Catcher in the Rye questions ch.11-20
Ch. 11
1. Describe Holden’s relationship with Jane Gallagher. Are they lovers? Friends? More than friends?
2. Using your creativity, describe the nature of the conflict between Jane Gallagher and her mother’s husband.
3. Does Holden think that Stradlater seduced Jane?
4. How does Holden know about Ernie’s in Greenwich Village? Who is Ernie? What does Holden find especially irritating about him?
5. How did Jane and Holden become friends?
Ch. 12
1. Discuss Holden’s loneliness and depression in terms of how it permeates in the entire chapter.
2. Explain why Holden invites Horowitz for a drink after he observes how difficult it is to discuss anything with him.
3. What is the main theme of the first paragraph?
4. How does Holden describe Horowitz’s personality? What does Holden discuss with Horowitz?
5. How does Holden feel about social amenities such as the saying “Glad to have met you?”
6. Who is Lillian Simmons? From her point of view, what is most impressive about D.B.?
Ch. 13
1. Why does Holden spend so much time discussing his cowardness (the various degrees of being yellow)?
2. Discuss Holden’s rationale for never having lost his virginity.
3. Why does Holden walk back to the hotel rather than take a cab? What does he think about as he does so?
4. What kind of drinker does Holden think he is?
5. What excuse does Holden give for agreeing to meet with the prostitute? What does Holden think about a girl’s ability to control herself in the heat of passion? How does Holden feel when the prostitute takes off her dress?
6. What excuse does Holden give Sunny for not wanting to have sex with her?
Ch. 14
1. Discuss the significance of the fantasy of being shot which Holden conjures up after he is punched by Maurice.
2. After Holden has been willing to compromise on so many of his principles, why do you think he is willing to get beat up over five dollars?
3. After Sunny leaves, who does Holden begin talking to?
4. What is it that Holden finds disturbing about Jesus’ disciples? How does Holden’s belief about Judas differ from Arthur Childs’?
5. Why do Maurice and Sunny return to Holden’s room? How does Maurice respond when Holden says he is going to scream his head off if Maurice roughs him up?
6. What excuse does Holden give for not committing suicide by jumping out of the window?
Ch. 15
1. Why do you suppose that Holden prefers to meet Sally Hayes rather than Jane Gallagher?
2. How does Holden feel about associating with people who are not as wealthy as he is?
3. Why do you think Holden enjoys talking to the nuns?
4. Why does Holden not want to tell his mother that he is expelled again?
5. What does Holden find annoying about Catholics?
Ch. 16
1. Why does Holden feel less depressed after he hears the child sing “If a body can’t catch a body coming through the rye?”
2. Holden says that he does not like any shows very much and that movies are worse. Aside from the fact that Holden does not like actors, why do you think Holden feels this way?
3. Discuss why you think Holden changes his mind about going into the museum.
4. According to Holden, what is the best thing at the museum? Why?
5. Although Holden is getting low on cash, he takes a cab to the park instead of the subway. Why?
Ch. 17
1. Explain the following statements: “…I told her I loved her and all. It was a lie, of course, but the thing is, I meant it when I said it.” How does this relate to the fact that Holden is always calling himself a “madman”? In what ways might this and other contradictions be acts of “craziness”?
2. Discuss why Holden laughs at Sally when she is angry.
3. Discuss what Holden means when he states that although he would not have taken her up to New England, if she had wanted to go, he meant it when he asked her to go with him.
4. After Sally tells Holden she loves him, how does she want to change him? Why does Sally not talk much during the intermission?
Ch. 18
1. Does Holden’s attitude towards the war foreshadow the anti-war movement of the 1960’s? Explain.
2. What does Holden mean when he says that he is glad the atomic bomb has been invented?
3. In Holden’s opinion how do girls defend a boy they like if someone criticizes him by calling him mean or conceited?
4. Why does Holden go to Radio City after leaving the drugstore? According to Holden, what would Jesus like about the show at Radio City?
Ch. 19
1. Holden describes the Wicker Bar as sophisticated but he is critical of the people who patronize it. Why did Holden choose such a place to meet Luce? Explain.
2. Is Luce an appealing character? Give reason for you opinion.
3. Give reasons why Luce prefers Easter to Western philosophy.
Ch. 20
1. Discuss the significance of the increased frequency of Holden’s references to his loneliness and depression.
2. Discuss Holden’s preoccupation with dying in this chapter.
3. Why is Holden holding his stomach after he leaves the Wicker Bar?
4. What is it that Holden worries about after he decides to go home and see Phoebe?