The Catcher in the Rye

Question 0

Pencey Prep.

Answer 0

Holden goes to school there and gets kicked out because he fails many subjects. Holden calls it: “Land of Phonies.”

Question 1

Mr. Spencer

Answer 1

Holden’s History teacher at Pency Prep. Unsuccessfully tries to shake Holden out of his academic apathy.

Question 2

Sunny

Answer 2

• a prostitute
• Holden “hires” her, but doesn’t go through with it
• Holden tries to connect with her, but fails

Question 3

Stradlater

Answer 3

Holden’s good-looking roomate at Pencey Prep. Holden calls him a “sexy bastard.”

Question 4

Holden

Answer 4

• the protagonist/main character
• the narrator of the novel
• expelled from Pency Prep.
• uncomfortable with his own weakness/cowardice
• hates phonies, but is a phony himself

Question 5

Ducks at the Central Park lagoon

Answer 5

-Holden was very curious about where the ducks go once the lagoon freezes in Winter

Question 6

Robert Burns’ poem - “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye”

Answer 6

• the inspiration for the title of the novel
• Holden’s misinterpretation leads him to believe that the poem is about children running through the rye and off a cliff and into adulthood. He wants to save them from falling off that cliff
• the poem is about teenagers “losing innocence” while they are hidden in the fields

Question 7

Holden’s red hunting hat

Answer 7

• a symbol of Holden’s uniqueness
• demonstrates Holden’s desire to be different
• a security blanket
• Holden feels the hat makes him stand out