SAMPLE Fact Sheet for Part 2 Works – The Catcher in the Rye
Category
Example From Text
Name of Work
Genre (autobiography, poetry, drama, novel)
Author
Author’s dates and places of birth and death
The Catcher in the Rye
Novel
J.D. Salinger
B: Jan. 1, 1919, Manhattan, NY
D: n/a – lives as recluse in NH
1951
post-war era, rebelling against tradition
disillusioned with phoniness of society
Salinger had PTSS after WWII
Bildungsroman (coming of age story)
First person point of view, Holden Caulfied is narrator
Red hunting hat – security blanket, escape, stand out
Ducks on the pond – innocence
Publication Date
Cultural/social/historical context
Type of story
Point of view/narrator
Major symbols and what they may represent
Major characters (brief description of each)
Minor characters (brief description of each)
Major conflict
Theme
Setting
Techniques and their effects
Freytag’s pyramid
Significant passages (reveal something about
theme, turning point for plot or character, show
meaning of title, author uses new technique to
show change in tone, etc.)
Holden Caulfield - protagonist and narrator; teenager, searching for identity
Allie Caulfield – Holden’s brother, died three years prior to story, had profound effect on Holden
Phoebe Caulfield – Holden’s younger sister; ironic because she acts older and more mature
James Castle – Holden’s acquaintance from another prep school; jumped out window after being
tortured by more popular students
Mr. Antolini – Was Holden’s teacher; took Holden in; Holden thought that he was inappropriate with
him
Stradlater – Holden’s roommate at Pencey (secret slob) – Holden jealous b/c he had a date with Jane
Gallagher
Ackley – Holden’s neighbor; annoyed Holden
Jane Gallagher – Holden’s friend; he loved her; kept checkers in the back row; only person Holden was
comfortable around (besides Allie and Phoebe)
Sally Hayes – contrast to Jane – but Holden calls her instead
Holden is kicked out of prep school and is afraid to go home
 Man vs. self (Holden’s internal struggle against growing up)
 Man vs. society (Holden’s struggle against societal norms – he doesn’t want to do what is
normally expected)
 Man vs. man (Holden’s issues with his parents; Holden vs. Stradlater, Maurice)
 Man vs. nature?
Loss of innocence
Pencey Prep, Pennsylvania
Manhattan, NYC
Colloquial language – makes it realistic
Flashback – develops Holden’s character
Dialogue – captures youth, makes it realistic, develops character
Symbolism – develops theme (holding on to innocence) and character (insecurity)
Religious allusions – explains parts of plot (Mr. Antolini as Joseph of Arimathea)
Exposition – Holden in mental institution, flashes back to Pency Prep
Inciting Incident – Holden runs away from school
Rising Action –
 Mrs. Morrow on train
 Ducks on the pond
 Museum of Natural History
 Bars in NYC
 Maurice/Sunny
 Date with Sally
 Sees Phoebe
Climax – Holden cries at carousel
Falling Action – Holden decides to stay home
Resolution – Holden is in hospital getting treatment; sounds like he’s ready to move on and face his
problems
Ducks on the pond – p. 81 – 83
Carousel – p. 210
Fact Sheet for Part Two Works – Prose and Drama
Category
Name of Work
Genre (autobiography, poetry, drama,
novel)
Author
Author’s dates and places of birth and
death
Publication Date
Cultural/social/historical context
Type of story
Point of view/narrator
Major symbols and what they may
represent
Major characters (brief description of
each)
Minor characters (brief description of
each)
Major conflict
Theme
Setting
Example From Text
Category
Techniques and their effects
Freytag’s pyramid (exposition, rising
action, climax, falling action,
denouement)
Significant passages (reveal something
about theme, turning point for plot or
character, show meaning of title,
author uses new technique to show
change in tone, etc.)
Example From Text
Fact Sheet for Part Two Works – Poetry
Category
Name of poem and first line
Poet
Poet’s dates and places of birth and
death
Publication Date (if known)
Cultural/social/historical context
Speaker of poem (persona)
Theme (and how does poet develop
it?)
Tone
Length
Structure (structured or free verse?)
Rhyme scheme
Sound effects
Figurative language
Major symbols and what they
represent
Relationship to poet’s work as a whole
Example From Poem
Consider also a line-by-line study (especially of those works you’re uncomfortable with):
Line
Paraphrase
Elements of Style
Effects or Functions