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Why Does Holden Is Not Going To Tell Readers His Life Story

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1. Based on the first sentence of the novel, do you think Holden Caulfield will be providing every single detail of his story? Why or why not?

No, telling on the first sentence of the novel, it is unlikely that Holden Caulfield will provide every single detail of his story.

2. Holden is not going to tell readers his life story. What IS he going to tell them?

Instead of sharing his life story, Holden Caulfield expresses his intention to recount a specific period of his life, spanning a few days leading up to his expulsion from Pencey Prep, a boarding school.

3. The way Holden talks about the Pencey Prep advertisements gets us started with Holden’s personality. How does he feel about the advertisements? Why does he feel this way? …show more content…

What’s important about the day the story starts? What is going on with Holden and Pencey Prep? Why is this happening?

The day the story starts is significant because it marks Holden Caulfield's expulsion from Pencey Prep, a school he has been attending. Holden got notice that he has failed four out of his five subjects and will be leaving the school.

5. After telling the story of the cancelled fencing tournament due to Holden’s actions, he says,
“It was pretty funny, in a way.” Is this a funny story? Do we really think Holden finds it funny? Or is he playing it off? What do you think?

Holden might be employing a form of self-hurting humor. By finding humor in his own actions leading to the cancellation of the tournament, he could be showin the consequences and trying to lighten the situation.

6. In this chapter, Holden is trying to say goodbye. What does he say about leaving places? Is it better to know when you are leaving or not? What’s his reasoning?

Holden expresses a strong dislike for goodbyes and the idea of leaving places. He mentions that he is the type of person who likes to stay at places for a while and become comfortable before moving on. He finds it difficult to say goodbye because it makes him feel …show more content…

What Holden says…

b. What Holden thinks…

c. Explain how they conflict and what it says about Holden’s character…

What Holden says: "I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot."

What Holden thinks: "I mean I've read a lot of classics, like all of them or something. I know that's a lot, but I swear to God, I've read all of them."

These quotes show a contradiction between what Holden outwardly claims and what he genuinely believes. In the first quote, Holden openly admits that he is "illiterate," suggesting that he lacks literary knowledge and thinks he is not smart.

2. During his conversation with Mr. Spencer, Holden gets distracted thinking about ducks in Central Park in New York City. What are some things he wonders about them? What are some solutions that he comes up with while thinking?

Where the ducks go in winter, Whether the ducks have a permanent home

Whether the ducks return to the park. Holden wonders if the ducks actually live like other beings and care for each other like some humans do.

3. When talking with Mr. Spencer, Holden reflects on a few reasons he hates growing old and old people. What are these reasons?

Hypocrisy, lack of spontaneity and

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