The Catcher in the Rye

Kicked out of School

Dec 1, 1946

Holden gets kicked out of Pencey Prep for extremely poor grades.The only course that Holden was passing was English. "I forgot to tell you about that. They kicked me out. I wasn't supposed to come back after Christmas vacation, on account of I was flunking four subjects and wasn't applying myself and all." (pg 6)

Holden Says Goodbye

Dec 2, 1946

Holden says goodbye to his favorite teacher on this night. The teacher tries to persuade Holden to get his act together. Holden also hears about his old classmate, Jane Gallagher, from his roomate, Stradlater. This annoys Holden. "His door was open, but I sort of knocked on it anyways, just to be polite and all. I could see where he was sitting. He was sitting in a big leather chair, all wrapped up in that blanket I just told you about." (pg 11)

Composition

Dec 3, 1946

Holden introduces us to his brother who has passed. In this part of the book, Holden writes Stradlater's composition about his brothe's old baseball mit. The death of Holden's brother really affected him. "Anyway, that's what i wrote Stradlater's composition about. Old Aliie's baseball mitt." (pg 51)

The Fight

Dec 4, 1946

Holden tries to instigate and cause a fight with Stradlater because he is still upset that Stradlater has a date with Jane. This event shows another side of Holden's personality. Holden loses the fight. "This next part I don't remember so hot. All i know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open." (pg 56)

Leaving Pencey Prep

Dec 5, 1946

Holden left Pencey Prep early and went to New York City. He was supposed to go home on Wednesday but he hung around New York City until then so that his parents didn't know that he got kicked out of school early.

The Train

Dec 6, 1946

Holden runs into the mom of a guy he had gone to Pencey with on a train ride. Holden then wants to make a phone call. He wants to talk to someone on the phone so he thinks about calling his sister, Phoeboe, or Jane. "Anyway, we were sitting there, and all of a sudden she said to me, "Excuse me, but isn't that a Pencey Prep sticker?" She was looking up at my suitcases, up on the rack." (pg 70)

Holden Stays at a Hotel

Dec 7, 1946

Holden gets a room at a cheap hotel and hits the bars. At the bars he drinks and dacnes with girls. He tries to get with the girls but doesn't. He also starts to think about Jane again and all of his childhood memories of her and the all the things they did together. "We got to Edmont Hotel, and I checked in." (pg 79)

Holden Goes to a Nightclub With his Old Friend

Dec 8, 1946

Holden goes to Ernie's nightclub with his old friend that he has gone to a previous prep school with. At the nightclub, he runs into his brother's ex-girlfriend who was a sailor. He ends up getting so annoyed with her that he leaves the bar. "All of a sudden, this girl came up to me and said, "Holden Caulfield!" Her name was Lillian Simmons. My brother used to go around with her for a while. She had very big knockers." (pg 112)

Holden is Offered a Prostitute

Dec 9, 1946

Holden returns to the hotel from the nightclub and the elevator man, who is also a pimp, offers Holden a prostitute. Holden was getting ready for the prostitute but when she gets up to his room, he said he wasn't in the mood and that she made him feel sad and depressed. He ends up wanting to just talk to her but she wasn't interested.

Holden Makes a Date with Sally

Dec 10, 1946

Holden makes a date with Sally. Also on this day, he buys a record for his sister, donates to two nuns he meets while eating breakfast and he tries to find his sister at a museum but she wasn't there. He then goes on a date with Sally. He takes her ito a show and then ice skating. He then proposes that they run away together but he ends up yelling at Sally and she leaves.

Holden goes Home

Dec 11, 1946

Holden is slightly drunk when he decides to go home to see Phoeboe. Phoeboe finds of that Holden was kicked out of Pencey Prep and keeps it a secret from his parents. When Holden's parents get home, he leaves again.

Mr. Antolini

Dec 12, 1946

Holden stays with Mr. Antolini because he has nowhere else to go. He tries to lecture Holden about his decisions in life but Holden doesn't really listen. Holden ends up waking up to Mr. Antolini petting his head and he is creeped out so he decides to leave.

Mental Breakdown

Dec 13, 1946

Holden goes for a walk after he leaves Mr. Antolini's. Every time he is about to cross the street, he feels as if he going to fall off the sidewalk and continue falling. Before he crosses the road, he asks his brother Allie to protect him from falling.

Holden Gets an Idea

Dec 14, 1946

Holden has an idea to leave everyone and everything. He would head out west where he would live a simple life.

Holden Tries to Say Goodbye to Phoebe

Dec 15, 1946

Holden goes to Phoebe's school and gives a note to a teacher to give to Phoebe, telling her to meet him in at the museum. Holden waits at the museum and meets these two boys who he shows the mummies. When Phoebe shows up, she has a suitcase and says she wants to go with him. He tells her no and says he isn't going anymore.

Takes Phoebe to the Zoo

Dec 16, 1946

Holden takes his sister to a zoo and the carousel. He feels happy watching his sister.

Holden Goes Home

Dec 17, 1946

Holden talks about doing therapy. He is then asked about all the events he recalled and he regrets telling them. He says he regrets telling them because he misses all the people he mentioned.