The Catcher in the Rye- JOURNALS

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
 What is truth? How do our truths compare to society’s?
 What rules must people follow?
 How our perceptions of ourselves differ from others’?
 What is an individual’s relationship to society?
 How are observations of our surroundings an important way to understand our place in the world?

                               
Catcher... will be approach in a manner consistent with the Salinger's stream of conscious writing style.  Students will write reflections in their journals.  Specific writing parameters will be discussed in class.
Journal writing parameters:

For each chapter, select one of the questions offered to you.  As you address the question, make references to Catcher and your own life or observations.  Each journal entry should be at least 2 pages of your journal.  Consider the use of quotes from the text to help support your thoughts.

                                 CHAPTER/FOCUS QUESTIONS:

Chapter 1 (Catcher entry 1)

1. How are observations of our surroundings an important way to understand our place in
the world?  "Perception is reality..."

2. Describe how you perceive yourself.  How does your perception differ from how others perceive you, if at all. Has that changed as you've aged?

3. Describe your school. What does it look like, smell like, feel like, what do you hear? How does that shape you and/or others who attend the school?

4. How has your "place" in your family shaped your personality?  Siblings?

Chapter 2 (Catcher entry 2)

1. What depresses Holden? Why does he find these things depressing? Is there truth to what he says?

2. How does Holden feel about phony people? Why? Is this valid? Are we all phony, to some extent?

3. What is the significance of the rules of society?  Are these rules valid?

Chapter 3& 4 (Catcher entry 3)

1. What does Holden mean when he writes that Stradlater “was a little bit like Ackley” (28)?  In what way or ways are these two apparently very different characters similar?  Do we reject those who remind us our ourselves?  Explain.

2. How does Holden feel about Jane Gallagher?  What actions or remarks demonstrate his attitude toward her?  How does who and what you hold dear to your heart define you as an individual? 

3. What is the reason Holden gives for not going downstairs and saying hello to Jane?  What do you make of that?  How do you channel/control your protective instincts?  Consider the instincts of fight or flight.  How do you deal with conflict?

Chapter 5 ((Catcher entry 4)

1. Assess Holden's decision to invite Ackley to the movies. In what ways do you contradict yourself?  What does that say about you?

2. Why doesn’t Holden throw the snowball? What moments have presented you with similar feelings? Why?

3. Analyze Holden's decision to write the paper for Stradlater. In what ways do we all sabotage ourselves? 

4.  Compare and contrast Allie and Holden, based on Holden’s description of his younger brother. What do you make of it? What do we learn about Holden as a result?

Chapters 6-7 (Catcher entry 5)

1.   Analyze Holden as he checks out his wounds.  What is the significance of the hunting hat in this scene?  What key items identify you?

2.  Why does Holden wake  Ackley? Assess their conversation.  What is Holden searching for?  Where does your mind go in moments of trial?

3.  Describe Holden’s emotional state when he is about to leave Pencey.  Refer to specific details from the text that reflects this. Why do some struggle with transitions more than others? 

Chapter 8-9 ((Catcher entry 6)

1.  What does Holden mean by his remark that “Mothers are all slightly insane” ?  Is this true?  Why or why not?

 2. What is the significance of the question Holden asks the taxi driver about the ducks?  Why does Holden want to know?  Explain the metaphor.

 3.  Examine the most glaring contradictions and examples of hypocrisy in these chapters.  What do they suggest?  Why does Salinger present them this way.  How are they true of human nature?

Chapters 10-11 (Catcher entry 7)

1. How does Holden's description of his sister, Phoebe, inform the reader?  Do you have any family members who you hold in such high regard?

2 Why is Holden is so depressed by the fact that the three girls in the bar are going to see the first Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall?  Why do people wrestle with the holidays?  How do you process the holidays?

3. What trait or quality about Ernie does Holden criticize? Why?  Explain.

4. What social norms frustrate you the most. Why?

Chapter 12 (Catcher entry 8)

1. Discuss the significance of Holden's conversation with Horwitz.  Consider Horwitz's response.  What is the suggestion?

2.  Discuss Holden's confusion over sexuality.  To what do you attribute it?  What bothers him about the Joe Yale-looking guy?  Why?

Chapters 13-14  (Catcher entry 9)
1. Why is Holden depressed by Sunny?  What seems to bother him the most about her? Why?  Is there any validity to this?

2. How does Holden view himself? Why does he feel this way?  What aspects of yourself are you the most critical of?  Why?

3 . Why does Holden engage with people he does not like, people he considers to be below
him?

4. Why is Holden fixated on violence and suicide? Is this true of our society?

Chapter 15,16 and 17 (journal entry 10) due Monday, January 26th

1.  How are Holden and his mother similar in their reactions to Allie’s death? Why did Holden’s suitcases become an issue between him and his old roommate Slagle?  What statement about wealth and/or social class is Holden making by telling this story? What writing strategies does Salinger use to convey this?
2.  Why does seeing the little boy walking with his family cheer Holden up?  Why is Holden depressed by the long lines of moviegoers?  What seems to make him happy about the girl he helps with her skates? What is Salinger trying to covey through this character development?  
3. One of the major themes of the novel is the mutability of time and its relationship to death. Comment on Holden's feelings about change? What are the ways in which Holden seems to seek solace from the realities of the adult world? How is this developed through these three chapters? 

Chapter 18 & 19 (journal entry 11) due Friday, January 30th

Today we will spend time discussing your research ideas. After you get "approval" for your topic, read chapters 18 and 19 through the lens of your "claim/thesis/assertion."  This is an opportunity for you to look for evidence and clarify your thinking.  After your discussion of chapters 18 and 19, through the lens of your selected research topic, you can expand to include relevant connections to the two pieces of literary analysis and/or previous chapters.

Chapters 20, 21 & 22 (journal entry 12, due Monday, February 2nd)

1. What's in a title?  Consider why Salinger chose to go title the novel, The Catcher in the Rye.  Reflect on Holden's conversation with Phoebe.  Reflect on The Robert Burns poem.  What possible message is he conveying, if any.


Chapters 23 and 24 (Student generated questions)

Read chapters 23 and 24.  Type two meaningful, thought-provoking discussion questions for class on Thursday.  These will be collected and graded for effort.