Step
4—For your higher achievers try the following analysis:
A.
Phoniness
Holden used the word phony at least 44 times. Some of the pages where phony is listed are: 6, 14, 19, 23, 34, 65, 70, 72, 77, 113, 138, 152, 164, 166, 170, 181, 184, 217, 218, 219, 224, and 226.
Early in the novel, Holden finds the headmaster, Mr. Thurmer, a phony slob. (p.7) He is critical of old Spencer for describing Holden’s parents with a phony word grand; he finds Mr. Haas, the headmaster at Elkton, the phoniest bastard; he finds philanthropist Ossenburger a big phony bastard. Does Holden use the word phony so loosely that it lacks meaning? Or do these different characters have in common some specific quality or combination of qualities which Holden evidently thinks of as phony?
Have your students select one page and describe in paragraph form their interpretation of Holden’s use of the word phony in that context. Then have students list what they consider phony in their world. Be prepared for some truths.
B.
Sexuality
Answer the following questions in essay form. Use your notes and books to support answers.
Although Holden evidently has Jane Gallagher on his mind throughout the novel, he never makes any sustained effort to see or telephone her. Whenever he might attempt to reach her, he claims that he is not in the mood. How do you explain this contradiction?
Holden meets and talks with several women in the story; Mrs. Spencer, the wife of the Pencey history teacher (p.9); Mrs. Morrow, the mother of the mean Pencey student (p.51), Miss Cavendish, whose phone number a Princeton man had given Holden (p.60); the three Seattle devotees of movie stars (p.65); Lillian Simmons, whom D. B. used to go around with (p.80); Sunny, the call girl (p.86); the two nuns (p.98), Sally Hayes, (p.113) and finally Phoebe (pp. 146, 185).
What do women who appeal to Holden have in common?
What do those who do not appeal to him have in common?