AN INTERESTING DIGRESSION. The Assassination of John Lennon: Mark David Chapman: Links:

Transcription

1 AN INTERESTING DIGRESSION The Assassination of John Lennon: In the late afternoon of December 8, 1980, in New York City, deranged fan Mark David Chapman met Lennon as he left for the recording studio and got his copy of Double Fantasy autographed; the event of Lennon signing one of his last autographs was caught by a photographer who witnessed this goodwill gesture. Chapman remained in the vicinity of The Dakota for most of the day as a fireworks demonstration in nearby Central Park distracted the doorman and passers-by. Later that evening, Lennon and Ono (Yoko) returned to their apartment from recording Ono=s single AWalking on Thin Ice@ for their next album. At 10:50 pm, their limousine pulled up to the entrance of the Dakota. Ono got out of the car first, followed by Lennon. Beyond the main entrance was a door which would be openened and a small set of stairs leading into the apartment complex. As Ono went in, Lennon got out of the car and glanced at Chapman, proceeding on through the entrance to the Dakota. As Lennon walked past him, Chapman called out AMr. Lennon.@ As Lennon turned, Chapman crouched into what witnesses called a Acombat@ stance and fired five hollowpoint bullets into John s back and shoulder. One of the bullets fatally pierced his aorta. Still, Lennon managed to stagger up six steps into the concierge booth where he collapsed, gasping AI=m shot, I=m shot.@ Chapman stood there, holding his.38 Charter Arms revolver, which was pulled out of his hands and kicked away by Jose Perdomo who then asked AWhat have you done, what have you done?@, to which Chapman replied AI just shot John Lennon.@ Chapman then calmly took his coat off, placed it at his feet, took out a book and started reading. Police arrived within minutes, to find Chapman still waiting quietly outside, reading a copy of J.D. Salinger=s novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Mark David Chapman: He viewed the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, as having great personal significance for him, to the point that he reportedly wished to model his life after the book=s antisocial protagonist Holden Caulfield. Chapman=s statement to the police: AThen this morning I went to the bookstore and bought The Catcher in the Rye, I=m sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person in the book. The small part of me must be the Devil.@ Links:

2 Symbolism in the novel SYMBOLS A symbol is something that stands for something else. For example, the dove is a symbol of peace. Titles, repeated phrases or repeated references to particular objects in a story are often clues to symbols. Symbols are used to emphasize the theme or message in a story. 1. How did you interpret these symbols when you first encountered them in the novel? Holden=s Red Hunting Hat: The Ducks in the Pond: The Museum of Natural History: The ACatcher in the Rye@:

3 2. How do you interpret them after completing the novel? What, if anything, made you change your mind? 3. In your opinion, are there any other significant symbols in this novel? If so, add them to this list and interpret what you think they may actually represent. Relationships in The Catcher in the Rye Briefly describe Holden=s relationship to these various characters from the novel. e.g., Holden and Mr. Spencer: Mr. Spencer is Holden=s history teacher at Pencey Preparatory Academy. He tries to shake Holden out of his academic apathy. Holden refuses to acknowledge that Mr. Spencer is trying to help him. Holden makes up a story to leave Mr. Spencer=s house early. 1. Holden and Ackley: 2. Holden and Stradlater: 3. Holden and Jane Gallagher: 4. Holden and Sally Hayes: 5. Holden and Allie Caulfield: 6. Holden and D.B Caulfield:

4 7. Holden and Mr. Antolini: 8. Holden and Carl Luce: 9. Holden and Sunny and Maurice: 10. Holden and The Woman on the train: 11. Holden and The Girls at the hotel bar: 12. Holden and Phoebe Caulfield: QUESTIONS 1. What is typical of all these meetings with other characters? 2. What do they reveal about Holden=s personality?

5 Character Descriptions As you come across the following characters in the novel, match them up with their description. 1. Mr. Antolini A. Writes scripts for movies 2. Phoebe B. Rooms with Holden at Pencey 3. Ackley C. Graduated from Whooton 4. D.B. D. Teaches history at Pencey 5. Stradlater E. Visits the zoo with Holden 6. Holden 7. Jane Gallagher F. Advises Holden to live humbly for a cause G. Flunks out of school 8. Spencer 9. Sally Hayes H. Lives next door to Holden in the summer I. Attends a play with Holden 10. Luce J. Rooms next to Holden at Pencey

