blogs

When we are in the computer lab on Tuesdays, you will spend time either responding to discussion questions on your blog, or working with your group to create the wiki page. On blogging days, you must:

1) Write your own post in response to the questions, and 2) Comment on two classmates blog posts.

Here are the links to your blogs: [|Emily] [|Ryan] [| B.] [|Mallory C.] [|Ryan C.] [|Genevieve] [|Mallory D.] [|Kaitlyn] [|Lindsi] [|Chris] [|Shawn] [|Shannon] [|Hunter] [|Jessica] [|Miranda] [|Ashley] [|Kevin] [|Maranda]


 * Questions for Tuesday, March 15th. Chapters 1 - 6. Please respond to two of the five.**

1. Read the scene where Holden plays catch on his last day at Pencey Prep (pp. 4-5). Recall the last time you played catch. Think about the significance of the game. Now imagine playing in the darkening twilight, like Holden. What's it like? Consider the moment.

2. Allie, Holden's dead brother, is crucially important to an understanding of Holden. Collect the references to Allie (e.g., pp. 38-39). Put yourself in that garage with Holden. What is he doing? What is he feeling? What is the result? How does the incident (or the narrative of the incident) affect your reading of the character?

3. Visualize Holden's red hunting cap. It's //a symbol//. What do you make of it?

4. Holden's relationship with Jane is complicated. How do you explain it? You might consider his fight with Stradlater -- and of course those kings in the back row. What is her playing strategy? How do you understand it?

5. What evidence can you find about Jane's family circumstances (i.e., her childhood, her life at home)? Any speculations here?


 * Questions for Tuesday, March 29th. Pick two questions to answer on your blog, and comment on two other people's blogs. **

1. Pick a time where Holden is being very critical of something or someone. Why does he hold the attitude he does? Are his criticisms valid?

2. Who does Holden meet on the train, and what are some of the lies he tells this person? Why do you think Holden lies so much to people?

3. Who are some of the people Holden thinks about calling in chapter 9, and who does he end up calling? Why do you think Holden makes this decision?

4. What do Holden and the cab drive talk about? Why do you think Salinger included this conversation? What does it tell us about Holden?

5. What is the role of women in the text? Is love relevant? Are relationships meaningful? Pick two examples to talk about.


 * Question for Tuesday, April 5th (Only one question today! After blogging, you should work on the wiki group pages.)**

In chapter 22, Phoebe asks Holden to name something he likes. Holden can't think of anything besides his brother, Allie, who is dead. Instead he can't stop thinking about two other things. What are they? What is your interpretation of them?