Name

Eng. 11 Per.
Date
Catcher in the Rye
Reading and Study Guide
Chapters 1-4
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in
the novel.
Touchy(1)______________________________________________________________________
Fencing(3) ______________________________________________________________________
Ostracized(3) ____________________________________________________________________
Ironical(9)______________________________________________________________________
phony (9)_______________________________________________________________________
chiffonier(11) ____________________________________________________________________
innumerable(11)___________________________________________________________________
qualms(14)_______________________________________________________________________
sheer(16)________________________________________________________________________
sadist (22)________________________________________________________________________
II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
allusion: ____________________________________________________________________
Example: _______________________________________________________
conflict: ____________________________________________________________________
setting: _____________________________________________________________________
setting of the novel: ___________________________________________________________
Point of View:________________________________________________________________
diction: _____________________________________________________________________

Updated 4/13

syntax: _____________________________________________________________________
Read the following quote and explain how Salinger uses syntax or specific diction to convey a particular
image, idea, or impression.
Grand. Theres a word I really hate. Its a phony (9).
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
III. Questions: Briefly identify and describe the significance of the following questions from chapters 1-4.
1. Who is D.B?
2. What happened to Holden last Christmas?
3. Why is Holden leaving Pencey Prep?
4. What day of the week is it and who are the crooks Holden talks about?
5. Why is Holden being ostracized?
6. Who is Old Thurmer?
7. Where is Holden standing and what is he looking at?
8. How does Holden say good-bye to Pencey?
9. After running to the main gate Holden states, I have no wind. What does he imply?
10. How does Holden describe Mr. and Mrs. Spencer?
11. Which subject is Holden passing? What is the significance of this?
12. Why does Holden regret visiting Mr. Spencer?
13. Old Spencer tells Holden life is a game what does it mean?
14. Why was Holdens final exam essay hard to grade?
15. What does Spencer read aloud? What effect does it have on Holden?
16. List the things that drive Holden crazy {so far}.
17. How does Mr. Haas, the headmaster at Elkton Hills, anger Holden?

Updated 4/13

18. Holden calls himself a ________________.

19. What place does Holden continually think about? Why do you think this is significant?
20. What does Holden purchase in New York earlier that day?
21. When Holden returns to his dorm room what does he do?
22. Mr. Ossenburger is a former student of Pencey Prep. What building does he lend his name to and
what was Edgar Marsallas reaction to Ossenburgers speech?
23. Who is Ward Stradlater?
24. Who is Robert Ackley? Describe his appearance and behavior. What is Holdens reaction to him?
25. What book is Holden trying to read?
26. Why does Holden call Stradlater a secret slob? What disgusts Holden about Stradlater?
27. Holden pretends to do this when in the bathroom. What is it?
28. What does Stradlater ask Holden to do and why is this ironic?
29. Who is Jane Gallagher and why is she important?
30. What was Janes bad habit?
31. Janes stepfather was supposed to be what? And what was his problem?
32. What do we learn about Holden, based on what he admires about Stradlater?
33. What wrestling move does Holden wish he could use on Stradlater?
Understand whos doing the talking here:
Holden is retelling us what happened to him. Where is he telling us this story from? How old was he
when these things happened to him? How old is he now? What point of view is this story being told
from?

Updated 4/13