"All they want to hear about is what a hot shot their son is..."

"I lie like a madman." -Holden Caulfield

Holden's told us that he likes to lie several times before, but really we just have seen smaller ones up to this point. In chapter 8, Holden really lets loose with the lies. He opens up (if you can consider the lies he is telling opening up) to a classmate's mother, and basically tells her nothing but lies. He lies about his name, that he needs an operation, about why he's bleeding, and about Ernest Morrow (the son of the woman he is talking to on the train).

We know Holden doesn't think well of Ernest, he tells us how much he can't stand him. But for some reason, he makes up extremely elaborate and detailed lies to make Ernest look like not just a good person, but a great person in his mother's eyes. Why do you believe Holden did this despite the fact that he can't stand Ernest? Holden has told us multiple times how much he hates being phony and how he hates when other people are phony. Why not just make a tiny lie or two so that Ernest looks good and then be off the topic?

Put yourself in Holden's situation with the example below: 

You run into the mother of a boy from your math class. She is worried that her son, Richard, is smart, but doesn’t apply himself in class. She worries that he will fail if he doesn’t apply himself. You know Richard answers the occasional question in class (and gets it right), but he usually stays quiet and stares out the window.

What would you say to Richard's mother? I mean, you know Richard seems to know his stuff even if he doesn't answer every question in class, but at the same time his mother is worried about him. Would you lie to make Richard's mom not worry? Or would you fear that if you don't be honest with her that maybe Richard's grades will get worse and eventually drop out of school or fail?

What would you say to her?

Vs.

What do you think Holden would say to her?

Just some questions and ideas to try getting you into the mind of Holden Caulfield :-).

That being said, your homework has relatively little to do with the actual events of this chapter since we've talked quite a bit about Holden's lying already. However, we haven't talked much about the time period of the story: the 1950's. One of my favorite things about reading (or writing for that matter) is that everyone paints themselves a different mental picture of what they read: how the characters look, how they sound, what the area they live in looks like, or what is interesting and popular during that time.

So to help you guys understand the 1950s United States that Holden lives in a little better, I would like you to read chapter 9, and do the following based on the card you picked in class:

Spades: Look up the fashion styles of the 1950s. What looks were popular for men and women? What designs or brands were big? Find some information and pictures regarding these ideas and bring them in to class on Thursday.

Diamonds: Like any age, music is constantly changing growing and adapting. What were some of the most popular styles of music in the United States during the 1950s? What were some of the most popular musical artists? Find some information regarding this, choose a song from Youtube your group think well represents one of the top musical styles of the 1950s, and be prepared to share your information and the song with us on Thursday.

Clubs: Pop culture isn't just a thing of today. Movies from the 1950s (give or take a decade) are considered by some to be the golden age of movies (a distinction some believe sits on the line between what you can call a "film" versus a "movie"). Find out what films were popular during this time period in the United States, and bring in some information regarding the popular styles/actors/actresses. Additionally, find a clip online of a scene or song from a popular movie in the United States during the 1950s. Be prepared to share what you find.

Hearts: Why hasn't Holden been texting? I wonder if Holden would have a twitter account. The technology of the 1950s probably seems "primitive" compared to the technology we have today. What was the most dominant form of media? Were there any hand-held devices like we have today? Find some information and pictures regarding the "most recent" technology during the 1950s and bring it in to share with the class on Thursday.

Have a great day, ladies and gentlemen! Keep up the great work! :-)