Questions and Answers
Who is the protagonist and narrator of the novel?
Who is Holden's younger brother who died of leukemia?
Allie Caulfield
What does Holden think of his brother D.B.'s writing career?
He feels that D.B. prostitutes his talents by writing for Hollywood movies.
Who is Sally Hayes?
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Who is Jane Gallagher?
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Who is Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep?
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Who is Holden's ten-year-old sister?
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Who is Maurice?
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Who is Sunny?
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Who is Ackley?
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Who is Mr. Spencer?
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Who is Mr. Antolini?
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Who is Carl Luce?
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What advice does Dr. Thurmer give Holden?
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Who is Selma Thurmer?
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What was Ossenburger known for?
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Who is Herb Gale?
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Who is Edgar Marsalla?
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Who is Ed Banky?
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Who is Mal Brossard?
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Who is Mrs. Schmidt?
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Who is Ernest Morrow?
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Who is Mrs. Morrow?
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Who is Rudolf Schmidt?
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Who is Mrs. Hayes?
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Who is Faith Cavendish?
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Who is Eddie Birdsell?
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Who is Bernice?
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Who is Mrs. Spencer?
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Who is Marty?
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Who is Laverne?
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Who is Mr. Cudahy?
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Who is Horwitz?
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Who is Ernie?
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Who is the Navy guy?
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Who is Raymond Goldfarb?
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Who is Bobby Fallon?
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Who is Arthur Childs?
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Who is Dick Slagle?
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Who is Miss Aigletinger?
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Who is Gertrude Levine?
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Who is Harris Macklin?
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Who is George Something?
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Who is Al Pike?
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Who is Bob Robinson?
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Who is Roberta Walsh's roommate?
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Who are Tina and Janine?
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Who is Valencia?
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Who is Pete?
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Who are the Dicksteins?
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Who is James Castle?
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Who is Alice Holmborg?
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Who is Mrs. Antolini?
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Who is Richard Kinsella?
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Who is Mr. Vinson?
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Who is Lillian?
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Study Notes
Character Overview in "The Catcher in the Rye"
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Holden Caulfield
- Protagonist and narrator of the story.
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Allie Caulfield
- Holden's younger brother who died of leukemia; deeply affects Holden.
- Described as brilliant and friendly; characterized by his red hair and love for poetry.
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D.B. Caulfield
- Holden's older brother; admired short story writer, but criticized for writing screenplays in Hollywood.
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Sally Hayes
- An attractive girl with whom Holden has a complicated relationship; intelligent but viewed as conventional by Holden.
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Jane Gallagher
- A significant figure in Holden's life; represents respect and attraction; never appears in the narrative, highlighting her importance.
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Stradlater
- Holden's well-groomed, popular roommate who is seen as a "secret slob" due to unclean habits.
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Phoebe Caulfield
- Holden's ten-year-old sister; symbol of innocence and understanding, providing joy amidst Holden's turmoil.
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Maurice
- Elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel; involved in procuring a prostitute for Holden.
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Sunny
- The prostitute that Holden hires; represents Holden's awkward attempts to connect with women.
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Ackley
- Holden's dorm neighbor; characterized by poor hygiene and annoying habits, yet relies on Holden's company.
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Mr. Spencer
- Holden's old history teacher; represents failed attempts to inspire Holden academically.
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Mr. Antolini
- Holden's former English teacher; young and supportive but struggles with alcoholism.
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Carl Luce
- Holden's older friend with a wealth of sexual experience; advises Holden during a night out.
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Dr. Thurmer
- Headmaster of Pencey Prep; expelled Holden, provides advice that "life is a game."
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Selma Thurmer
- Daughter of Dr. Thurmer; Holden finds her likable despite her lack of attractiveness.
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Ossenburger
- Wealthy benefactor of Pencey Prep; his phony religious speech further cements Holden's disdain for inauthenticity.
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Ernest Morrow
- Classmate Holden describes negatively; contrasts Holden's lies about him to his mother.
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Mrs. Morrow
- Attractive mother of Ernest; Holden lies to her on a train to protect her feelings.
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Rudolf Schmidt
- Janitor at Pencey; Holden uses his name to deflect during conversations.
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Faith Cavendish
- A prostitute Holden contacts based on a friend's referral; she does not meet him that night.
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Bernice, Marty, Laverne
- Women from the Lavender Room; symbolize Holden's frustrating social interactions.
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James Castle
- Teased student who commits suicide; represents the theme of bullying and isolation.
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Lillian and The Navy Guy
- Portray the superficial relationships Holden observes; highlight his feelings of alienation.
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Robert Kinsella
- Classmate known for digressing in conversations; Holden appreciates his tendency to stray from topic.
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Mr. Vinson
- Oral Expression teacher whom Holden dislikes; represents his academic struggles.
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Jimmy Valentine
- A character in a story told by characters in the novel, showing the type of narratives Holden finds amusing.
Themes and Concepts
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Isolation and Loneliness
- Many characters represent aspects of Holden's struggle with connection and understanding.
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Innocence vs. Phoniness
- Key figures like Phoebe symbolize innocence, contrasting with the often pretentious adults in Holden's life.
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Grief and Trauma
- Allie's death looms large, affecting Holden's mental state and interactions with others.
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Search for Identity
- Holden's relationships and critiques reveal his inner search for authenticity in a world he perceives as inauthentic.
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Description
Explore the key characters in J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye. This quiz covers Holden Caulfield, his family, friends, and significant relationships, highlighting their roles and impact on the story. Test your knowledge of the characters and their complexities.