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What is a "prep" school and why don't we have them in Canada? Or do we?
ReplyDeleteI think a prep school is a school of high quality that is designed to instruct students for higher education at a university/college. We do have some "prep" schools in Canada, like for example St. Marys school. Its a "prep"/private school for girls. They are very strict at the private school because they are developing students to be able to be ready for university.
ReplyDeleteAs we read the first chapter of "The catcher in the rye" I wasn't able to identify where the setting was being taken place. Holden Caulfield kept on talking about the past at christmas and all the different schools he attended. When I read it once more I noticed that maybe Holden was speaking from a care home or some sort of school that helps students who have suffered from break downs. Holden is recuperating in this care home because he has anger problems. On the first page he quotes "I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy". This proves that Holden must be staying at a care home because maybe his parents don't want to deal with his problems anymore.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I was confused about where the setting took place as well, and would say he is speaking from a care home of some sort. I agree also that he's speaking about things in past tense, but closer to the end of the first chapter it seems to me that he's speaking from more of a present tense;like during his conversation with Mr and Mrs Spencer. In the last portion of the chapter the setting becomes more clear and it seems the setting is Pencey Prep in December, and then at Mr.Spencers house saying goodbye before he leaves for good.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you as well. It does make sense now that he would be in Pency Prep as there is other people he is talking to now.
ReplyDeleteIn the second chapter of the book Holden in this care home but now talking about the past. It sets place at Mr and Mrs Spencers house. Holden goes to Mr.Spencers house because he had sent Holden a note earlier on to come visit him before leaving. Mr Spencer starts lecturing Holden about his marks and how he's failing four of five of his classes. Mr Spencer really feels sorry for Holden because he has just been kicked out of his 4th school. He wishes that Holden would apply himself more so this would not have to happen again.
ReplyDeleteI hope thats right...anyone agree?
Yeah, it almost seems like Mr.Spencer believes in Holden and knows he's capable of more than he's currently doing.
ReplyDeleteThe setting is in the Spencer's house, but in Mr.Spencer's seperate bedroom. Holden describes it as depressing and says that it smells like Vicks Nose Drops. It also says that there are pills and medicine all over the room. I guess Mr.Spencer is ill.
Is Agerstown, Pennsylvania a real town? Is Pencey Prep a real school?
ReplyDeleteAgerstown is a fictional town that JD Salinger created.
ReplyDeleteNo, Pency Prep is not a real school. JD Salinger once again made up this fictional private school for the book.
Agerstow and Pencey Prep are fictional places that JD Salinger made up for this novel. The closest relation to Agerstown is Hagerstown, Maryland which is the state under Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeleteIn the third chapter of the book, the setting is in Holdens dorm room in the Ossenburger Memorial Wing at Pencey Prep. He describes it as warm and cozy. He then later complains that its too hot, and explains that usually it's either freezing or extremely hot.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about this one but, I think in one part of the chaper(closer to the beginning) he is describing being in the chapel at Pencey Prep as well.
I totally agree with Kirsty.
ReplyDeleteHolden goes to his room after visiting the Spencers to settle down and relax. His dorm is described as a peaceful sanctuary that he goes to, to read and just forget all the other non sense. He describes his bed like its all warm and comforting. Like Kirsty mentions, Holden does complain a lot about the heat later on and how its usually freezing. When Ackley comes from the showere next door, the mood of the setting turns from warm to almost cold. Holden is angrry that Ackley just barges in and plays around with all his belongings in his dorm.
As we read through the first chapters of the book we find that Holden starts of standing on top of a hill watching the football game. He starts reminiscing about the past then he goes to Mr. Spencer house and Mr. Spencer starts lecturing Holden because he had gotten the axe from the school. After that Holden went back to his dorm room in the Ossenburger Wing at Pencey prep which he thinks is cozy but sometimes complains its too hot.
ReplyDelete