Justin Snyder and Helen Tran 2B Mr.

Swanson Class Discussion Lesson Plan

1st Topic It was in the park. It wasn't too cold, but the sun still wasn't out, and there didn't look like there was anything in the park except dog crap and globs of spit and cigar butts from old men, and the benches all looked like they'd be wet if you sat down on them. It made you depressed, and every once in a while, for no reason, you got goos flesh while you walked. (Holden) --Page 153 God, I love it when a kid's nice and polite when you tighten their skate for them or something. Most kids are. They really are. (Holden) --Page 155

1. Is Holden cynic or an idealist?

a. Does Holden become an idealist/cynic when discussing certain age groups? b. Why does Holden act as an idealist when discussing children, yet a cynic when
discussing adult?

c. How do age and cynicism vs. idealism play a role as themes.

2 Topic 1. Why does Holden continue to use his money even though he's running low? a. Do you think it's to make him feel more mature? b. Do you think he really cares about what he spends his money on? 3rd Topic: if someone mentions this 1. Holden describes Sally Haye's mother horribly. What does that say about how he feels about people like her? a. If Holden despises Sally's mom so much, why does he go to the movies with her? 4th Topic
I took my old hunting hat out of my pocket while I walked, and put it on. I knew I wouldn't meet anybody that knew me, and it was pretty damp out. (Holden) --Page 158
nd

1. Why does Holden put the hat on again?

a. Is the hat used to differ from society? b. Why does Holden likes being separated from others? 5th Topic

1. The reader finds out more about his and Phoebe's relationship. It's clear that he cares about her. What does this say about his character?

a. What is the importance of the record "Little Shirley Beans"?There was this record
I wanted to get for Phoebe, called "Little Shirley Beans." It was a very hard record to get. It was about a little kid that wouldn't go out of the house because two of her front teeth were out and she was ashamed to. (Holden) --Page 149

i. What is the story line of the record? ii. How does Holden relate to the record? iii. Does Holden really buy the record for Phoebe, or is it for his own
enjoyment?

1. Does this show a soft, sensitive, loving side of him? 6th Topic
The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed anymore.(Holden) --Page 150 1. What is the importance of Holden's story about the family exiting the church? a. Why does Holden get happy when he sees the little boy in the street sing? b. Do you think that he wants to be like the little boy in terms of innocence? i. How does the boys situation relate to Holdens? c. Does his wanting of that innocence back defeat the purpose of him wanting to be

more mature?
d. Notice the song in this question...this is the first mention of the title.

7th Topic

The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would

still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers and their pretty skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would will be weaving that same blanket. Nobody'd be different. (Holden) --Page 157-158

1. Why does Holden originally like the idea of the permanence of objects in the museum, and how does this relate to his age?

a. Does Holden want to grow up? b. Is he afraid to become an adult? i. Why would he be afraid to become an adult? 8th Topic
If Phoebe'd been there, I probably would have, but she wasn't. (Holden) --Page 159

1. Why doesn't Holden enter the museum? a. Does Holden fear that he won't get the same feeling of youth that he would have
with Phoebe?

b. Does Phoebe provide a juvenile aspect for Holden to view the museum from i. Why would this be important to Holden?