Prewriting+Questions


 *  **Topic: phony/pervert/screwball**
 * How does the symbol/motif come up in the novel, and how does it impact what is going on? Holden uses the word phony a lot in the novel to describe how he thinks some people act towards others is not really what they appear. It impacts what is going on because most of the people he knew already he describes as phonies. When the story develops, he meets people who are nice to him and doesn't think of them as phony. He called Stradlater a phony because he acts different around girls he goes out with. Holden says he is a slob when he's around him, not around others. "Stradlater was more of a secret slob, he looked good but the razor he shaved himself with was disgusting" (pg. 27)
 * What happens immediately preceding or immediately following a mention or discussion of this idea or thing? Holden calls people phony early in the novel because all of the people that he described in the beginning were either phonies or perverts. Mr. Antolini, his former teacher, was someone he described as a pervert later in the novel because he was rubbing Holden's head while he was sleeping. Holden never calls any of the people he refers to as phony, perverts, or screwballs. This is only his thoughts. "I woke up all of a sudden and I felt some ones hand on my head. It was Mr. Antolini's hand on my head" (pg.191)
 * What is the mood when this idea or thing is brought up? Holden was always in a bad or annoyed mood when he brought up someone as a phony, pervert, or screwball. The person he usually thinks of as these words are someone he hates.
 * Would you associate this with times when Holden is content? frightened? frantic? confused? Is this mood consistent with every incidence of this motif? He associates this when he is confused because he never understands anyone who is a phony, pervert, or screwball because he is not any of that. The mood isn't always consistent with every incidence of this motif because sometimes he might describe someone as a pervert, such as Mr. Antolini, he is frightened. He doesn't know what he is doing and thinks it's strange.
 * Is Holden alone when this motif/symbol occurs? If not, with whom is he interacting? Sometimes when he is interacting with someone he thinks of them as a phony, pervert, or screwball. When he is alone, like when he is walking on the streets, he thinks of people he hates. When he walks to someone, like Phoebe, he tells them about how he can't stand people who are phony, like the people at Pencey.
 * How would you characterize that interaction? Holden's interactions with these types of people vary throughout the story. With Stradlater, he acts angry and annoyed towards him. When he is with Mr. Antolini, he felt frightened and confused. Does this motif occur both when he is alone and when he is with other people? Holden never called anyone a phony to their face. If he is talking to someone, he would usually think in his head why he hates this person and why this person is a phony, pervert, or screwball.
 * Is there a connection to be made? What does this motif/symbol tell you about Holden, in a “big picture” way - Does this suggest anything about his personality? His weaknesses or strengths? His sense of himself? Holden doesn't tell anyone of his thoughts to their face. That is a strength because a lot of people get angry to easily at someone and take it out on them. However, he thinks of these thoughts of someone being a phony, pervert or screwball a lot. He is a very critical person and has strong opinions on people. Holden doesn't like himself sometimes because he doesn't like the way he acts. This has hurt Holden's chances at developing relationships because he always points out the little things in people.
 * Tie it all together: Did any pattern emerge? Pick out other words or ideas used in conjunction with this motif. Look back on your investigation and come up with a single sentence that sums up what you’ve discovered. All of Holden's thoughts are very critical towards other people, which makes his chances at developing relationships with others difficult.