6 The Catcher in the Rye - Study Questions Chapters 1-3 Vocabulary (ostracized, compulsory) 1. Describe your initial impressions of the author, Holden Caulfield. 2. What is the school motto at Pencey? Briefly describe this prep school. 3. Why do you think Holden had Aforgotten@ to mention his dismissal from Pencey? 4. What does Holden mean when he says that Pencey is full of Acrooks@? 5. What is significant in Holden=s remark about Mrs. Spencer opening the door herself? 6. Why does Holden go to see Mr. Spencer and why does he regret his visit? 7. Why is the ambiguity of Holden=s age stressed? 8. What is important about Holden=s exam paper? What does this tell us about his personality? 9. Why does Holden characterize himself as a liar? 10. What is the significance of the deflation of Ossenburger? 11. What kind of books does Holden enjoy reading? 12. What does Holden like about his new hat? 13. Why does Holden yearn to talk to certain authors? 14. What is Holden=s attitude towards Ackley? 15. How is Stradlater characterized?

7 Chapter 4-7 Vocabulary (ironic, pacifist, exhibitionist, lavish, halitosis, scrupulous) 16. Holden says You take a very handsome guy and they are always asking you to do them a favor (sic) According to him, why is this so? What is the favour? 17. What is the importance of Holden=s message to Jane? What are his doubts about his message? 18. What does Holden mean about being annoyed when you re good at writing compositions and somebody starts talking about commas? 19. What do we learn about Allie through Holden s composition? 20. Why do you think Holden invites Ackley to come with Mal and him on Saturday night? What annoys Holden about Ackley s response? 21. Why does Holden fight Stradlater? 22. Why does Holden consider going into a monastery? 23. Why is Holden so lonely at Pencey? 24. What bothers Holden about the skates that were given to him by his mother? Chapter 8-11 Vocabulary (conscientious, sauve, verification, incognito) 25. Why does Holden give a false name to Mrs. Morrow? How does he feel about her? 26. Why does he lie about Ernest Morrow? 27. Why do you think Holden lies about the brain surgery? How is this lie different from his others? 28. Who is the first person Holden calls upon arriving in New York? 29. What is Holden=s attitude towards sex? 30. Who is Phoebe and what is she like?

8 31. What sort of place is Ernie s? How does Holden know about it? Chapters Vocabulary (nonchalant) 32. What does Holden find bothersome about the ducks in the lagoon? What does this inquiry suggest about Holden s personality? 33. Why doesn t Holden have a good time at Ernie s? Who annoys him and why was she showing off her date? 34. Why is Holden unable to consummate any physical act with Sunny? 35. What is Holden=s mental state after Sunny=s departure? 36. What is the real outcome of his fight with Sunny? 37. What is suggested by Holden=s fantasy of Aplugging@ Maurice? Chapter Vocabulary (raspy, prejudice, mutinying) 38. What is Holden=s attitude towards the nuns? 39. What jogs Holden s memories of his roommate Dick Slagle? Why did Holden put his suitcases out of sight when rooming with Dick? 40. Describe Holden s attitude about money. 41. What present does Holden get for Phoebe? Why does he think she ll like it? 42. What does Holden admire about the child on the street? 43. What does Holden like about the museum? 44. What is the point of the remembrances of Harris Macklin? 45. What contradiction exists in Holden=s attitude toward Sally? Why do they fight?

9 Chapters Vocabulary (inferiority, aristocratic, sacrilegious, putrid, inane, boisterous, atheist, economizing) 46. Why does Holden call Carl Luce, whom he admits he doesn t like very much? How does their meeting go? 47. What change does Holden notice in Luce? 48. Why does Holden consider the woman crying next to him in the movies a hypocrite? 49. Why does Holden say he s sort of glad they got the atomic bomb invented? What war has just ended? What other semi-suicidal references has Holden made? 48. Why does Holden call Carl Luce, whom he admits he doesn t like very much? How does their meeting go? 49. What change does Holden notice in Luce? 50. What is the first impression given of Phoebe? 51. What happens to Phoebe s record? Why do you think Salinger included that detail? 52. Why didn t Holden go to his brother s funeral? What does this suggest about Holden s coping skills? 53. How does Holden feel when he visits Allie s grave on a stormy day? Do you think his morbid thoughts about Allie under the ground are normal? Chapter Vocabulary (foyer) 54. How are Holden=s parents depicted? 55. What do Phoebe s room (technically it is her brother DB s room) and her belongings suggest about her personality? 56. What conclusion does Phoebe draw from Holden=s criticism of Pencey?

