1. The Catcher in the Rye
JD Salinger
Notes: Chapters 9-14

2. DB Caulfield (brother) Phoebe Caulfield (sister)
Chapter Nine
1. Whom does Holden consider calling when he arrives at Penn Station, NYC?
DB Caulfield (brother)
Phoebe Caulfield (sister)
Sally Hayes (ex-girlfriend)
Carl Luce (former classmate)
Instead, Holden winds up sitting in the phone booth for twenty minutes without calling anybody (inaction)

3. 2. Which puzzling question does Holden ask the cab driver?
Chapter Nine
2. Which puzzling question does Holden ask the cab driver?
Holden asks the cab driver where the ducks from the lagoon in Central Park go during the winter.
Quote=60

4. Holden appears to be the most normal person there.
Chapter Nine
3. According to Holden, what is ironic about his stay at the Edmont Hotel?
Holden appears to be the most normal person there.
A commentary on whether or not Holden is truly “crazy”
Irony = Incongruity between what actually happens and what might be expected to happen, especially when this disparity seems absurd or laughable

5. Holden views two strange things
Chapter Nine
4. Why are the residents at Edmont Hotel “fascinating” for Holden to watch?
Holden views two strange things
A man dressed as a woman sauntering around like a lady and admiring himself in the mirror
A man and woman squirting water or liquor all over each other’s face
The debauchery he witnesses reminds him of his own “crumby” or immoral mind

6. 5. Who is Faith Cavendish and why does Holden call her?
Chapter Nine
5. Who is Faith Cavendish and why does Holden call her?
Holden, feeling “horny,” calls up a stranger he once heard about from a guy at a party in Princeton
Faith Cavendish represents a chance for Holden to become sexually gratified
Former Burlesque stripper
She “wasn’t exactly a whore… but didn’t mind doing it once in a while.”

7. 6. Describe Phoebe Caulfield.
Chapter Ten
6. Describe Phoebe Caulfield.
Holden’s 10-year-old sister
Personality: “Somebody with sense”; perceptive and intelligent
Physical: Red hair like Allie did; “Rollerskate skinny”
Sometimes “too affectionate” and over-emotional
Writes books but never finishes them
Follows in Holden’s footsteps
Quote=68

8. Chapter Ten
7. Describe Holden’s encounter with “the three witches” at the Lavender Room
Lavender Room = nightclub on the first floor of the Edmont Hotel
Holden is denied being served alcohol
Holden tries to engage the girls in conversation and dancing
He is annoyed by them to the point of fascination/intrigue
He picks up their tab despite secretly hating them
He lives outside his true life by relentlessly lying:
Fake name; celebrity sighting

9. 8. What is Holden’s new alias?
Chapter Ten
8. What is Holden’s new alias?
Holden’s fake name: Jim Steele
More mature, sophisticated version of Holden?
Contradictory nature of Holden “phony” name

10. Falls in love too easily?
Chapter Ten
9. Based on Holden’s treatment of these girls, coupled with what you already know about him, how does he feel about females generally?
Reverie?
Holden’s favorite person is a female, his sister Phoebe
Sexist/Chauvinistic?
Holden refers to the “ugly” girls at the Lavender room as “witches,” “grools,” and “dopes.”
Falls in love too easily?
Holden is impressed with girls’ “pretty” actions and falls “half in love” with them

11. Chapter Eleven

12. 10. Name two females Holden genuinely likes and respects.
Chapter Eleven
10. Name two females Holden genuinely likes and respects.
Phoebe (Holden’s little sister)
Innocent/uncorrupted
Jane Gallagher (Holden’s idyllic soul mate)
Genuine/honest

13. 11. How did Holden meet Jane?
Chapter Eleven
11. How did Holden meet Jane?
Holden’s family owns a summer home next to Jane’s family, in Maine.
Jane’s dog was “relieving himself” on his lawn
Holden and Jane played games (golf, checkers) together

14. 12. Describe the relationship between Holden and Jane.
Chapter Eleven
12. Describe the relationship between Holden and Jane.
Jane is Holden’s type:
Not typically beautiful
“muckle-mouthed”
Literate/intelligent
The only person Holden ever showed Allie’s mitt to
“Terrific to hold hands with”
Quote 76-80

