Holden's Mentality

5 Critical thinking questions

 

Bethany:

 

1. Holden decides to call Sally Hayes for a date out of nowhere and it ended in disaster. Do you think that this was fated to happen due to his impulsive actions or that it could have been avoided? Why?

2. Explain the significance of the carrousel in chapter 25. What does it represent and what does it help Holden realize?

3. Would you consider Holden to be a 'reliable' person to recount this story? Why or why not?

4. Holden is the main character of this story. Do you think that his role, being that he is a male, can be translated to fit a woman? Or do you feel as if Holden's role is gender-specific and cannot be applied to a female? Explain your answer and use specific examples from the text.

5. Does Holden think of sex in a positive or negative way? How do you know? Why do you think he views it in this way? Use specific examples from the text.

 

Amarjot: 

 

1. Holden Caulfield mentions a lot about trying to look tough and how he really just is “yellow” as he calls it. Why do you think he tries to act so tough?

2. Explain how Holden seems to find relief from his problems by hanging at bars attempting to hook up with older women.

3. Can you make any personal connections with Holden? If so explain.

4. What do you believe Holden’s motives are, and where will they take him as the plot excels?

5. Holden mentions his departed brother Allie quite a few times in the novel, how does Allie play a significant role in Holden’s life?

 

Melissa:

 

1. In Chapter Four, Holden is asked to write a descriptive composition for his roommate, Stradlater. After repeatedly saying no, he ends up giving in and writing the composition anyways. What does this say about Holden's character?

2. How do women influence Holden's attitude and behaviour? Provide examples from the text.

3. Holden has a very unique relationship with his roommate, Stradlater. Is this friendship healthy? Explain.

4. Holden's last words before leaving Pencey were, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" If you were in his position, what would you want to say to everyone as you were leaving the school?

5. Was Holden right to leave Pencey? What would you have done in his position? Consider the time of day and conditions Holden was in.

 

Anita:

 

1. Phoebe is the main reason that Holden decides to stay but if Phoebe weren't as persistant with asking to join him, do you believe that if Phoebe had went home the first time Holden asked her to, would Holden have left right away or would he have eventually stayed? 

2. Holden's secret fantasy is to become the "catcher in the rye" do you think that there really are two "worlds" that separate childhood and adulthood? Do you think that Holden is being childish, not wanting children to grow up? Why or why not? 

3. Many say that Phoebe understandsthe concept of growing far more than Holden even though she is nearly 7 years younger than him. Do you believe that Phoebe is more mature than Holden? Give at least 2 examples from the text to support your answer.

4. In chapter 25, Holden speaks about Phoebe riding the carousel. What is the significance of the carousel? Provide an example from the text.

5. It is believed that Holden narrates the story from a mental hopsital while he recovers from a psychological breakdown due to the way he starts, and ends the novel. Did you expect the novel to end the way it did? Did you expect something else? If so, explain how you would have liked it to end.