catcher in the rye

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  1. Jerome David Salinger
    United States writer (born 1919)
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  2. phony
    fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  3. immaturity
    inappropriately childish behavior or manner
    He takes advantage of Holden's immaturity to con him out of his money.
  4. mental institution
    a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  5. ice skate
    skate consisting of a boot with a steel blade fitted to the sole
    They go to the theater and also go ice-skating.
  6. nervous breakdown
    a severe or incapacitating emotional disorder
    Key Issues
    Nervous Breakdown - The book begins as Holden is recovering from his nervous breakdown.
  7. train station
    terminal where trains load or unload passengers or goods
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  8. girlfriend
    a girl or woman with whom one is romantically involved
    -Jane Gallagher: Holden's great love and almost girlfriend.
  9. incapability
    the quality of not being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally
    His incapability of living in society has led to his admission into a mental institution.
  10. catcher
    the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  11. self-destruct
    do away with oneself or itself
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  12. Phoebe
    (Greek mythology) a Titaness who became identified with Artemis as goddess of the Moon
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  13. boarding school
    a private school where students are lodged and fed
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  14. roommate
    an associate who shares a room with you
    -Ward Stradlater: Holden's roommate at Pency.
  15. breakdown
    the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  16. destruct
    do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  17. introverted
    shy, reserved, or inward looking
    He became introverted and could no longer cope with life.
  18. piano player
    a person who plays the piano
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  19. flashback
    a transition in a story to an earlier event or scene
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  20. seclude
    keep away from others
    We must deal with the ways of our society in order not to seclude ourselves from it.
  21. television program
    a program broadcast by television
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  22. rye
    hardy annual cereal grass widely cultivated in northern Europe where its grain is the chief ingredient of black bread and in North America for forage and soil improvement
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  23. introvert
    a person who tends to shrink from social contacts
    He became introverted and could no longer cope with life.
  24. sexual relationship
    a relationship involving sexual intimacy
    Immaturity in sexual relationships - Holden's immaturity is shown when he invites the prostitute, Sunny, up to his hotel room for sex.
  25. immature
    not yet fully developed
    Holden is immature although he makes attempts to act as if he is mature.
  26. disliked
    regarded with aversion
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  27. private school
    a school established and controlled privately and supported by endowment and tuition
    This is because they send him to many different private schools and do not supply him with the love and affection he needs.
  28. instability
    a lack of balance or state of disequilibrium
    Mental Instability-Holden's instability has derived from various events and personality traits.
  29. innocence
    the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong
    Holden saw him as a symbol of innocence.
  30. prep
    preparatory school work done outside school
    -Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school.
  31. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  32. night club
    a spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  33. prep school
    a private secondary school
    -Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school.
  34. adult
    a fully developed person from maturity onward
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  35. prostitute
    someone who engages in sexual contact for money
    -Sunny: A prostitute that Holden hires.
  36. mental hospital
    a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
    We are able to conclude that Holden then is sent to a mental hospital for treatment.
  37. lackluster
    not having brilliance or vitality
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  38. hard time
    a difficulty that can be overcome with effort
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  39. dorm
    a building containing living quarters for students
    -Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty dorm mate at Pency.
  40. novel
    an extended fictional work in prose
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  41. narrator
    someone who tells a story
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  42. woodruff
    any plant of the genus Asperula
    The next day, he talks with some nuns about literature and has a date with his former girlfriend Sally Woodruff.
  43. relate
    give an account of
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  44. sexual intercourse
    the act of sexual intercourse between two people
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  45. leukemia
    disease characterized by overproduction of white blood cells
    Allie died of Leukemia.
  46. flunk
    fail to get a passing grade
    He flunks out of three boarding schools in a row, the latest of them Pencey Prep, which is also where the first part of the story takes place.
  47. boarding
    the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  48. dislike
    a feeling of aversion or disapproval
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  49. Salinger
    United States writer (born 1919)
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  50. pimp
    someone who procures customers for whores
    -Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in.
  51. mental
    involving the mind or an intellectual process
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  52. erase
    remove by or as if by rubbing
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  53. protagonist
    the principal character in a work of fiction
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  54. parent
    a father or mother
    Holden had been sent to boarding school by his parents.
