The Catcher in the RyeLiterary Road Map

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz guided readingEssential Questions: Parts 1-3 What does it mean to be provincial? Who might consider you provincial? Does where you are from/which school you go to determine who you are? Why (not)? Do you agree that bragging and looking down on others is always wrong? What is materialism and what are the reasons for it? Does the end always justify the means?PARTS 1-3 (guided discussion)Getting Things Straight

Part 1

1. Where is John T. Unger from?2. Why is he getting ready to leave his hometown and where is he going?3. What kind of place is Johns hometown in comparison to Chicago or Boston?4. What do we learn about Johns parents?5. What kind of school is St Midas and where exactly is it located?6. What is the first impression John gets of Percy? Does it change during the train journey?7. How does John feel about wealthy people?8. John keeps mentioning the Scnlitzer Murphys. How do they compare to the Washingtons?

9. Does Fitzgerald manage to create a mystery and build up suspense in this part of the story? How?

Part 2

1. Where is Percy from and where do Percy and John get off the train?2. Describe the village of Fish and its inhabitants. How would you feel if you were in Johns shoes as he got off the train?3. How do John and Percy get from the train station to the Washingtons estate?4. Why is John so impressed by the car? Describe it. Which words does Fitzgerald use to convey the idea of enormous wealth and incredible luxury?5. How does John feel confronted with all this luxury? How would his parents expect him to feel?

6. Is the Washingtons estate in Montana? How come we could say it is not?

7. What idea are we slowly getting of Percys family? How does John feel about Percys revelations concerning his family? How would you?8. What kind of building is Percys home? List a few adjectives.9. Where is the diamond?10. How do you feel about the end of Part II? What do you think is the reason for Johns falling asleep?Part 3

1. What happens in this part?2. Why do you think Fitzgerald inserted it into the story?

3. Can you find some parts that, in your opinion, are an exaggeration of the way the rich live?

4. Imagine the most luxurious bath(room) possible? Is it anything like the bath(room) described in the story?

5. Who is tending to John? How is this person referred to?6. A good description tries to involve (almost) all the senses to make the reader almost feel s/he is there. Did Fitzgerald manage to involve different senses? Which ones?

Delving In

1. There is quite a lot of exaggeration in the first three parts of the story. Find a few examples of it (look for superlatives, strong adjectives, out-of-this-world situations/objects, etc.). How does this hyperbolic style make you feel? 2. Comment on Fitzgeralds use of language. Do you like it? Why (not)? Could the vocabulary choice itself and the authors style contribute to the message of the story?

3. Why do you think John is not concerned about the unusual situation he is in? Academic Challenge

1. Write a short passage in the style of Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

English The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (1-3)Vocabulary QuizAnswer these questions. Complete sentences are optional.

1. Describe how you feel when somebody treats you with scorn?:

2. Who might be dressed in livery? Why?

3. Give me an example of priggish behaviour and say why it is priggish.

4. What might you do if somebody gave you a fur coat? Why?5. List 3 things in your life that make you drowsy.

6. Give me an example of deferential behaviour.

7. What is upholstery? What objects can be upholstered?8. Where would you see tracery? Make a little drawing of it.9. Give me two examples of something a person can muster. What does it mean when you muster something?Write meaningful sentences with these words/phrases10 the bane of:

11. small fry:

11. push and verve:

12. immure:

13. insidious:Essential Questions: Parts 4-6 Is it true that too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing? Explain?

Are we burdened by our family history?

Is it possible to justify exploiting others if there is a very good reason?

What does it mean to be an idealist? Can idealism be absurd? Is it possible for a person to be perfect/flawless?

What is your idea of The Garden of Eden? What is your idea of Hell? Explain the concept of slavery. PARTS 4-6 (guided discussion)Getting Things StraightPart 4 Name Percys ancestors? Are any of them important people in the history of the USA? How/why did the Washington family come West? Describe the finding of the diamond.

