Holden+notes

Holden notes –

Characteristics of Holden’s narrative
 * colloquial language – the way people actually speak
 * slang, bad grammar, informal syntax
 * contrasts/ opposites – (speech & appearance)
 * old & young, childish & mature
 * lying
 * exaggeration
 * honesty – wants honesty, but doesn’t follow through, but phonies are bad
 * gregarious – very friendly & outgoing
 * lonely – alienated
 * feels outside of every group, every situation

Holden’s situation
 * privileged – comes from money, goes to private schools
 * still alienated and miserable
 * watching everyone else
 * expectations:
 * parents expect him to do well
 * he can’t figure out why he can’t
 * mental health
 * entitled – (from “title”= landed prince, duke, etc.)
 * sense of deserving something because of who they are

Symbols in Catcher

How do we know what’s a symbol?
 * Does it appear multiple times?
 * What is the context? Mood?
 * Is there a pattern?
 * Does it lead to a better understanding of the work?

Holden’s Hunting Hat
 * H. talks about messing up with the fencing team
 * That’s when he buys the hat (context)
 * He was miserable (mood)
 * Later he puts it on when he’s grumpy
 * Sometimes he turns it around
 * Whenever it shows up, he’s troubled somehow

Some people go further with this symbol
 * Hat is red; it’s on his head
 * Allie was a redhead
 * A. was socially adept, smart, nice
 * Phoebe is also a redhead
 * Also good with the world
 * Therefore, the hat is a connection with Allie
 * Wanting to be like him, red on his head

Museum of Natural History
 * It doesn’t change
 * Every time you go, you’re different
 * but the museum stays the same
 * It’s reliable and he likes that
 * In contrast to himself
 * It’s a reminder of his childhood
 * when life was predictable
 * Holden’s big change – Allie’s death

Ducks in Central Park
 * Winter is coming – what will they do?
 * Won’t they freeze
 * keeps asking cab drivers
 * Change is happening
 * Holden worries

Allie’s baseball glove
 * H. “happens to have it”
 * Actually very important to him
 * Still misses Allie
 * hasn’t found a way to deal with it
 * Allie’s death is a huge change
 * a bad change

Catcher in the Rye
 * Holden gets the song wrong
 * He hears it from a little boy walking next to the curb, in the edge of the street
 * not one place, not the other

Holden’s suitcases
 * Holden wants to put them away, not to be judged because his are nice
 * Roommate with crumby suitcases wants them out
 * Easier to live with a guy with good luggage
 * Holden has money; can’t figure it out
 * also has issue with money with nuns
 * gives them money, but awkward
 * Holden’s luggage shows his privilege
 * like his money

Catcher in the rye Who isn’t a phony? Kids __will__ change “Falling” is changing suddenly
 * What he tells Phoebe he wants to do
 * He wants to catch kids falling off a cliff
 * What is he trying to save them from?
 * Holden himself
 * Phoebe
 * Allie
 * all young people
 * adults are all phonies
 * except Allie who died!
 * Change terrifies Holden
 * big change was Allie’s death
 * H. wants to keep kids from falling, changing
 * this means he wants to keep kids from growing up
 * he wants to save kids from becoming phonies (adults are all phonies)

Mr. Antolini warns Holden about a fall

At the Carousel
 * Phoebe wants to reach for the big brass ring
 * She might fall!
 * Holden worries, then realizes –
 * kids have to fall, it’s okay
 * they get back up
 * Falling isn’t always a disaster
 * Maybe growing up isn’t a disaster