The Catcher in the Rye - ch. 1-6

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

The Catcher in the Rye ch. 1-6

Today: 

Check who's read the chapters

Discussion of literary elements 

Why does Holden call his brother D.B. a prostitute?

1. Because he works as a male escort
2. Because he became an actor and lives in Hollywood
3. Because he writes best sellers
4. Because he lives in Hollywood, writing for the movie industry

What happened to the fencing equipment in New York?

1. Holden sold it at a pawn shop in New York.
2. Holden left it all on the subway.
3. it was stolen
4. It was left in a taxi

Why has Holden been kicked out of Pencey Prep?

1. For torturing a boy named James Castle
2. for destroying school property
3. for 'flunking' too many calsses
4. for selling the fencing equipment

Why is everyone at the football game that Holden watches from the top of the hill?

1. It is the first game against a school rival
2. Attendance is mandatory
3. The half time show is particularly good
4. It is the last game of the season

What does Mr. Spencer tell Holden?

1. He tells him not to worry so much and that everything will be fine.
2. He counsels him in trusting his instincts.
3. He lectures him about failing in school and life by not applying himself.
4. He tells him stories of when he was a kid and went to Pencey.

Why is Holden so worried about Stradlater's date with Jane?

1. He doesn't want Stradlater to mention that he knows him.
2. He's worried Stradlater will make a fool of himself.
3. He's worried he won't get a chance to say goodbye to Stradlater.
4. He likes Jane and doesn't want Stradlater coming on to her.

What does Stradlater ask Holden to do for him while he's out on his date?

1. Write a composition for him describing a room
2. Do his laundry
3. Write a composition about a personal memory
4. Do his math homework

What is the new hat that Holden is so excited about?

1. A baseball cap
2. A red hunting cap with ear flaps
3. A woolen cap with tassels
4. A top hat

Why does Ackley annoy Holden?

1. He's really smart and always showing off how good his grades are.
2. He has really bad personal hygiene, asks aggravating questions, and messes with Holden's things.
3. He's always snapping people with his towel after he gets out of the shower.
4. He has a really high, screechy voice and always spills whatever he's drinking on Holden's bed.

How does Holden know Stradlater's date, Jane?

1. Jane is his sister
2. They played checkers together one summer
3. They were next door neighours growing up
4. He dated her when he was at his previous school

What does Stradlater do when Holden keeps provoking him?

1. Leave
2. Hugs Holden
3. Refuses to do anything
4. Punches Holden

What does Stradlater think of the essay Holden worte for him?

1. He's angry that it's written in rhyme
2. He's moved to tears by it
3. He hates it and complains that it's about the wrong subject
4. He loves it

What is on Allie's Baseball mitt?

1. Stickers
2. Doodles
3. Poems
4. Tape

Pay attention to:

Plot

Characters

Language

Symbols

Characters: Who have we met in the first 6 chapters?

Which perspective is used in the novel?

1. First person
2. Second person
3. Third person
4. huh ... perspective?

Characters:

Holden Caulfield

Spencer (History teacher)

Stradlater / Ackley / Brossard (school)

Allie / D.B. (brothers) - only mentioned

Characters & Perspective

• Holden is our narrator - we see everything from his point of view
• There is a difference between what Holden says about people and how those people actually act. (Spencer, Ackley)
• Even Holden is inconsistent in his actions. (Inviting Ackley along to the movies)

Characters & Perspective

• Holden is our narrator - we see everything from his point of view
• There is a difference between what Holden says about people and how those people actually act. (Spencer, Ackley)
• Even Holden is inconsistent in his actions. (Inviting Ackley along to the movies)
• We should see Holden as an Unreliable Narrator

Language

How would you describe the way Holden 'speaks'? 

How would you describe the way Holden 'speaks'?

Language

Like a typical teenager would at that time. 

Slang: "lousy", "swell", "phony", etc.

Swear words: "hell", "damn", etc.

Hyperbole: exaggerations

Language

Like a typical teenager would at that time. 

Slang: "lousy", "swell", "phony", etc.

Swear words: "hell", "damn", etc.

Hyperbole: exaggerations

Like any teenager, Holden is trying to fit in. But his language also marks him out as immature and insecure. 

Symbols

Symbols are physical aspects in a work that represent abstract ideas and questions. 

Finish the quote: "This is a people shooting ____", I said. "I shoot people in this ______"

1. coat
2. hat
3. shirt
4. underwear

Symbol:

The red hunting hat

Shows Holden's uniqueness and individuality.

Holden wants to be different from everyone else.

But, he can be self-conscious about the hat.

Holden sometimes doesn't wear it around people he knows.

Symbol:

The red hunting hat

Shows Holden's uniqueness and individuality.

Holden wants to be different from everyone else.

But, he can be self-conscious about the hat.

Holden sometimes doesn't wear it around people he knows.

It is a symbol of his isolation and his need for friends.

Do you think you've seen another symbol ?

Symbol:

Allie's baseball glove

Allie is portrayed as an 'ideal' child - Holden sees him as such. 

Holden sees the baseball glove as proof of Allie's genius and goodness. Something he later transfers to all children. 

Symbol:

Allie's baseball glove

Allie is portrayed as an 'ideal' child - Holden sees him as such. 

Holden sees the baseball glove as proof of Allie's genius and goodness. Something he later transfers to all children. 

Sadly, Allie's baseball glove also shows how Holden is still grieving three years after Allie's death. 

Symbol:

Allie's baseball glove

Allie is portrayed as an 'ideal' child - Holden sees him as such. 

Holden sees the baseball glove as proof of Allie's genius and goodness. Something he later transfers to all children. 

Sadly, Allie's baseball glove also shows how Holden is still grieving three years after Allie's death. 

It is a symbol of the innocence of childhood.

Have you ever heard of the term: 'Bildungsroman'?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Huh?
4. That's not even English!

Themes: 

Universal ideas or questions explored in a literary work. 

Themes: 

Bildungsroman

Literally - 'forming-novel'. It's a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of a character from childhood to adulthood. 

Examples?

Themes: 

Bildungsroman

Literally - 'forming-novel'. It's a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of a character from childhood to adulthood. 

Examples: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Harry Potter, Great Expectations

What questions can we expect to see explored in a 'Bildungsroman'?

Bildungsroman:

Common elements of a Bildungsroman: 

• Search for identity
• Loss of innocence
• Confrontation with adults/adulthood

Which have we seen in The Catcher in the Rye? 

Search for identity?

Loss of innocence?

Confrontation with adults/adulthood?

Next week:

Chapters 7-12!