Discuss the way in which Fitz Norman Culpepper Washington (Percys grandfather) treats African-Americans. Would you say Fitzgerald is a racist? Why (not)? Explain the reasons to keep the diamond a secret and some measures that had to be taken to protect this secret.

Can you find examples of Fitzgeralds irony in this part. Is the diamond mine still in use?

What kind of investments have the Washingtons made?

What happens in the fourth part? Is it necessary to the development of the plot?

Part 5 What kind of scenery is the chateau surrounded with? Who is Kismine? Describe her. Describe Kismines upbringing. How does John feel about Kismine? Why is he offended at one point? Why is Kismine offended at one point during her conversation with John? How do you feel abut Kismines behaviour?Part 6 Describe Mr Braddock Washington. How does John behave when around Mr Washington? How many slaves do the Washingtons own? How have the slaves been treated through the years in Montana? Would you be able to communicate with the Washingtons slaves? Why (not)? Describe the Washingtons golf course. Percy mentions a cage? Is it really a cage? What is it? How do its inhabitants refer to it? Who are the people in the cage? Are they slaves? Can they be compared to slaves? Should Mr Washington beware of them? How do the prisoners speak to Mr Washington and what do they want from him? How do the prisoners describe Mr Washingtons behaviour towards them? What kind of solutions does Mr Washington see? How would you describe them? One of the prisoners has managed to escape? Whats happened with him? Does Mr Washington seem to care for the plight his prisoners are in? Delve In Questions

Pick 2 questions to answer fully.1. Describe John in detail.2. Select King Midas, Hades, Croesus, El Dorado, The Ritz or anything else as a symbol to analyze. Discuss how Fitzgerald develops the symbol, discuss its meaning, and explain how the symbol is significant (why Fitzgerald decided to use it?)

3. Research prohibition, the reasons for it and its results?4. Research women in the 1920s (flappers) and the important changes in the role that women have in society that happened in that period.5. What is an oxymoron? Find some used in the text so far and explain why they fit the definition.

Academic ChallengesYou can complete the academic challenges for extra credit.

1. Research Francis Scott Fitzgeralds life. Find the similarities between his life/character and Johns life/character.

2. Do an extra Delve In question.

3. Make a timeline of the places and events that take place up to this point of the story.4. Find out about the Civil War, the reasons for it and what it meant for the American people.English The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (4-6)Vocabulary QuizAnswer these questions. Complete sentences are optional.

1.Describe how you feel when somebody behaves in an ingratiating manner towards you?:

2. Who is a darky? How would you use this word?3. Give me an example of a predicament a student can find himself/herself in.

4. What would you probably see if you saw a nymph and where would you see it?5. List 3 things in your life that you are compelled to do.

6. What kind of person is sophisticated.

7. What is a patois? 8. What do you do if you peach on someone.9. Give two examples of unruffled behaviour.Write meaningful sentences with these words/phrases

10. amnesia:

11. wreath:

12. pandemonium:

13. pine away:

14. a grating (noun):Essential Questions: Parts 7-9

What is your idea of true love? Describe the feeling and the relationship between two people that are truly in love.

Would you marry someone your parents disapprove of? What are some of the reasons why some parents disapprove of their childrens choice when it comes to marrying someone? Do you feel murder is ever justified? Give arguments. What does it mean to be an idealist? Can idealism be absurd?

Is having/not having money in any way connected with freedom? PARTS 7-9 (guided discussion)Getting things straightPart 7 How is the romance between John and Kismine evolving? Do you think that what John and Kismine feel for each other is just puppy love /calf love or is it the real thing? Give arguments. Was the sapphire that John stowed away tenderly in his jewel box a gift? Could it be considered theft? Was Midas a saint? Discuss what must be the motto of St Midas (Pro deo et patria et St Midas). What does it mean? Design an ideal university motto.

Part 8 Apart from courting Kismine, how does John spend all his leisure time at the Washingtons? What is Johns opinion about the four members of the Washington family? Do you agree with him? Why (not)? Who was employed to design the chateau? What point does Fitzgerald make about movie industry? How do you feel about it? What are John and Kismine planning? What problems do they foresee? Do you feel Kismine is ready for real life in the world outside? Why (not)? What does Kismine inadvertently reveal while speaking to John? How does it happen?

