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5
Lesson 1
A Perfect Day for Bananafish
In groups of 4-5, discuss the peculiarities of Salinger’s style and
the points that are essential for understanding his stories. Make up an
outline of the items you have come up with to share with the other
groups.
PRE-READING TASKS
• What kind of associations do you have with the words
"Banana"? "Bananafish"?
bananafish
b
anan
a
• What does the title suggest about the possible content of the story?
• Here are some sentences from the story. They are not in the order
they appear in it. Use them as a clue to predict the content of the
text.
A. "Mother," said the girl, "you talk about him as though he were
a raving maniac –"
B. "You just keep your eyes open for any bananafish. This is a
perfect day for bananafish."
C. "I see you are looking at my feet", he said to her when the car
was in motion. "I beg your pardon. I happened to be looking at
the floor," said the woman, and faced the doors of the car.
D. Sybil stopped walking and yanked her hand away from him.
E. He plodded alone through the soft, hot sand toward the hotel.
F. He cocked the piece.
G. He glanced at the girl lying asleep on one of the twin beds.
H. Set loose, Sybil immediately ran down to the flat part of the
beach and began to walk in the direction of Fisherman’s
Pavilion.
I. She stopped short when she reached the place where a young
man was lying on his back.
Using the sentences, make up a story, which you think, will resemble
the original one. Share your stories in class.
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• While reading the story identify the sentences from the exercise
above in the text and put them in the right order.
GENERAL COMPREHENSION
1. Describe your immediate reaction after having read the story.
2. When and where is the first scene laid?
3. Who is involved in the scene?
4. How would you characterize Muriel as she is described in the part
before the telephone conversation? Use the text to back up your
opinion.
5. What details concerning the emotional state of both the
interlocutors in the telephone talk can you comment on?
6. What can we infer about
¾ Muriel ¾ her father
¾ her mother ¾ Seymour?
Discuss it in groups and get ready to give your account to the
whole class.
7. How old is Sybil? How does the author hint at her age?
8. How is her appearance described? ( see p.13)
9. How would you define the essence of the conversation between
Sybil and Seymour?
10. Did Sybil believe the story about bananafish? Prove it.
11. Comment on the following sentence of Seymour’s "This is a
perfect day for bananafish." (p.19). What might he mean?
12. What continuation of the story from the spot of Seymour’s and
Sybil’s parting would you make if you were a writer? Explain your
choice. Discuss in groups of 3 or 4 how it would affect the message
of the story, and prepare a speech to convince your listeners that
your ending would be better than the author’s. (Bear in mind that
you must find good reasons and use good wording to sound
convincing.)
13. How, in your opinion, did Muriel and Seymour happen to marry?
Can such marriages be considered happy from your point of view?
(Any examples are welcome). What kind of marriages can?
(marriage of convenience? love? both combined?)
14. You are to write an epitaph to Seymour’s tombstone (verses or
prose) as to reflect the most important information about him.
Lesson 1 • While reading the story identify the sentences from the exercise
A Perfect Day for Bananafish above in the text and put them in the right order.
In groups of 4-5, discuss the peculiarities of Salinger’s style and GENERAL COMPREHENSION
the points that are essential for understanding his stories. Make up an
outline of the items you have come up with to share with the other 1. Describe your immediate reaction after having read the story.
groups. 2. When and where is the first scene laid?
PRE-READING TASKS 3. Who is involved in the scene?
• What kind of associations do you have with the words 4. How would you characterize Muriel as she is described in the part
"Banana"? "Bananafish"? before the telephone conversation? Use the text to back up your
opinion.
5. What details concerning the emotional state of both the
bananafish interlocutors in the telephone talk can you comment on?
banana 6. What can we infer about
¾ Muriel ¾ her father
• What does the title suggest about the possible content of the story? ¾ her mother ¾ Seymour?
• Here are some sentences from the story. They are not in the order Discuss it in groups and get ready to give your account to the
they appear in it. Use them as a clue to predict the content of the whole class.
text. 7. How old is Sybil? How does the author hint at her age?
8. How is her appearance described? ( see p.13)
A. "Mother," said the girl, "you talk about him as though he were 9. How would you define the essence of the conversation between
a raving maniac –" Sybil and Seymour?
B. "You just keep your eyes open for any bananafish. This is a 10. Did Sybil believe the story about bananafish? Prove it.
perfect day for bananafish." 11. Comment on the following sentence of Seymour’s "This is a
C. "I see you are looking at my feet", he said to her when the car perfect day for bananafish." (p.19). What might he mean?
was in motion. "I beg your pardon. I happened to be looking at 12. What continuation of the story from the spot of Seymour’s and
the floor," said the woman, and faced the doors of the car. Sybil’s parting would you make if you were a writer? Explain your
D. Sybil stopped walking and yanked her hand away from him. choice. Discuss in groups of 3 or 4 how it would affect the message
E. He plodded alone through the soft, hot sand toward the hotel. of the story, and prepare a speech to convince your listeners that
F. He cocked the piece. your ending would be better than the author’s. (Bear in mind that
G. He glanced at the girl lying asleep on one of the twin beds. you must find good reasons and use good wording to sound
H. Set loose, Sybil immediately ran down to the flat part of the convincing.)
beach and began to walk in the direction of Fisherman’s 13. How, in your opinion, did Muriel and Seymour happen to marry?
Pavilion. Can such marriages be considered happy from your point of view?
I. She stopped short when she reached the place where a young (Any examples are welcome). What kind of marriages can?
man was lying on his back. (marriage of convenience? love? both combined?)
Using the sentences, make up a story, which you think, will resemble 14. You are to write an epitaph to Seymour’s tombstone (verses or
the original one. Share your stories in class. prose) as to reflect the most important information about him.
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