The Catcher in the Rye' by the American author J. D. Salinger may be the world's most famous book about a teenager. The main character's name is Holden Caulfield and he is going…
The Catcher in the Rye' by the American author J. D. Salinger may be the world's most famous book about a teenager. The main character's name is Holden Caulfield and he is going through a period of teenage rebellion. In the passage you are going to read, Holden has just been expelled from a good school for poor aca demic performance and he has come to Mr Spencer's home to say goodbye to his old teacher. novel. sting. think "Hello, sir," I said. "I got your note. Thanks a lot." He'd written me this note asking me to stop by3 and say goodbye. "You didn't have to do all that. I wanted to come over to say goodbye anyway." "Have a seat there, boy," old Spencer said. "So you're leaving us, eh?" "Yes, sir. I guess' I am." "Have you told your parents yet?" "No, sir, I haven't, because I'll probably see them Wednesday night when I get home." anywaj равно астотно входи "And how do you think they'll take the news?" "Well… they'll be pretty annoyed about it," I said. "They really will. This is about the fourth school I've gone to." I shook my head. I shake my head quite a lot. "Boy!" I said. I also say "Boy!" quite a lot. Partly because I have a lousy" vocabulary and partly because I act quite young for my age sometimes. I was sixteen then, and I'm seventeen now, and sometimes I act like I'm about thirteen. It's really ironic, because I'm six foot two and a half and I have gray hair, I really do. One side of my head - the right side - is full of millions of gray hairs. I've had them ever since I was a kid. And yet I still act sometimes like I was only about twelve. Everybody says that, especially my father. It's partly true, too, but it isn't all true. I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age. Sometimes I act a lot older than I am - I really do - but people never notice it. People never notice anything. "What's the matter with you, boy?" old Spencer said. "How many subjects did you carry' this term?" "Five, sir." "I flunked2 you in history because you knew absolutely nothing." "I know that, sir. Boy, I know it. You couldn't help it." "I don't think that you opened your textbook even once the whole term. Did you? Tell the truth, boy." "Well, I sort of looked through it a couple of times," I told him, I didn't want to hurt his feelings. He was mad about history. Read the text "Holden Comes to See His Teacher" again and answer the questions. S t 1) How much do we know about the way Holden looked? How tall was he if 1 foot = 0.3 metres and 1 inch = 2.5 centimetres? DO 2) Do you think he was sure of himself or was he a self-questioning boy? 3) Did he care about other people's feelings? 4) Do you think Holden and his parents always understood each other? What makes you think so? 5) What, in your opinion, made Holden "act younger than his age"? Is it typical of teenage children? 6) Why do you think Holden didn't do well in his schools? Does he impress you as a boy who had no talents? 7) Would you like to read the book The Catcher in the Rye? Why? Why not?
Цель: Понять
1) How much do we know about the way Holden looked? How tall was he if 1 foot = 0.3 metres and 1 inch = 2.5 centimetres?
From the text, we learn that Holden was described as being "six foot two and a half" with gray hair, particularly on one side of his head. To convert his height to meters, we can use the conversion factors given:
- 1 foot = 0.3 meters
- 1 inch = 2.5 centimeters
Holden's height can be calculated as follows:
- 6 feet (6 x 0.3) + 2 inches (2 x 2.5) = 1.8 meters + 5 centimeters = 1.85 meters
So, Holden's height was approximately 1.85 meters.
2) Do you think he was sure of himself or was he a self-questioning boy?
Holden's behavior in the passage suggests that he was more of a self-questioning boy rather than one who was sure of himself. He displays uncertainty and introspection in his interactions and reflections. For example, he admits to having a "lousy vocabulary" and acting younger than his actual age.
3) Did he care about other people's feelings?
Holden's concern for others' feelings is evident in the passage. He tries to avoid hurting his teacher's feelings when discussing his academic performance, indicating a level of sensitivity towards others.
4) Do you think Holden and his parents always understood each other? What makes you think so?
Holden's statement about his parents being "pretty annoyed" and the mention of attending multiple schools hint at a potential lack of understanding or communication between Holden and his parents. The repeated school changes suggest a disconnect between Holden's expectations or behavior and his parents' views on education or his progress.
5) What, in your opinion, made Holden "act younger than his age"? Is it typical of teenage children?
Holden's behavior of sometimes acting younger than his age could be attributed to a combination of factors, such as unresolved inner conflicts, struggles with identity, and a sense of alienation from societal norms. This tendency to act younger than one's age can be common among teenagers who are navigating the complexities of adolescence.
6) Why do you think Holden didn't do well in his schools? Does he impress you as a boy who had no talents?
Holden's academic struggles may stem from a lack of interest in traditional education, which is indicated by his statement about not opening his history textbook. This lack of engagement could have contributed to his poor performance. It does not necessarily imply that Holden has no talents; rather, the educational system may not have aligned with his strengths or interests.
7) Would you like to read the book The Catcher in the Rye? Why? Why not?
Whether one would like to read "The Catcher in the Rye" can vary based on personal preferences. The novel offers insight into the inner workings of a teenage mind, addressing themes of alienation, identity, and rebellion. Readers who enjoy psychological exploration and coming-of-age themes may find the book engaging. However, some individuals may not resonate with the protagonist or the style of storytelling, leading them to not prefer reading it. Personal taste and interest in literary analysis play a significant role in determining one's inclination towards reading this particular novel.
