Week 2 - Blog Entry

For this week's blog, I will give you a couple of options. You may write about one, both, or none; this all depends on whether you have ideas for response or not.

OPTION 1: After reading between the lines and acting out Chapter 6 on Monday, we were able to see the different emotions driving both Holden and Stradlater's decisions. Especially after Holden was hit in the face, many of you commented that Holden's behavior was childish. As you read Chapters 9-11, it is obvious Holden deals with feelings of alienation; however, he is also torn in the middle of two worlds: childhood and adulthood.

For your blog entry... How do you see this theme play out in the chapters you read for today (9-11)? How is this struggle evident? How is Holden like a child? How is he like an adult? ALSO...Connect to your life! Explain TWO struggles you or others face as you move from childhood to adulthood. Where does Holden fit on this path? How are like/dislike Holden Caulfield?

OPTION 2: This option comes from one of Eddie's responses from last week. Eddie wrote:

"So far Holden Caulfied is a character that I can see in many people I know. I know many lazy, unmotivated students who just refuse to play by the "rules" and apply themselves in school. I do not mind this character so far, but I think if I knew him in person I would not like him all that much."
"In general I would say JD Salinger is putting a problem which is generally overlooked or intentionally ignored about teens in America. That problem is disrespect to authority and lack of motivation in school. Too many of our nation's bright students don't care about school, and don't think about how their actions today, will affect the rest of their lives. I don't know what Holden's goals for life are... but flunking out of school usually isn't a great start for anything."

Respond to this entry. Does Holden have a lack of respect for authority? A lack of motivation? Does this apply to today? Why do you think so many students suffer from lack of authority and/or motivation in school? How might this problem be counteracted? Think about this response and formulate your own response on your blog.

Great job, Eddie! You definitely bring up some extremely valid points!