blog post #5

What is the significance of the title, The Catcher in the Rye? Discuss the various references to it in the novel, what Holden means by wanting to be the "catcher," and how it relates to Allie and Phoebe.

The book Catcher in the Rye has many things you read in it that can show significance of the title. One thing that happens in the book that relates to the significance of this title is when the little boy is walking with his family and is singing "if a body catch a body coming through the rye." Holden said he wanted to be the "catcher" but what did he mean by this? A catcher to him catches the little kids that play on a cliff and catches them before they fall off. This title relates to Phoebe because at the end she is riding on a carousel. All the kids are leading off the edge to reach the gold ring. Like the cliff she is standing off the edge of the ride and could fall and get

hurt. Holden wants to try and keep her from falling, but he realizes he cant keep all danger

away from her, her whole life and lets her try and reach it. He realizes by the end that growing up is necessary,and he cant stop her from it. The title also relates to Allie his brother who died at a young age. The whole book could also be about Allies baseball glove. With a baseball glove you catch things, so now that Holden has Allie's baseball glove he can be the catcher.

blog post #4

Discuss the ways in which the four main characters in Dead Poets Society (Neil, Todd, Knox, and Charlie) are either similar to, or different from, Holden Caulfield. In your discussion, focus on character traits and conflicts.

Neil is more similar rather than different to Holden because they both seem very sad in their lives, and don't wanna be controlled. They both also like their English teachers, and looks up to them for advice. Neil is also different because he focuses on his studies unlike Holden to drops out of school. Todd is similar to Holden also because they both lack self confidence which prevents them both from reaching their potential, and finding out their personalities. Hes also different from Holden because hes very shy and doesn't like taking risks or acting out. Holden is the opposite and goes on many adventured by himself all over New York City, and meets all kinds of people. Knox is also similar to Holden. Hes known as the ladies man who goes for all of the girls in the movie. This is kind of like Holden how he is constantly with girls or talks about his past relationships in the book. Both Holden and Knox get beat up over a girl. Holden gets beat up by Maurice when hiring a prostitute, and Knox gets beat up for touching Chris while shes sleeping at a party they were at by her boyfriend. Charlie is the more rebellious one of the characters in the movie and it is similar to the way Holden acts. Holden drops out of school to travel all over New York City by himself. He drinks under aged and does many risky things while on his adventure. They are both similar in this way. In the end you realize that all the characters in Dead Poets Society are similar to Holden in all different kinds of ways.

Blog post #3

What are some of the lessons that Mr. Keating is teaching his students about life? How is this different than what Holden is told about "playing by the rules"?

Mr. Keating tells them to "seize the day," and to take advantage of your life. Holden on the other hand is told that life is like a game. They both have different outlooks on life. Mr. Keating is basically saying to live life to the fullest, and have a great life living the way you want. Holden is told to live life following the rules or he wont have a good life.

"life's a game that one plays according to the rules"

I agree with Mr. Spencer that "life's a game that one plays according to the rules," because life follows along guide lines or rules like a game. In life we have laws made for us so we don't act out, just like in a game we have rules so we don't cheat. In a more religious aspect, life is like a game because we all either loose or win in the end. What we are taught is when we die we either go to hell or heaven. To loose in life is going to hell and living in a nightmare, and winning is making it to Heaven to live in paradise. We all want to live in paradise or win the game so sometimes we cheat or disobey the rules to win this big game called "Life." Like in a game, we all have a team we are apart of which can symbolize our friends and family in life. We also have enemies or opponents in life like in a game. All these things should provide enough reasons to say that Life is just all one big game and we all need to play by the rules to make it to paradise, and win.

Salinger Blog Post 1

Seymour can relate to the fictional creature called the 'banana fish' in many different ways than we think. When Seymour explains to Sybil that the banana fish get banana fever, he could be comparing this illness to his current mental conditions he displays like post- traumatic stress disorder. Also, when Seymour tells her that the banana fish naturally get so fat they cant get out of the hole again, this could be a symbol of war. Seymour is still stuck in the past when he was at war, and cant seem to get back to reality just like the fish is stuck in the hole and cant seem to get back out. Unfortunately, they both have peculiar habits like eating bananas and being afraid of windows or trees. The banana fish and Seymour are also filled with things leading to both of their deaths. The banana fish is filled with bananas, just like the dread and misery that fills Seymour, causing a traumatic ending.