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Great Expectations
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Romeo and Juliet
Things Fall Apart
Shakespeare
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No Fear Shakespeare Translations
Shakespeare Study Guides
Shakespeare Life & Times
Glossary of Shakespeare Terms
Literature
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No Fear Literature Translations
Literature Study Guides
Glossary of Literary Terms
How to Write Literary Analysis
Other Subjects
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Biography
Biology
Chemistry
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The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
Study Guide
Infographic
Study Guide
Infographic
Summary
Summary & Analysis
Chapters 1–2
Chapters 3–4
Chapters 5–6
Chapters 7–9
Chapters 10–12
Chapters 13–15
Chapters 16–17
Chapters 18–20
Chapters 21–23
Chapter 24
Chapters 25–26
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Character List
Holden Caulfield
Phoebe Caulfield
Mr. Antolini
Mr. Spencer
Stradlater
Carl Luce
Literary Devices
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Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Genre
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Style
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Questions & Answers
What is a catcher in the rye and why does Holden want to be one?
Does Mr. Antolini really make a pass at Holden?
Why does Holden run away from Pencey?
Does Holden have sex with Sunny, the prostitute?
What happens to Holden after his date with Sally Hayes and his meeting with Carl Luce both end badly?
What is the setting for The Catcher in the Rye?
Does Holden have a mental illness?
Why does Holden wear the red hunting hat?
How does Holden feel about Jane?
What is Holden’s relationship with Phoebe like?
How does Allie’s death affect Holden?
Why does Holden hate “phonies”?
Why is Holden obsessed with the ducks at the Central Park Lagoon?
Where is Holden as he narrates the story?
Does Holden kill himself?
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Chapters 1–2
Chapters 3–4
Chapters 5–6
Chapters 7–9
Chapters 10–12
Chapters 13–15
Chapters 16–17
Chapters 18–20
Chapters 21–23
Chapter 24
Chapters 25–26
By Character
Holden Caulfield
Phoebe Caulfield
Mr. Antolini
Mr. Spencer
Stradlater
Carl Luce
By Symbol
The “Catcher in the Rye”
Holden’s Red Hunting Hat
The Museum of Natural History
The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon
By Setting
Pencey Prep
New York City
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Chapters 1-2
Chapters 3-4
Chapters 5-6
Chapters 7-9
Chapters 10-12
Chapters 13-15
Chapters 16-17
Chapters 18-20
Chapters 21-23
Chapter 24
Chapters 25-26
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Historical Context Essay
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A+ Student Essay
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What Does the Ending Mean?
Further Study
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J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye Background
Quick Quizzes
Chapters 18-20 Quiz
Quick Quizzes
Chapters 18-20 Quiz
1
of 5
What fond memory does Holden recall while he's watching the Rockettes Christmas show?
Singing songs on cross country drives with his family
The summer he interned with the orchestra
How Allie used to be a great kettle drum player
How he and Allie used to love the kettle drum player at these shows
2
of 5
What does the "phony" war movie Holden sees make him think about?
He wants to enlist because he knows what real bravery is.
He thinks he'd be really good at combat.
He thinks about how many lives were lost in WWII and about all the things written on dead soldiers' graves.
He thinks about how he would hate to go to war and about D.B. serving in the Army during WWII.
3
of 5
What does Holden ask Luce a lot of questions about at the Wicked Bar?
He wants to know all about Columbia and the college experience.
Sex, girls, and psychoanalysis
Advice on how to deal with his parents
Where the ducks in Central Park go during the winter
4
of 5
Why did Holden miss Allie's funeral?
He was in the hospital for his hand, which he hurt punching out the garage windows.
He was in the hospital recovering from leukemia.
He refused to leave the house.
He didn't want to get kicked out of another school so he stayed home to study.
5
of 5
Why is Holden cold, wet, and worried he's getting pneumonia when he's in Central Park looking for ducks?
Because at the bar he stuck his head in a wash basin full of water
Because he fell through the ice in the lake
Because it started to rain and he got soaked
Because he showered just before going to the park
Previous section
Chapters 16-17 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 21-23 Quick Quiz
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Themes
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QUICK QUIZZES
Take a Study Break
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