Does Kismine see any justification/logic in what the Washingtons do with their guests?

How does John react to what he is told by Kismine? How would you? What do the two lovers decide to do in the end? Do you believe that they still love each other? Why (not)?

What happens at dinner that night? What does it tell you about Percy?

Part 9 How would you describe this part with one word? Give arguments. Outline quickly what happens in this part. (You could act it out) Describe Mr Washington as John sees him in the lift. Please comment his attire. Why is John of minor importance to Mr Washington at this point?

After John and Kismine kiss in the lift, the aouthor comments: Romance had come to John Unger at last. Is this your idea of romance? Give arguments.

Discuss Kismines behaviour and her statements while she and John are observing the attack on the roof? What kind of personality do they reveal?

What is Kismines idea of being poor? Do you agree more with her or John?

English The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (7-9)Vocabulary QuizAnswer these questions. Complete sentences are optional.

1. Describe how you feel when you are bewailing something and give two examples of things you might bewail?:

2. Who might elope? Why?

3. Describe a chaste person (at least three adjectives).

4. What might you buy in a hardware shop (at least three items)?

5. List 3 things in your life that your parents might reproach you for..

6. Give me an example of ferocious behaviour.

7. What is a knob? Where would you find it?

8. What are you always reluctant to do? Why?9. Give two examples of something gaudy. What does it mean when you describe something as gaudy?Write meaningful sentences with these words/phrases

10 drenched:

11. retaliate:

12. blot out:

13. shrug:

14. gnaw:Essential Questions: Parts 10-11 What does it mean to lose everything? How do you think it feels to be an orphan? What is God like and how should one communicate with him/her?

How do you measure the value of an object? Is it possible to have a lot of power without being corrupted?

Define youth?

Getting Things Straight QuestionsPart 10 Where is John at the beginning of this part? Who with? Who seems to be winning the battle?

What happens while Jasmine and Kismine are asleep? Would you be able to sleep if you were in their shoes? Why (not)? Describe Mr Washingtons attitude to God and his proposal. Would you say Mr Washington is religious? Does God accept Mr Wasgingtons proposal? Is there an answer at all? What does it tell us about God/religion?

After speaking to God, where does Mr Washington go?

How does the dark and glittering reign of the Washingtons end?

Part 11 Where are John, Kismine and Jasmine? What are they doing? How do Kismine and Jasmine feel about the loss of their family? What kind of plans does John have for their future? Why did Kismine bring the rhinestones? Do you think it was a mistake? Do you find it ironic?

Who does Kismine expect to see in Hades? John implies that her father is somewhere else. Where?

How does John define love and youth? How does John feel at the end?

What do they do at the very end? Why?

Delve In Questions

1. John claims that everybodys youth is a form of chemical madness. From his definition of youth, would you say that you are young? Describe what youth means to you. Would you say society today is obsessed with youth? Why?2. After finding out what Johns, Kismines and Jasminess prospects for the future are, what do you think will happen with them. How will they live?3. After reading the last part of the story, how do you think John has changed through the story? Do you think he has somehow grown?4. Kismine often seems totally out of touch with reality. Find at least three examples in the story that show that.English The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (10-11)Vocabulary QuizAnswer these questions. Complete sentences are optional.

1. Describe how you feel when you are giddy something and give two examples of things that might make you giddy?:

2. Who might need an arbiter? Why?

3. If somebody has been slain, they have been ___________________..

4. What might you buy in a hardware shop (at least three items)?

5. List 2 things that might rustle and explain what might make them rustle.

6. What do you do if you stagger? What might be the reason for the staggering?7. What is a chisel? What would you use it for?

8. If an attempt to do something is forlorn, it means it is ______________________9. Give two examples of mocking behaviour. How does it feel to be mocked?Write meaningful sentences with these words/phrases

10. ebb and flow:

11. bribe:

12. recede:

13. beleaguer: