Catcher in the Rye Study Guide Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions to the fullest. Be detailed and specific using pertinent
information from the text to support your answer. All bolded questions must also be answered by using
a specific quote from the book to reinforce the claim. The questions in parenthesis are there to help with
figuring out the answers. Use MLA style when formatting assignments. Study questions are expected to
be completed in their entirety, including typing them and containing quotes when needed, on the day of
class discussions. Failure to do so may result in a zero for the day. On the days that study guide questions
are to be turned-in, they must also be uploaded to turnitin.com. Failure to do both, upload them to
turnitin.com and hand in a hard copy, will result in a zero. Be sure to preplan to avoid any issues when
turning in work. This assignment is to be completely independently. The only resource to be used is the
novel.
Steps to Answering Study Guide Questions:
Step 1 – Restate the question
Step 2 – Answer the question using specific details from the text.
When required:
Step 3 – Provide a quote from the book to support you answer.
Step 4- Explain how the quote supports your answer.
EXAMPLE: Why does Holden enjoy the snowball fight?
Holden enjoys the snowball fight because the snow is a reflection of the purity and
innocence of nature, and its pristine quality appeals to Holden. He later comments on how nice
the experience is when he states, "It was nice, though, when we got out of the dining room...It
looked pretty as [heck], and we all started throwing snowballs...it was very childish, but
everyone was really enjoying themselves" (Salinger 35). This quote shows how the snowball
fight is no real conflict and the boys are acting like innocent children. By having the boys act
innocent, in an environment that symbolizes purity, Holden is able be at ease and enjoy himself.
Chapters 1 – 4
1. Where is Holden at the beginning of the novel? (He does not say, but he gives a few details. Identify
these details and infer where he could be.)
2. What is the significance of Holden referencing David Copperfield in the beginning of the novel? What
does this reference tell the reader about Holden’s personality? (Research what David Copperfield is.
Hint: NOT the magician.)
3. What is learned about Holden’s character based on him leaving the foils on the subway? (Consider his
role on the team and how losing them affects the team. Also consider what the foils represent.)
4. Define Irony.
5. Describe Holden’s reaction to being expelled from Pency. How does this reflect his character and
personality? (What is strange about his reaction?)
6. Why does Holden characterize himself as a liar?
7. Why does Salinger stress the ambiguity of Holden’s age? (What is ironic about his age, his
mentality, and his appearance?)
8. After Spencer reads him his essay, Holden thinks about the ducks in Central Park. What do the ducks
symbolize?
9. What does Holden mean when he says, “I’m going through a phase” and why is this significant?
10. Create a list of each time the hunting hat is referenced. Continue to add to this list as the novel
continues.
Chapters 5-8
1. How does Holden describe Allie? How are they similar and how are they different?
2. What are the short term and long term results of Allie’s death on Holden?
3. What can be inferred about Holden’s feelings from the way he reacts to Stradlater’s vague responses
to his questions about what happened between him (Stradlater) and Jane?
4. What is the significance of Holden’s broken hand?
5. What is Holden’s reaction to the skates from his mother? What does this tell the reader about his
relationship with his parents?
6. Why does Holden lie to Mrs. Morrow about her son?
7. What is the significance of the brain surgery story that Holden tells? (Think of from where Holden is
telling the story.)
Chapters 9 – 12
1. What is the first thing Holden does when he arrives in New York? What is the outcome of this act?
What does this tell the reader about Holden?
2. What is Holden’s attitude about sex? (He says a lot of different things in this chapter, include them all. Who
does he say a person should have sex with? What struggles does he have personally?) Taking into consideration
everything Holden says about sex, what is learned about him from his thoughts on the subject?
3. What is ironic about the name Faith Cavendish?
4. Describe Phoebe’s character: what she looks like, how she is perceived, and how she treats others.
5. After dancing with the blonde girl at the Lavender Room, Holden states, “I was half in love with her by
the time we sat down.” What insight does this give into Holden’s character?
6. In chapter 11, Holden goes into more detail about his relationship with Jane. Was their relationship
more of a casual friendship, or was there a deeper connection? Use details from the text to support
the response.
7. Holden is desperately trying to connect with people. Provide several examples from chapters 9-12
to support this claim.
Chapters 13 – 17
1. Describe the confrontation Holden has with Maurice and Sunny. What is the outcome of the
confrontation? What affect does this have on Holden?
2. Holden is becoming more and more depressed as the book progresses. Give examples
from Chapters 13 – 17 that support this claim. Why is his depression getting worse?
3. Holden tells a story about suitcases and an old roommate of his, Dick Slagle. What is the harsh reality
of life that can be learned from that story?
4. Think about the monologue about Catholics. What is Holden really saying about religion here?
5. What contradiction exists in Holden’s attitude toward Sally?
Chapters 18 – 22
1. Who is Carl Luce? Why does Holden say he called him (what information can Carl give him)?
2. Where does Holden go to pass the time until 10 o’clock? Why is this ironic?
3. The fact that Holden is desperately reaching out to connect with people is very evident in these
chapters. To whom does he reach out and what is the significance of each outcome?
(Identify each person, briefly describe the exchange, and then explain how each exchange is a
reflection of Holden’s character and what he is going through.)
4. What surprising fact is learned about Allie’s funeral? (It has to do with Holden) What impact does
this have on Holden’s grieving process?
5. What is the significance of how Phoebe is first described when Holden sees her in DB’s bed?
6. How does Phoebe punish Holden when she finds out that he was kicked out of school? How is this
significant? (How does it connect to the other theme of the novel – human connection?) Why does
she react this way?
7. After Holden is done “explaining” why he was kicked out of Pencey, what does Phoebe say in
response?
8. Describe the incident involving James Castle. Explain how this incident connects to the concept- loss
of innocence – and how this might affect Holden’s view of the world.
9. What is Holden’s response to Phoebe’s imperative statement of “Name something you’d like to
be”. How does this connect to the topic of the novel – innocence.
Chapters 23 - 26
1. Why does Holden give Phoebe his hunting hat? (Why Phoebe?)
2. Why does Holden cry when Phoebe gives him all her money?
3. Describe the incident with Mr. Antolini. Are Holden’s conclusions about the incident accurate? Why
or why not? What might have been a foreshadowing of this event?
4. Describe Holden’s condition at this point, mentally and physically.
5. Why does Holden refuse to take Phoebe along with him? How is this moment between Phoebe and
Holden a turning point in the novel?
6. What is ironic about Holden’s statement, “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you will start
missing everybody.”