Read chapters 20 to 25 closely.
Today, we reviewed the keys to effective literary paragraphs. I returned the chapter 17 paragraphs and we read one another's paragraphs and took notes regarding style, structure and insight. If you are not getting the marks you would like, focus on doing something new. Is it a structural problem? Insight? Where could you improve style?
Next, we read chapter 20 aloud in groups of two, stopping to make inferences and post-it note key quotes. If you were absent, read the chapter, post-it note the quotes below and write inferences for each one.
"I was concealing the fact that I was a wounded sonuvabitch" (150).
It's almost one in the morning and he is still in the bar and he calls Sally. He's completely drunk.
Discuss the phone motif in the novel.
" ' No home to go to . . . ' " (152).
"When they're done combing their hair, they beat it on you" (153).
Read page 153 closely. The coat check girl ensures he puts on his red hunting hat. Significance?
Bottom of 153, he decides to go to the duck pond in Central Park.
He drops Phoebe's record, "Little Shirley Beans" and he breaks it. Discuss.
He keeps the pieces of the broken record in his pocket.
He can't find any ducks. The pond is partially frozen. page 154
He imagines he will get pneumonia and die. 154
"I started picturing millions of jerks coming to my funeral and all" (154).
"Who wants flowers when you are dead? Nobody" (155).
He doesn't want to be buried in a cemetery surrounded by "dead guys". He wants to be thrown in a river. So, even in death, he wants to be alone. Why?
"It rained on [Allie's] tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place. All the visitors that were visiting the cemetery started running like hell over to their cars. That's what nearly drove me crazy. . . . I couldn't stand it. I just wish her wasn't there" 155-156).
He hates leaving Allie in the cemetery all alone.
He starts skipping the few coins he has left across the pond. (156).
He decides to sneak home to see Phoebe. 156
Read chapters 21 and 22 tonight.
Play close attention to his interactions with Phoebe. Chapter 21 is quite short.
Phoebe makes him tell her what he actually enjoys.
Post-it note what Holden needs in order to be content.
Come to class prepared to discuss his dream of becoming a catcher in the rye.
Friday: We'll discuss chapter 22 and I'll put on the board the passages to read and analyze.
This weekend: Choose a topic for your essay. Post-it note 10 to 15 passages that you think will support your topic.
CHOOSING A TOPIC:
- I am interested in your interpretations of key scenes.
- Choose a topic based on a few memorable scenes. What were your favourite parts? The museum? The scene with the prostitue? The fight with Stradlater? The opening on Thomsen Hill? The scene with the nuns? The scene in chapter 17 when he yells at Sally? The scene with Phoebe on the carousel? The scenes in the park or in the cab or bar or hotel? The scenes with the catcher in the rye? The scene with Mr. Antolini? Mr. Spencer? Sally?
- Once you start re-visiting two or three key scenes, you'll notice themes arise. Choose a topic based on a theme (what the novel makes you ponder) (what the novel makes you think about)
- Holden's alienation.
- Holden's empathy and compassion
- The role of the adults in the novel.
- The role of children in the novel.
- Holden's refusal to grow up.
- Walden and Thoreau and the yearning for a simpler, more heroic life
- New York in the 50s.
- Criticisms of privilege and economic status
- Attitudes toward women and intimacy
- The use of stream of consciousness
- Holden as typical or atypical teen
- Lack of emotional availability (No one discusses feelings)
- Loneliness in the novel
- Loss of innocence
- The nature of childhood
- Search for perfection and redemption