15. Jane’s step-father is a “booze hound” who is seemingly abusive
Chapter Eleven
13. Identify one meaningful event that happens between Holden and Jane.
Jane’s step-father is a “booze hound” who is seemingly abusive
Jane, crying for an unknown reason, is consoled by Holden
Tear drop on the checkerboard
Holden wishes to protect her

16. 14. To where does Holden take a cab?
Chapter Eleven
14. To where does Holden take a cab?
Holden decides to take a cab downtown to Ernie’s, a nightclub in Greenwich Village
Holden knows of this place because his brother, DB, used to go there

17. 15. How does Holden feel about Old Ernie?
Chapter Eleven
15. How does Holden feel about Old Ernie?
Ernie is a “big fat colored guy who plays piano”
A “terrific snob”
When he plays, “he sounds like the kind of guy who that won’t talk to you unless you’re a big shot.”

18. Chapter Twelve

19. Holden feels insignificant, as a loner within a huge city
Chapter Twelve
16. Why is Holden feeling lonesome and depressed at the beginning of Ch. 12?
Holden, like the very city withholding him, is “lonesome and depressed.”
Hardly anybody seems to be out on a Saturday night; NYC is usually more vibrant
Holden feels insignificant, as a loner within a huge city

20. Chapter Twelve
17. What do you make of Holden’s fascination with the Central Park ducks?
Holden’s conversation centers around where the ducks of Central Park go during the winter
He is wondering where his life is heading this winter
Horowitz counters Holden’s question by asking him what happens with the fish in the lagoon.

21. Chapter Twelve
18. Why does Holden ask the cab driver to “stop off and have a drink”…?
Holden is seeking companionship/friendship, even if from the most unlikely person
He is oddly intrigued by Horowitz and believes he is genuine/honest
“If you was a fish, Mother Nature’d take care of you, wouldn’t she?” (Horowitz, 83)

22. 19. Based on Holden’s description, what is his perception of Ernie?
Chapter Twelve
19. Based on Holden’s description, what is his perception of Ernie?
Ernie is full of himself; uses a mirror to make sure the audience sees his face when he plays
Gives very phony, show-off bows when he is done playing
His audience, believing him to be so good at what he does, makes him out to be better than he is
Quote: 83-84

23. 20. Describe the “characters” that surround Holden at Ernie’s.
Chapter Twelve
20. Describe the “characters” that surround Holden at Ernie’s.
He is “surrounded by jerks” having awful conversations, refusing to move to let people by
One guy is telling his uninterested date about sports, but she was too “funny looking” to stop him
Another “Joe Yale looking” guy is giving a girl a feel under the table while telling her about a near-suicide at his dorm

24. Chapter Twelve
21. Who is Lillian Simmons?
DB’s ex-girlfriend who had “very big knockers,” is on a date with “some Navy officer…that looked like he had a poker up his ass.”
She treats Holden like a best friend, but Holden knows she just wants to ask questions about DB

25. Lies his way out of conversation and so has to leave
Chapter Twelve
22. Why does Holden leave after his encounter with Lillian and her date?
Holden leaves in order to escape having to hang out with Lillian and “Commander Blop”
Lies his way out of conversation and so has to leave
“I couldn’t even stick around to hear Old Ernie play something halfway decent… It made me mad… people are always ruining things for you.” (87)

26. Chapter Thirteen

27. 23. What does Holden mean when he says he is a “yellow guy”?
Chapter Thirteen
23. What does Holden mean when he says he is a “yellow guy”?
While walking back to his hotel from Ernie’s Holden comments on his pacifism and cowardice
His memory involves the hypothetical situation of what he would do if he found out who stole his gloves at Pencey Prep
He would confront the person but not do anything about it
“It’s no fun to be yellow. Maybe I’m not all yellow…I’m just partly yellow and partly the type that doesn’t give a damn if they lose their gloves.” (89)

28. “I can’t stand looking at the guy’s face, is my trouble.”
Chapter Thirteen
24. Holden says he would rather push a guy out a window…than look at a guy’s face after a fist fight. What do these comments suggest about him?
“I can’t stand looking at the guy’s face, is my trouble.”
Holden cannot accept the aftermath/consequence of violence, but understands the necessity of violence
“It’s a funny kind of yellowness… but it’s yellowness, all right.” (90)

