The Catcher in the Rye

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. What does Holden's brother do for a living?

2. Why does Holden lose his position on the fencing team?

3. Whose house does Holden visit after the football game?

4. How many times has Holden been kicked out of school?

5. What does Mr. Spencer show Holden?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Holden stand at a distance from others at the football game, and what does this reveal about him?

2. Why does Holden wish to say goodbye to Pencey, and how does this challenge our understanding of his character?

3. For what does Holden criticize Mr. Spencer? Is this fair or unfair, and what does this reveal about Holden?

4. Why does Holden respond with anxiety when he finds out about Stradlater's date?

Paired Resource

“Speaking of Psychology: Does Nostalgia Have a Psychological Purpose?”

• Audio and transcript of an American Psychological Association podcast interview with Dr. Krystine Batcho on the merits and purposes of nostalgia
• This interview considers the role of nostalgia in the human psyche. In what way can nostalgia clarify one's identity? What does Holden's nostalgia reveal about his identity and values?