  55. sexual
    of or relating to or characterized by sexuality
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  56. materialistic
    marked by a desire for wealth and possessions
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  57. falling off
    a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
  58. relationship
    a mutual connection between people
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  59. run away
    flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
    When he asks her to run away with him, she gets mad and they part.
  60. actuality
    the state of being real or true
    Holden's Hypocrisy - Holden calls other's phonies but in actuality, Holden is the biggest phony in the novel.
  61. society
    an extended group having a distinctive cultural organization
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  62. sunny
    bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
    -Sunny: A prostitute that Holden hires.
  63. talks
    a discussion intended to produce an agreement
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  64. isolate
    place or set apart
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  65. insecure
    lacking in safety
    He is very insecure as well as being very immature.
  66. stay at
    reside temporarily
    Holden visited him while in Manhattan and stayed at his apartment.
  67. narrate
    provide commentary for a film, for example
    It is from this point that Holden narrates the story.
  68. hotel room
    a bedroom (usually with bath) in a hotel
    Immaturity in sexual relationships - Holden's immaturity is shown when he invites the prostitute, Sunny, up to his hotel room for sex.
  69. psychiatric
    relating to the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
    The whole narrative is a coming to terms with the past, since Holden tells it from a psychiatric institution.
  70. grow up
    become an adult
    Themes
    Loss of Innocence - Holden did not want children to grow up because he felt that adults are corrupt.
  71. aimlessly
    without a specific goal or focus
    Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City.
  72. sally
    a military action in which besieged troops burst forth
    -Sally Hayes: Holden's attractive ex-girlfriend.
  73. Spencer
    English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
    -Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school.
  74. run around
    play boisterously
    He spends the night in a train station, then runs around town.
  75. elementary school
    a school for young children; usually the first 6 or 8 grades
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  76. sister
    a female person who has the same parents as another person
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  77. decide
    reach, make, or come to a conclusion about something
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  78. wicker
    flexible branches or twigs that can be woven together
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  79. recovering
    returning to health after illness or debility
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  80. period of time
    an amount of time
    Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
  81. insane
    afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement
    It is the adult world that has driven him insane.
  82. decease
    the event of dying or departure from life
    He is "depressed," at this time Holden thinks and even talks to his deceased brother Allie.
  83. hypocritical
    professing feelings or virtues one does not have
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  84. brother
    a male with the same parents as someone else
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  85. dominating
    offensively self-assured or exercising unwarranted power
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  86. conflict
    an open clash between two opposing groups
    Major Conflicts:
    The first major conflict encountered in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden vs.himself.
  87. expel
    eliminate
    He knows that he cannot return to his parents because they are not aware that he has been expelled again.
  88. trait
    a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  89. exaggerate
    enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
    This is because he finds and exaggerates any negative aspect of all the people he knows or meets.
  90. nun
    a woman religious
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  91. New York City
    the largest city in New York State and in the United States
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  92. dealing
    method or manner of conduct in relation to others
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  93. Manhattan
    one of the five boroughs of New York City
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  94. school
    an educational institution
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  95. jock
    a person trained to compete in sports
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  96. negative
    characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
    This is because he finds and exaggerates any negative aspect of all the people he knows or meets.
  97. nervous
    of or relating to a system of sensory apparatus
    Key Issues
    Nervous Breakdown - The book begins as Holden is recovering from his nervous breakdown.
  98. corrupt
    dishonest or immoral or evasive
    Themes
    Loss of Innocence - Holden did not want children to grow up because he felt that adults are corrupt.
  99. sell out
    get rid of all one's merchandise
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  100. teacher
    a person whose occupation is instructing
    -Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school.
  101. next door
    at or in or to the adjacent residence
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  102. upset
    cause to lose one's composure
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  103. skating
    the sport of gliding on skates
    They go to the theater and also go ice-skating.
  104. Hayes
    19th President of the United States
    -Sally Hayes: Holden's attractive ex-girlfriend.
  105. old boy
    a former male pupil of a school
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  106. recover
    regain or make up for
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  107. younger
    used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
    -Allie Caulfield: Holden's younger brother.
