The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

Chapter 2Chapter 2 Holden visits Mr. Spencer, Holden visits Mr. Spencer,

and their conversation and their conversation inevitably turns to Holden’s inevitably turns to Holden’s failure in school and his failure in school and his pitiful career as a student. pitiful career as a student.

As the visit progresses, As the visit progresses, Holden grows increasingly Holden grows increasingly impatient and annoyed impatient and annoyed with old Mr. Spencer for with old Mr. Spencer for pointing out all of his pointing out all of his shortcomings. shortcomings.

Mr. Spencer forces Holden to listen as he Mr. Spencer forces Holden to listen as he reads aloud from one of Holden’s most reads aloud from one of Holden’s most recent papers, which is a shoddily recent papers, which is a shoddily written, half-done report on mummies. written, half-done report on mummies.

Mr. Spencer then reads the note that Mr. Spencer then reads the note that Holden has written on the bottom of the Holden has written on the bottom of the report, apologizing for his failure to report, apologizing for his failure to perform well on the paper. perform well on the paper.

In the note, Holden reassures the In the note, Holden reassures the professor that he is not a bad teacher. professor that he is not a bad teacher.

The failure rests in Holden alone. The failure rests in Holden alone.

SpencerSpencer

““Well, you could see he really felt Well, you could see he really felt pretty lousy about flunking me. So I pretty lousy about flunking me. So I shot the bull for a while.” shot the bull for a while.”

““I told him I was a real moron, and all I told him I was a real moron, and all that stuff.” that stuff.”

““I told him how I would've done I told him how I would've done exactly the same thing if I'd been in exactly the same thing if I'd been in his place, and how most people his place, and how most people didn't appreciate how tough it is didn't appreciate how tough it is being a teacher. That kind of stuff.” being a teacher. That kind of stuff.”

““The old bull.” The old bull.”

““The funny thing is, though, I was sort of The funny thing is, though, I was sort of thinking of something else while I shot thinking of something else while I shot the bull. I live in New York, and I was the bull. I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South.” Park, down near Central Park South.”

““I was wondering if it would be frozen over I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go.” the ducks go.”

““I was wondering where the ducks went I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over.” over.”

““I wondered if some guy came in a truck I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something.” and took them away to a zoo or something.”

““Or if they just flew away.” Or if they just flew away.”

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