10 57. When Phoebe challenges Holden to name one thing that he likes what does he answer? 58. Who is James Castle? Why is Holden remembering him now? 60. What careers does Holden reject as unsuitable for him? In what career do you think he would be happy and productive? What does Holden say he would like to be? 61. In your opinion, what does the fall from the cliff represent on a metaphorical level? 62. Who is Mr. Antolini? Why does Holden plan to stay with Mr. Antolini for a few days rather than with his own parents? Chapters Vocabulary (harrowing, pedagogical, provocative, reciprocal, unify, humility) 62. What is Mr. Antolini like? Summarize his philosophy about education and the advice he gives Holden. Do you agree with him? 63. Why did Holden flunk Oral Expression? Why didn t he like the teaching device used to impress students not to digress? 64. Why did Holden like Richard Kinsella s speeches? What does this suggest about Holden s personality? 65. Why does Holden leave Mr. Antolini s place in the middle of the night? Was he over reacting? How does Holden s pessimism play into his interpretation of Mr. Antolini s actions? 66. Provide evidence which suggests that Holden is not well (physically or mentally). 67. Why does Holden decide he will be a deaf mute? 68. What does Holden see at Phoebe s school which both upsets and disturbs him? Why is this ironic? 69. Why does Holden give Phoebe his hunting cap? 70. How does Holden feel as he watches Phoebe on the carrousel?

11 71. What clues do the final chapter give about what happened after Holden went home? 72. Summarize what (in your opinion) drove Holden mad? 73. Explain the meaning of the title of the book?

12 The Meaning of the Title 1. Where in the novel does it mention a catcher in the rye? 2. Is it an appropriate title for the book? Why? 3. If you could pick a new title for this novel, what would it be? Explain your choice. Contrast J.D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield 1. Given what you know about Holden Caulfield and J.D Salinger, is it safe to say that perhaps Salinger modeled Caulfield after himself? What evidence from your notes on Salinger and from his novel can you find to support this argument?

13 The Controversy Surrounding The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye has been shrouded in controversy since its publication. Critics see Holden as a disturbing influence on youths. Fifty years after its publication in , The Catcher in the Rye is both the most banned book in America as well as the second most taught book in public schools. Many arguments have been made for censoring The Catcher in the Rye - and for continuing to teach it. 1. Complete the following chart by filling in reasons for and against censoring this novel. Continue teaching this novel because... Stop teaching this novel because If The Catcher in the Rye were banned in this school, how would you defend it?

14 Themes/Motifs in the Novel A theme is an observation of life which serves as the controlling idea in a literary work. A theme is seldom presented word-for-word but is more often found as an abstract idea, surfacing through the actions and dialogues of characters. A motif is a theme that is present throughout the entirety of the novel. e.g., A major motif in The Lord of the Flies is evil. 1. What are the principal themes/motifs discussed in The Catcher in the Rye? Find three (3) topics that are discussed in this novel that you think could be considered a theme or a motif. I) Theme/Motif no. 1 : ii) Theme/Motif no. 2: iii) Theme/Motif no. 3:

15 Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye Context: The Catcher in the Rye takes place in the late 1940's, which is also the approximate time in which it was written. Salinger was widely regarded as a spokesperson for young people after WWII. His sharp ear for dialogue and his sensitivity to the frustrations of teens growing up in contemporary America have earned him lasting acclaim. Summary: The Catcher in the Rye is the story of a few pivotal days in the life of a 16-yearold-boy, as told by that teen, Holden Caulfield. Setting: The story begins at Pencey Preparatory Academy in Pennsylvania, but moves to Manhattan in New York. It takes place in the late 1940's. Important Characters: Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the story. Phoebe Caulfield: Holden=s younger sister. D.B. Caulfield: Holden=s older brother. Allie Caulfield: Holden=s younger brother. Sally Hayes: A girl Holden is interested in dating. Ward Stradlater: Holden=s popular roommate at Pencey Prep.

16 Conflicts in The Catcher in the Rye Conflict results from the struggle of two opposing forces. One of the forces is usually person. That person usually confronts one or more of five basic kinds of opposition. Opposition includes other people, forces of nature, society, fate, and internal elements battling for control. Identify what you think may be the main conflicts in the novel: I) Conflict no. 1: ii) Conflict no. 2: iii) Conflict no. 3:

17 Recap - The Catcher in the Rye 1. What important information do we learn about Holden in the final few pages of the novel? 2. What evidence do we encounter in the novel that could have led us to guess Holden was a...? 3. What are your thoughts on Holden Caulfield? Do you feel sympathy towards him? Is he a realistic character? 4. Why do you think this novel is so popular and so Along-lived?@ Will students still be reading it thirty years from now? Which aspects of the novel - if any - are dated? Does that matter? 5. If you were Holden=s friend, what would you say to him to help him live a happier life? 6. If you were to make this novel into a film, who would you cast as Holden Caulfield? Why?

18

19