  108. tolerate
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  109. older
    advanced in years; (`aged' is pronounced as two syllables)
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  110. seclusion
    the act of isolating oneself from others
    His internal conflict also led to his seclusion from the outside world.
  111. naughty
    badly behaved
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  112. becoming
    displaying or setting off to best advantage
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  113. dominate
    be in control
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  114. cope with
    satisfy or fulfill
    He became introverted and could no longer cope with life.
  115. everyday
    commonplace and ordinary
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  116. hypocrisy
    pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not have
    Holden's Hypocrisy - Holden calls other's phonies but in actuality, Holden is the biggest phony in the novel.
  117. elevator
    lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
    -Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in.
  118. institution
    a custom that has been an important feature of some group
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  119. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    Holden believed that children were innocent because they viewed the world and society without any bias.
  120. Key
    United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)
    Key Issues
    Nervous Breakdown - The book begins as Holden is recovering from his nervous breakdown.
  121. internal
    located inward
    His own mind working against himself caused him to have internal problems and turn against himself.
  122. also
    in addition
    She also later convinces Holden to return home.
  123. stays
    a woman's close-fitting foundation garment
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  124. rebellious
    resisting control or authority
    Rebellion From Society- Holden throughout the whole novel, differs from society which results in his rebellious nature.
  125. through with
    having finished or arrived at completion
    When she arrives he cannot go through with it.
  126. fall off
    come off
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
  127. deal
    be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  128. Death
    the personification of death
    Death - Death is a major issue in this novel because of the death of his brother Allie.
  129. Jerome
    (Roman Catholic Church) one of the great Fathers of the early Christian Church whose major work was his translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin (which became the Vulgate); a saint and Doctor of the Church (347-420)
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  130. playwright
    someone who writes plays
    This is because D.B. was a writer, who became a playwright in order to gain more public recognition.
  131. summary
    a brief statement that presents the main points
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  132. elementary
    of or being the essential or basic part
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  133. grotesque
    distorted and unnatural in shape or size
    He is described as being grotesque and odd looking.
  134. in order
    in a state of proper readiness or preparation or arrangement
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  135. commitment
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
    Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
  136. sneak
    to go stealthily or furtively
    He sneaks into his parent's apartment at night to talk to his sister.
  137. mature
    having reached full natural growth or development
    Holden is immature although he makes attempts to act as if he is mature.
  138. cope
    come to terms with
    He became introverted and could no longer cope with life.
  139. hotel
    a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
    -Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in.
  140. impress
    have a powerful and usually positive effect on
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  141. depressed
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    He is "depressed," at this time Holden thinks and even talks to his deceased brother Allie.
  142. come across
    be perceived in a certain way; make a certain impression
    Another conflict we come across is Holden vs. society.
  143. derive
    come from
    Mental Instability-Holden's instability has derived from various events and personality traits.
  144. deceased
    someone who is no longer alive
    He is "depressed," at this time Holden thinks and even talks to his deceased brother Allie.
  145. talk
    use language
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  146. Christmas
    a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ
    The journey begins just a week before Holden's Christmas break.
  147. material
    the substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  148. kid
    young goat
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  149. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
    Holden cannot grasp this concept and therefore has a nervous breakdown.
  150. collecting
    the act of gathering something together
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  151. Ward
    United States businessman who in 1872 established a successful mail-order business (1843-1913)
    -Ward Stradlater: Holden's roommate at Pency.
  152. represent
    be a delegate or spokesperson for
    Since Holden is becoming an adult himself, he is unhappy with what he will represent.
  153. apartment
    a home in a building divided into separate dwellings
    Holden visited him while in Manhattan and stayed at his apartment.
  154. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
    He despises those who value material things but he himself prides his possessions.
  155. become
    come into existence
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  156. believe
    accept as true; take to be true
    He believed Stradlater would make her a phony too.
  157. illustrate
    depict with a visual representation
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  158. run
    move fast by using one's feet
    -Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in.
  159. morals
    motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
    Morals, Lessons, and Applications
    Everyone has to grow up.
  160. skate
    sports equipment that is worn on the feet to enable the wearer to glide along and to be propelled by the alternate actions of the legs
    They go to the theater and also go ice-skating.