29. 25. How is Holden feeling in this chapter?
Chapter Thirteen
25. How is Holden feeling in this chapter?
Holden is feeling increasingly lonesome and depressed; he has suicidal thoughts
Quote: (90)

30. 26. What is the “big mess” Holden gets himself into?
Chapter Thirteen
26. What is the “big mess” Holden gets himself into?
Holden meets Maurice, the elevator operator at his hotel, who doubles as a pimp
Holden agrees to have a prostitute, “a little tail,” sent to his room
Discuss: Why did Holden agree to do this despite knowing it was a bad idea?

31. 27. What is Holden’s opinion of sex?
Chapter Thirteen
27. What is Holden’s opinion of sex?
Holden admits to his virginity
He’s had opportunities but has never seized them
He is confused as to what to do when a girl says, “Stop.”
Girls “lose their brains” in the heat of the moment; Holden feels bad for them

32. 28. Describe Holden’s experience with Sunny.
Chapter Thirteen
28. Describe Holden’s experience with Sunny.
Holden is taken back by how young and nervous she seems
She abruptly removes her dress; Holden hangs it up in the closet and feels sad thinking of her purchasing the dress with nobody in the store knowing she was a prostitute
Holden turns down her sexual advances as wishes to talk instead
Sunny calls Holden “crum-bum,” and Holden refuses to thank her when she leaves

33. 29. What are some of the lies Holden tells Sunny?
Chapter Thirteen
29. What are some of the lies Holden tells Sunny?
Alias Jim Steele
Sophisticated, mature, older identity for Holden
Age 22
Holden tried to match how old he thought she might be
Excuse to avoid Sunny’s sexual gestures Holden is recovering from surgery on his “clavichord”
Clavichord: musical instrument

34. Chapter Fourteen

35. 30. Who does Holden begin to talk to at the beginning of this chapter?
Chapter Fourteen
30. Who does Holden begin to talk to at the beginning of this chapter?
Holden talks out loud to Allie, as if Allie is actually there
“I do that sometimes when I get really depressed.” (98)

36. Holden was protecting him by not allowing him to come
Chapter Fourteen
31. What specific memory does Holden describe at the beginning of the chapter?
Holden recalls a time when he did not let Allie tag along with him and a friend of his, when they were shooting BB guns
Holden was protecting him by not allowing him to come
“Go and get your bike and meet me in front of Bobby’s house…” (99)

37. 32. What does Holden claim his religious belief to be? Explain.
Chapter Fourteen
32. What does Holden claim his religious belief to be? Explain.
Holden claims to be “sort of an Atheist”
Atheism = belief that no God exists
Holden dislikes Jesus’ Disciples but appreciates the lunatic who lived in the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones
Believes that ministers are phony and only act religious

38. 33. Describe what happens between Holden and Maurice.
Chapter Fourteen
33. Describe what happens between Holden and Maurice.
Maurice comes to collect the money he thinks Holden owes; Holden refuses to give him the extra $5
Holden calls Maurice a “dirty, chiseling moron”
Maurice physically threatens and later punches Holden while Sunny takes $5 from his wallet
Holden, supposedly “partly yellow,” takes a stand and pays the price

39. 34. After Maurice punches Holden, describe the fantasy Holden has.
Chapter Fourteen
34. After Maurice punches Holden, describe the fantasy Holden has.
Holden imagines himself as a Hollywood gangster enacting revenge on Maurice by plugging him with “six shots right through his fat hairy belly”
He imagines Jane bandaging up his guts, holding a cigarette to his mouth
“The goddam movies. They can ruin you.” (104)

40. 35. By the end of the chapter, what is Holden’s state of mind?
Chapter Fourteen
35. By the end of the chapter, what is Holden’s state of mind?
Holden appears increasingly suicidal, but fears the events of his suicide and hopes for the quick, painless resolution of death
“What I really felt like doing, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.” (104)

41. 36. Does Holden seem to be in a downward spiral? Explain.
Chapter Fourteen
36. Does Holden seem to be in a downward spiral? Explain.
[Answers may vary]
Downward spiral = perpetual state of depression which, as events occur, makes one feel increasingly isolated and hopeless