For finding things easily in the text, here is a thorough index of characters/scenes/themes/etc. in CR may be found here:

http://www.geocities.com/exploring_citr/bookindex.htm#fight

Catcher in the Rye: The Assignment

NOTE: This assignment is due on MONDAY, April 29, and may be handed in on paper or via email to e2h@sunspark.com or to ktopham@d115.org.

Part One: Random Reflections

In this part of the assignment, I will ask you to reflect on several brief questions that relate to issues and ideas—small or large—in Catcher in the Rye. Select two of these questions and respond to them in 1-2 ¶ answers in which you cite the text for support.

1. Holden wants to be “the catcher in the rye and all” and stop the children from falling over “some crazy cliff,” though by the end he does come to realize the impossibility of that task. Without simply rehashing what we said in class, discuss why Holden is afraid to grow up.

2. You desire to give Holden a present in the hospital. What is it and why? (Examples: Maybe you give him a set of checkers with kings glued in the back row to remind him of Jane, or maybe you give him a book on duck migration for obvious reasons…) Explain carefully, citing Holden’s emotional instability in your response.

3. Would it surprise you to learn that Sally’s name is used more frequently in Catcher than Jane’s (54 times vs. 50)? Discuss Holden’s odd and inconsistent feelings for Sally and what they say about him.

Part Two: Holden in Me

In this part of the assignment, I am not asking you to imagine yourself to be Holden. Nor am I asking you to tell a cohesive story. What I am asking you to do is to utilize various techniques including slang, repeated expressions, sentence structures, etc. to create a readable written version of your own voice as you create yourself as a Holden-like character.

I would like you to explore in journal-type entries ten of the topics listed below. Don’t pick topics whose answers overlap. Otherwise, there are no limits to what you write except for those inherent in doing a piece of writing for class. Use the topic (in black) as the subject heading. Try as you write to create a consistent style and voice as well as to find the Holden in you.

Topics…

“all that David Copperfield kind of crap”

What are basic elements of your own biography that might be included in a book that you are narrating?

“this madman stuff”

Write about a time in your own life when you were really messed up.

“that killed me”

Write about something that you found really funny.

“phony”

Write about things in your world that you consider to be phony.

“If I get a chance to remember that kind of stuff, I can get a goodbye when I need one”

Write about an event you recall that would make saying goodbye easier.

“I felt like I was sort of disappearing”

Write about a time in your life when you felt invisible.

“Where did the ducks go?”

Write about one of the simple mysteries of the world that you wonder about.

“You wish the author was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up”

Write about an author you wish you could call and what you’d like to tell or ask him or her.

“I wasn’t too crazy about him, to tell you the truth”

Write about someone who really irritates you.

“Ask her if she still keeps all her kings in the back row”

Write about an endearing habit of someone you know.

“Sleep tight, ya morons”

Write about a time when you lashed out verbally or physically out of frustration.

“Sinus troubles, pimples, lousy teeth, halitosis, crumby fingernails. You had to feel a little sorry for the crazy sonuvabitch.”

Describe a character in your life who, like Ackley, was dealt some pretty bad cards in life.

“Mothers are all slightly insane”

Write about your own mother and something “slightly insane” that you can relate about her.

“Sex is something I just don’t understand. I swear to God I don’t”

Write about something related to the opposite sex that confuses you.

“I’m the only dumb one in the family”

Write about the degree to which you denigrate yourself.

“(They) were drinking Tom Collinses—in the middle of December, for God’s sake. They didn’t know any better.”

Write about some of the silly rules people live by.

“Some girls you practically never find out what’s the matter.”

Write about a friend who remains a mystery to you.

“It was supposed to be something holy, for God’s sake, when he sat down at the piano. Nobody’s that good.”

Write about something or someone you or others revere, something holy in a secular way.

“I’m always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met.”

Write about the importance or the role of small talk and social pleasantries in life.

“Sometimes you get tired of riding in taxicabs the same way you get tired riding in elevators.”

Write about commonplace things that might be interesting but get dull through repetition.

“I’d probably go down to the can and sneak a cigarette and watch myself getting tough in the mirror.”

Write about emotional responses that you have to practice in advance.

“Then all of a sudden, I got into this big mess.”

Write about a time when your luck suddenly went completely sour.

“If you want to know the truth, I’m a virgin. I really am.”

Write about something about yourself that contradicts your public image.

“The goddam movies. They can ruin you. I’m not kidding.”

Write about daydreams you have had in which your life is more interesting, esp. those inspired by films.

“Grand. If there’s one word I hate, it’s grand. It’s so phony.”

Write about people who try to seem better than they really are.

“That was his favorite goddam word. He read it somewhere or heard it somewhere.”

Write about your favorite word(s).

“Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.”

Write about a time when it became clear that money only causes problems.

“You kept wondering what the hell would happen to all of them.”

Write a prediction (serious or comic) about the future of someone you know well.

“Maybe they’re all secret whistlers or something.”

Write about a talent that no one knows you have.

“I didn’t even like her, and yet all of a sudden I felt like I was in love with her and wanted to marry her.”

Write about a time when your emotions contradicted your common sense.

“I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs.”

Write about something you do that probably annoys others.

“Don’t see it if you don’t want to puke all over yourself.”

Write about something you’ve seen that is really bad.

“You take somebody that cries their goddam eyes out over phony stuff in movies, and nine times out of ten they’re mean bastards at heart.”

Write about hypocrisy.

“Who wants flowers when you’re dead? Nobody.”

Write about ways we honor the dead more than the living.

Or: Write about what you’d like to happen to you when you die.