  161. uncomfortable
    providing or experiencing physical unease
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  162. con
    an argument opposed to a proposal
    He takes advantage of Holden's immaturity to con him out of his money.
  163. up to
    busy or occupied with
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  164. come up to
    speak to someone
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  165. sex
    one of two categories into which most organisms are divided
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  166. stay
    continue in a place, position, or situation
    -Maurice: Sunny's pimp, who also runs the elevator at the hotel Holden was staying in.
  167. isolated
    remote and separate physically or socially
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  168. give up
    give up or quit in the face of defeat
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  169. communicate
    transfer to another
    He can't communicate with anyone and feels that the only person he can even relate to is his sister Phoebe.
  170. seventeen
    the cardinal number that is the sum of sixteen and one
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  171. emotional
    of or pertaining to feelings
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  172. can
    airtight sealed metal container for food or drink, etc.
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  173. take advantage
    draw advantages from
    He takes advantage of Holden's immaturity to con him out of his money.
  174. label
    a brief description given for purposes of identification
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  175. attending
    the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  176. accept
    receive willingly something given or offered
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  177. invite
    ask someone in a friendly way to do something
    Immaturity in sexual relationships - Holden's immaturity is shown when he invites the prostitute, Sunny, up to his hotel room for sex.
  178. depress
    push down
    He is "depressed," at this time Holden thinks and even talks to his deceased brother Allie.
  179. convince
    make realize the truth or validity of something
    She also later convinces Holden to return home.
  180. child
    a human offspring (son or daughter) of any age
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  181. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    Resentment towards parents - Holden disliked his parents because they sent him away to a private school.
  182. go back
    return in thought or speech to something
    Finally, he meets his sister, who tells him she wants to run away with him and that she will never go back to school.
  183. around
    in the area or vicinity
    Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City.
  184. take place
    come to pass
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  185. away
    at a distance in space or time
    When he asks her to run away with him, she gets mad and they part.
  186. unpleasant
    disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  187. throughout
    from first to last
    Throughout the novel he goes on a journey to find himself.
  188. send
    cause to go somewhere
    Holden had been sent to boarding school by his parents.
  189. major
    greater in scope or effect
    Major Conflicts:
    The first major conflict encountered in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden vs.himself.
  190. in return
    (often followed by `for') in exchange or in reciprocation
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  191. admission
    the act of letting someone enter
    His incapability of living in society has led to his admission into a mental institution.
  192. advance
    move forward
    (There he made sexual advances on Holden.)
  193. board
    a stout length of sawn timber
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  194. feel
    be conscious of a physical, mental, or emotional state
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  195. conclude
    bring to a close
    We are able to conclude that Holden then is sent to a mental hospital for treatment.
  196. New York
    the largest city in New York State and in the United States
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  197. growing
    relating to or suitable for growth
    He tries to save all children from growing up and losing their innocence, and when he realized that he can not, he goes insane and can't deal with it.
  198. attractive
    pleasing to the eye or mind as through beauty or charm
    -Sally Hayes: Holden's attractive ex-girlfriend.
  199. intercourse
    the act of engaging in sexual intercourse
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  200. grow
    increase in size by natural process
    Themes
    Loss of Innocence - Holden did not want children to grow up because he felt that adults are corrupt.
  201. date
    the specified day of the month
    He goes on a date with her while he is in Manhattan.
  202. ways
    structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
    We must deal with the ways of our society in order not to seclude ourselves from it.
  203. York
    the English royal house that reigned from 1461 to 1485
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  204. visit
    the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  205. neglected
    lacking a caretaker
    He believes they are phonies and that they neglected him.
  206. journey
    the act of traveling from one place to another
    The journey begins just a week before Holden's Christmas break.
  207. possession
    anything owned
    This is because people usually want these possessions in order to impress others and become something they are not.
  208. grade
    a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  209. night
    the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  210. background
    the part of a scene behind objects in the front
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  211. usually
    under normal conditions
    Usually the mark of a phony is the desire for material goods.
  212. people
    any group of human beings collectively
    Everything and all other people seem "phony" to him.
  213. rebellion
    organized opposition to authority
    Rebellion From Society- Holden throughout the whole novel, differs from society which results in his rebellious nature.
