1. J.D. Salinger Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9
The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger
Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9

2. Chapter 5: Holden’s motivation
Holden completes Stradlater’s composition for him, writing about a baseball glove that his brother Allie used to copy poems onto in green ink.
What is Holden’s motivation for writing this?

3. Chapter 5: Allie
Several years before, Allie died of leukemia. Though he was two years younger than Holden, Holden says that Allie was the most intelligent member of his family. He also says that Allie was an incredibly nice, innocent child. Holden clearly still feels Allie’s loss strongly. He gives a brief description of Allie, mentioning his bright red hair. He also recounts that the night Allie died, he slept in the garage and broke all the windows with his bare hands. After he finishes the composition for Stradlater, he stares out the window and listens to Ackley snore in the next room.

4. Chapter 5: Allie
What might Allie’s death have “taught” Holden about the rules of life? How do you think Allie’s death has affected or shaped Holden?

5. Chapter 6: Conflict with Stradlater
-Stradlater read the composition, annoyed it’s not the assignment
-Holden tears it up, smokes in the dorm to annoy S
-Holden asks Stradlater about his date Jane who refuses to answer
-Holden attacks Stradlater , S pins him and tries to calm him down
-Holden insults Stradlater until he gets punched in the nose

6. Chapter 6: Analyse the conflict
-Why does Salinger choose Stradlater to win the fight?
-Which character do you identify with? Why? Do you think this was Salinger’s intention (did he do a good job)?

7. Chapter 7: Leaving Pencey
Holden packs his bags, dons his hunting hat, and begins to cry. As he heads into the hallway, he yells “Sleep tight, ya morons!” to the boys on his floor before stepping outside to leave Pencey forever.
Analysis:

8. Chapter 8: Holden claims to be returning to New York for a brain tumour operation.
Holden lies to a classmate’s mother on the train ride . Why?
How does this connect to one of the novel’s main themes?

9. Chapter 9: Girls in NYC
Phoebe Caulfield
Sally Hayes
Faith Cavendish

10. The Mary Dichotomy

11. The Mary Dichotomy