Reading Questions for "Catcher in the Rye"

I gathered some discussion questions from various websites:

1. Holden narrates the story of "The Catcher in the Rye" while he is recovering from his breakdown. Do you think the promise of recovery that Holden experiences as he watches the carousel at the end of the novel has been fulfilled? Specifically, has holden gained a more mature perspective on the events that he narrates?
2. What is the significance of the carousel in chapter 25?
3. Though Holden never describes his psychological breakdown directly, it becomes clear as the novel progresses that he is growing increasingly unstable. How does Salinger indicate this instability to the reader while protecting his narrator's reticence?
4. Visualize Holden's red hunting cap. It's a symbol. What do you make of it?
5. On pp. 132-34 Holden develops some future plans. What do they indicate about his hopes, wishes, fears?
6. On pp. 173 Holden tells (us) about his favorite fantasy of being the catcher in the rye. Think about this. What position is he imagining himself in? Why? Is he successful in being what he wishes to be?
7. Consider Holden's and Phoebe's trip to Central Park and the carousel (pp. 210-213). What is he enacting or re-enacting? Why does he become so happy yet sad? This scene deserves major attention.

Leave a comment if you have any questions. Don't forget the meeting is Sunday, June 13th!