  214. save
    bring into safety
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  215. item
    a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  216. encounter
    come together
    Major Conflicts:
    The first major conflict encountered in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden vs.himself.
  217. Hollywood
    a district of Los Angeles long associated with the American film industry
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  218. piano
    a musical instrument played by pressing black and white keys
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  219. Robert
    United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
    -Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty dorm mate at Pency.
  220. station
    a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  221. recognition
    identifying something or someone by remembering
    This is because D.B. was a writer, who became a playwright in order to gain more public recognition.
  222. think about
    have on one's mind, think about actively
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  223. put up
    place so as to be noticed
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  224. issue
    some situation or event that is thought about
    Key Issues
    Nervous Breakdown - The book begins as Holden is recovering from his nervous breakdown.
  225. writer
    a person who is able to write and has written something
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  226. attend
    be present
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  227. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
    It is an inevitable fact.
  228. derived
    formed or developed from something else; not original
    Mental Instability-Holden's instability has derived from various events and personality traits.
  229. theme
    the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
    Themes
    Loss of Innocence - Holden did not want children to grow up because he felt that adults are corrupt.
  230. view
    the visual percept of a region
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  231. theater
    a building where performances can be presented
    They go to the theater and also go ice-skating.
  232. cheap
    relatively low in price or charging low prices
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  233. dirty
    soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
    -Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty dorm mate at Pency.
  234. personality
    the complex of attributes that characterize an individual
    Mental Instability-Holden's instability has derived from various events and personality traits.
  235. leaf
    the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants
    He then leaves to meet his former teacher, Mr. Antolini.
  236. value
    the quality that renders something desirable
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  237. act as
    function as or act like
    Holden is immature although he makes attempts to act as if he is mature.
  238. wandering
    travelling about without any clear destination
    Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City.
  239. smart
    characterized by quickness and ease in learning
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  240. life
    the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  241. fuel
    a substance that can be consumed to produce energy
    It is the death of his brother which fuels his desire to save children from growing up and becoming corrupt.
  242. not
    negation of a word or group of words
    Holden can not accept those who value materialistic items and labels them "phonies."
  243. symbol
    something visible that represents something invisible
    Holden saw him as a symbol of innocence.
  244. carry on
    keep or maintain in unaltered condition
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  245. hatred
    the emotion of intense dislike
    Holden cannot function as a normal part of society because of his hatred towards all "phonies", which he believes everyone to be.
  246. narrative
    an account that tells the particulars of an act or event
    The whole narrative is a coming to terms with the past, since Holden tells it from a psychiatric institution.
  247. television
    an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  248. hard
    resisting weight or pressure
    Holden has a hard time dealing with everyday life, and feels that everyone around him is a "phony".
  249. meet
    come together
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  250. normal
    being approximately average or within certain limits
    Holden cannot function as a normal part of society because of his hatred towards all "phonies", which he believes everyone to be.
  251. while
    a period of indeterminate length marked by some action
    Holden visits her while in Manhattan, and while with her he decides that he would like to save children like her from becoming phonies.
  252. rarely
    not often
    Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
  253. order
    logical arrangement of different elements
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  254. finally
    as the end result of a sequence or process
    Finally, he meets his sister, who tells him she wants to run away with him and that she will never go back to school.
  255. sent
    caused or enabled to go or be conveyed or transmitted
    Holden had been sent to boarding school by his parents.
  256. example
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  257. useless
    having no beneficial utility
    He thinks that they feel he is useless and give up on him and send him away.
  258. differ
    be dissimilar or unlike
    Rebellion From Society- Holden throughout the whole novel, differs from society which results in his rebellious nature.
  259. story
    a record or narrative description of past events
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  260. cliff
    a steep high face of rock
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
  261. private
    confined to particular persons or groups
    This is because they send him to many different private schools and do not supply him with the love and affection he needs.
  262. latest
    up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
    He flunks out of three boarding schools in a row, the latest of them Pencey Prep, which is also where the first part of the story takes place.
  263. realize
    be fully aware or cognizant of
    Everyone is a "phony" to him and he never realizes the good in anyone.
  264. up on
    being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
    He thinks that they feel he is useless and give up on him and send him away.
