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The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?
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
Video Plot Summary
Characters
Character List
Holden Caulfield
Phoebe Caulfield
Mr. Antolini
Mr. Spencer
Stradlater
Carl Luce
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
What Does the Title Mean?
Quotes
Important Quotations Explained
Quotes By Theme
Religion
Inaction
Appearances
Performance
Quotes By Section
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
Quotes By Character
Holden Caulfield
Phoebe Caulfield
Mr. Antolini
Mr. Spencer
Stradlater
Carl Luce
Quotes By Symbol
The “Catcher in the Rye”
Holden’s Red Hunting Hat
The Museum of Natural History
The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon
Further Study
Context
Mental Health in the Mid-Twentieth Century
Catcher and Vernacular Literature
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
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
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
How to Cite This SparkNote
Further Study
Chapters 18-20 Quiz
Further Study
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
Popular pages:
The Catcher in the Rye
Character List
CHARACTERS
Holden Caulfield: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
What Does the Title Mean?
MAIN IDEAS
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES
Themes
MAIN IDEAS
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
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