile
falsetto grope
rostrum
qualm
conscientious
burlesque
sterling
Blasé
nauseate
clique
ostracize
hemorrhage
furlough
flit
aristocratic
inane
psychoanalysis provocative
harrowing
stenographer
boisterous
foyer
intellectual
pedagogical
repulsive
Part 2: Background This information will draw from your notes at the start of the unit, the articles you read, and the
documentary on JD Salinger
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JD Salinger’s life, writing style, childhood and adulthood (prep schools, relationships with his family, serving in
the army and the effects of it)
Parallels drawn between JD Salinger and Holden Caulfield, as well as distinctions between the two
Historical context- state of America, current events, political/social/economic climate
Refer to notes from the videos from the 50’s for context
Part 3: Comprehension and Analysis You will need to draw from the following information to prepare for the
comprehension and analysis section:
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Symbolism, what are the symbols in Catcher, what effect to they have on the novel
Narrative style-stream of consciousness and use of colloquialism
Reliability of narrator
Hyperbole- what is it, how does Holden use it, what’s the effect
Characterization- what is it, how is it revealed through a character’s actions, words, interactions, thoughts, etc.
Persona- definition, parallels to Holden and JD Salinger
Imagery- definition, presence in the text, purpose in the novel
Review all discussion questions done for homework or discussed in class- many questions draw from these!
Title of the book, where it comes from
Thematic elements in Catcher, motifs
Characters: identify each of the characters from the novel and the role the play/their connection or interaction
to Holden
Locations- know the locations that Holden goes to in New York, the people he meets at those locations, where
he goes to school, distinct stories/connections to each school
Basic plot elements- the journey Holden takes, the order of events, significant moments in his life
Review all notes and discussion questions from each chapter
PTSD, Anxiety, Depression: review article notes, symptoms and causes, how Holden exhibits the symptoms
Types of Conflict, internal, external, and how Holden experiences them