  265. obvious
    easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
    It is obvious, though, that he is not.
  266. realized
    successfully completed or brought to an end
    He tries to save all children from growing up and losing their innocence, and when he realized that he can not, he goes insane and can't deal with it.
  267. arrive
    reach a destination
    When she arrives he cannot go through with it.
  268. Saturday
    the seventh and last day of the week
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  269. application
    the action of putting something into operation
    Morals, Lessons, and Applications
    Everyone has to grow up.
  270. leave
    go away from a place
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  271. alter
    cause to change; make different
    The ways of society are set and no single man can alter them.
  272. event
    something that happens at a given place and time
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  273. money
    the most common medium of exchange
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  274. mate
    a person's partner in marriage
    -Robert Ackley: Holden's dirty dorm mate at Pency.
  275. function
    what something is used for
    Holden cannot function as a normal part of society because of his hatred towards all "phonies", which he believes everyone to be.
  276. go through
    go across or through
    When she arrives he cannot go through with it.
  277. rebel
    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
    Holden also rebels because he feels that all adults are phonies.
  278. odd
    not divisible by two
    He is described as being grotesque and odd looking.
  279. unhappy
    experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
    Since Holden is becoming an adult himself, he is unhappy with what he will represent.
  280. dream
    a series of images and emotions occurring during sleep
    He tells her about his dream to be a "catcher in the rye," and that he wants to run away.
  281. person
    a human being
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  282. desire
    the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
    Usually the mark of a phony is the desire for material goods.
  283. want
    the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
    He tells her about his dream to be a "catcher in the rye," and that he wants to run away.
  284. hire
    engage or hire for work
    -Sunny: A prostitute that Holden hires.
  285. former
    the first of two or the first mentioned of two
    The next day, he talks with some nuns about literature and has a date with his former girlfriend Sally Woodruff.
  286. strongly
    with power
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  287. player
    a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  288. only
    without any others being included or involved
    - Phoebe Caulfield: Holden's smart kid sister, the only person that Holden can relate to.
  289. New
    used of a living language
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  290. extended
    fully stretched forth
    Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
  291. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
    This is because he finds and exaggerates any negative aspect of all the people he knows or meets.
  292. on the other hand
    (contrastive) from another point of view
    On the other hand his older brother D.B. is a prime example of a phony.
  293. next
    immediately following in time or order
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  294. destruction
    an event that completely ruins something
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  295. plot
    a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  296. attended
    having a caretaker or other watcher
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  297. train
    educate for a future role or function
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  298. die
    lose all bodily functions necessary to sustain life
    Allie died of Leukemia.
  299. characteristic
    typical or distinctive
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  300. innocent
    free from sin
    Holden believed that children were innocent because they viewed the world and society without any bias.
  301. grasp
    hold firmly
    Holden cannot grasp this concept and therefore has a nervous breakdown.
  302. effects
    property of a personal character that is portable
    This had many negative effects on Holden.
  303. describe
    give a statement representing something
    He is described as being grotesque and odd looking.
  304. represented
    represented accurately or precisely
    To Holden, Allie represented innocence.
  305. try
    make an effort or attempt
    This is seen when Holden tries to erase naughty words from the walls of the elementary school, that his sister Phoebe attended.
  306. spend
    pass time in a specific way
    Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City.
  307. retain
    secure and keep for possible future use or application
    Holden decides that they are only the only adults that have not become phony and therefore can retain their innocence.
  308. city
    a large and densely populated urban area
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  309. neglect
    leave undone or leave out
    He believes they are phonies and that they neglected him.
  310. days
    the time during which someone's life continues
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  311. setting
    the physical position of something
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  312. just
    and nothing more
    The journey begins just a week before Holden's Christmas break.
  313. Major
    British statesman who was prime minister from 1990 until 1997 (born in 1943)
    Major Conflicts:
    The first major conflict encountered in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden vs.himself.
  314. opposition
    being against something that you disapprove or disagree with
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  315. friendly
    characteristic of or befitting an ally
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  316. return
    go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
    She also later convinces Holden to return home.
  317. go on
    move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
    Throughout the novel he goes on a journey to find himself.
  318. mad
    roused to anger
    When he asks her to run away with him, she gets mad and they part.
  319. falling
    coming down freely under the influence of gravity
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
  320. host
    a person who invites guests to a social event
    They have a good talk, but Holden leaves in a hurry when he thinks his host makes a sexual advance on him.
  321. model
    a representation of something, often on a smaller scale
    Holden uses his brother as a model for innocence.
  322. prime
    of or relating to the first or originating agent
    On the other hand his older brother D.B. is a prime example of a phony.
  323. room
    an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
    While in his room, Holden just talks to her, as he is uncomfortable with the idea of sexual intercourse with her.
  324. being
    the state or fact of existing
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  325. unable
    lacking necessary physical or mental ability
    Holden is unable to accept life.
  326. for one
    as a particular one of several possibilities
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  327. treatment
    the management of someone or something
    We are able to conclude that Holden then is sent to a mental hospital for treatment.
  328. history
    a record or narrative description of past events
    -Mr. Spencer: Holden's history teacher at Pency Prep school.
  329. wander
    move or cause to move in a sinuous or circular course
    Holden spends the next three days wandering aimlessly around New York City.
  330. able
    having the necessary means or skill to do something
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  331. very
    being the exact same one; not any other:
    He was very upset that she was to go out with Stradlater.
  332. early
    at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  333. other
    not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  334. lesson
    the significance of a story or event
    Morals, Lessons, and Applications
    Everyone has to grow up.
  335. literature
    writings in a particular style on a particular subject
    The next day, he talks with some nuns about literature and has a date with his former girlfriend Sally Woodruff.
  336. driven
    compelled forcibly by an outside agency
    It is the adult world that has driven him insane.
  337. see
    perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
    Holden saw him as a symbol of innocence.
  338. tell
    narrate or give a detailed account of
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  339. aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
    He knows that he cannot return to his parents because they are not aware that he has been expelled again.
  340. dance
    taking a series of rhythmical steps in time to music
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  341. ice
    water frozen in the solid state
    They go to the theater and also go ice-skating.
  342. cause
    events that provide the generative force of something
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  343. owner
    a person who owns something
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  344. majority
    the main part
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  345. poem
    a composition in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
  346. needs
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    This is because they send him to many different private schools and do not supply him with the love and affection he needs.
  347. therefore
    as a result; from that fact or reason
    Holden decides that they are only the only adults that have not become phony and therefore can retain their innocence.
  348. telling
    disclosing unintentionally
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  349. connect
    fasten or put together two or more pieces
    This is why Holden can only connect with his younger sister Phoebe.
  350. wealth
    property that has economic value
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  351. hospital
    a medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care
    We are able to conclude that Holden then is sent to a mental hospital for treatment.
  352. recent
    of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  353. row
    an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
    He flunks out of three boarding schools in a row, the latest of them Pencey Prep, which is also where the first part of the story takes place.
  354. collect
    gather
    -Two Nuns: Holden meets these two at the train station where they are collecting money.
  355. affection
    a positive feeling of liking
    This is because they send him to many different private schools and do not supply him with the love and affection he needs.
  356. image
    a visual representation produced on a surface
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  357. keep
    continue a certain state, condition, or activity
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  358. nobody
    no person or no one
    With nobody else around, Holden turns to the only person he can relate to, his sister Phoebe.
  359. come up
    move upward
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  360. sold
    disposed of to a purchaser
    Holden views his brother as being a phony since he had "sold out" and given up his principles in return for money.
  361. described
    represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
    He is described as being grotesque and odd looking.
  362. begin
    set in motion, cause to start
    The journey begins just a week before Holden's Christmas break.
  363. find
    discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
    Characters
    - Holden Caulfield: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, finds himself upset with the society in which he lives.
  364. entire
    constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
    The entire novel is a flashback of the events that had led up to his emotional destruction.
  365. Old
    of a very early stage in development
    One Saturday night, after an unpleasant experience with his history teacher "Old Spencer," his roommate Stradlater and the boy next door, Robert Ackley, Holden decides to leave Pencey four days early for Christmas break.
  366. club
    a formal association of people with similar interests
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  367. David
    the 2nd king of the Israelites
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  368. pride
    a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
    He despises those who value material things but he himself prides his possessions.
  369. part
    one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole
    He flunks out of three boarding schools in a row, the latest of them Pencey Prep, which is also where the first part of the story takes place.
  370. hurry
    move very fast
    They have a good talk, but Holden leaves in a hurry when he thinks his host makes a sexual advance on him.
  371. often
    many times at short intervals
    Holden strongly disliked him as he saw him as the quintessential phony, because Stradlater often put up an act in order to keep his image as a "jock" and to impress girls.
  372. three
    the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  373. bar
    a rigid piece of metal or wood
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  374. world
    the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
    It is the adult world that has driven him insane.
  375. title
    the name of a work of art or literary composition
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  376. program
    a series of steps to be carried out
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  377. act
    behave in a certain manner
    Holden is immature although he makes attempts to act as if he is mature.
  378. death
    the permanent end of all life functions in an organism
    Death - Death is a major issue in this novel because of the death of his brother Allie.
  379. live in
    live in the house where one works
    His incapability of living in society has led to his admission into a mental institution.
  380. perhaps
    by chance
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  381. extend
    stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope
    Holden also rarely had a girlfriend for an extended period of time because of his fear of commitment.
  382. two
    the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  383. terms
    status with respect to the relations between people or groups
    The whole narrative is a coming to terms with the past, since Holden tells it from a psychiatric institution.
  384. young man
    a teenager or a young adult male
    Background:
    A young man, Holden Caulfield, is in a mental institution where he is recovering from a recent mental breakdown.
  385. day
    time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  386. break
    destroy the integrity of
    The journey begins just a week before Holden's Christmas break.
  387. think
    judge or regard; look upon; judge
    He stays at a cheap hotel for one night, goes to two night clubs, dances with older women, often talks and thinks about sex, even has a prostitute come up to his room.
  388. turn to
    direct one's interest or attention towards; go into
    With nobody else around, Holden turns to the only person he can relate to, his sister Phoebe.
  389. serious
    of great consequence
    -D.B. Caulfield: Holden's brother who used to be a serious writer, but is now in Hollywood where he is writing for television programs.
  390. go out
    move out of or depart from
    He was very upset that she was to go out with Stradlater.
  391. advantage
    the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
    He takes advantage of Holden's immaturity to con him out of his money.
  392. moral
    concerned with principles of right and wrong
    Morals, Lessons, and Applications
    Everyone has to grow up.
  393. due
    that which is deserved or owed
    This is due to Holden's strong opposition to material wealth, which is a dominating characteristic of the society which he could not accept.
  394. boy
    a youthful male person
    Plot Summary
    The novel opens with the narrator, Holden Caulfield, a seventeen-year-old boy from New York City, telling the story of three days in his life.
  395. all
    entirely or completely
    In all, Holden is hypocritical and it is perhaps this trait that causes him to self-destruct.
  396. loss
    the act of losing someone or something
    Themes
    Loss of Innocence - Holden did not want children to grow up because he felt that adults are corrupt.
  397. student
    a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
    Also disliked by Holden, the two at least tolerated each other as both were isolated from the other students.
  398. whole
    all of something, including all of its elements or parts
    The whole narrative is a coming to terms with the past, since Holden tells it from a psychiatric institution.
  399. no longer
    not now
    He became introverted and could no longer cope with life.
  400. likely
    having a good chance of being the case or of coming about
    This is most likely to illustrate to himself that he was able to carry on an adult relationship.
  401. post
    piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position
    Title: The Catcher In The Rye
    Author: Jerome David Salinger
    Setting:
    The majority of the novel takes place in New York City during post war America.
  402. leaving
    the act of departing
    The flashback begins with Holden leaving the boarding school he had been attending because of lackluster grades.
  403. perfect
    being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
    - Ernie: Owner and piano player at the Wicker Bar. He was friendly with Holden's older brother, D.B., and is a perfect example of a phony.
  404. working
    a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked
    His own mind working against himself caused him to have internal problems and turn against himself.
  405. prevent
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
    This leads to Holden's dream to being the catcher in the rye, which relates to a poem where the catcher prevents small children from falling off a cliff.
Created on Mon Jun 14 11:06:36 EDT 2010

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