Introduction
to J.D.
Salinger’s:
The Catcher
in the Rye
J.D. Salinger
1919 – present
 Has written several
books about young
people including The
Catcher in the Rye
and Franny and Zoey
 Served in WWII
 Has not granted an
interview since 1980!

J.D. Salinger
Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam:
father was Jewish, mother, Catholic
 Jerome David Salinger
 Recognized as one of the most popular
and influential authors of American fiction
during the second half of the twentieth
century.
 Has, by his own choice, remained out of
the public eye for most of his life.

The Catcher in the Rye




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Published in 1951
Has sold over 65 million copies world wide!
Despite its popular success, the critical response
to The Catcher in the Rye was slow in getting
underway.
One of the most frequently challenged books in
library history because of sex and vulgar
language.
Named one of the best novels of the 20th
century by Time Magazine.
Reasons for Banning?
Until
2006, Catcher was one
of the most frequently banned
books.
 Mark David Chapman
(assassin of John Lennon) and
John Hinckley Jr. (attempted
assassin of President Ronald
Reagan) both had copies of
the book in their pockets when
they were arrested.
The Catcher in the Rye
Tells the story of a teenager expelled from
his high school and his journey across NYC
in the 1950’s.
 Issues discussed in the book include:
school, teachers, music, sex, alcohol,
hypocrisy, family, and being a teenager.
 A story is about Holden Caulfield, the 16
year old protagonist of the novel, and his
experiences in school and New York City.

Holden’s Character and Us
Holden Caulfield = sketch of an American
teenager
 Nearly all readers identify with or see some of
their friends reflected in different aspects of
Holden’s character.
 Young readers see in Holden Caulfield a little bit
of what they are, while older readers see in
Holden a bit of what they once were.
 Ultimately, we all know that is some way,
Holden is one of us.

Similarities between J.D. Salinger
and Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger attended prep schools in NYC
and flunked out of McBurney School at 13
 He attended Valley Forge Military
Academy and graduated at 15
 He has been referred to as a terrible liar,
though this is difficult to prove/disprove
 Alienation from society– Salinger seems
determined to keep his life private from
outsiders.

Point of View
First-person limited- we see this story
only through Holden’s eyes
 “You”- the psychoanalyst and the reader
 Stream of Consciousness; many
digressions
 Dialect- Salinger perfected the dialect of
the teenage boy

– This language is the cause of much
controversy over the book
– This creates a very believable character
Themes/Topics

Phonies/Societal Pressures
– “phony” implies snobbery
– Holden hates phonies

Adolescence/ Loss of Innocence
– Holden is at the in between stage of life, in
between a child and an adult
– Holden wants to be accepted by children and
adults, however, he doesn’t fit into either
category
Course Themes Within Catcher
Conformity vs. Resistance
 IDENTITY FORMATION
 Perception of Truth
 Changes in Values over Time

Watch for these themes during your reading
of the novel. You will be expected to pull
examples of each theme out of the novel.
Dominant Symbols
The Carousel
 The Red Hunting Cap
 The Catcher’s Mitt
 The Ducks in Central
Park Pond
 The Museum of
Natural History
 Pencey Prep

Holden’s Quests

Holden is looking for THREE things:
– The Innocence of Childhood
 Wants things to remain the same as when
he was younger
– Love
– Identity
 What do I do with my life? What does this
all mean?
 How do I live up to expectations and still
be an individual?
What to look for while reading?

This novel is a character study of Holden.
– Analyze Holden’s motivations, his personality,
and his mental stability.
– What’s Holden’s deal? Is there something
wrong with him (is he crazy?) or is he a just a
normal teenager?
Journal Response

Put yourself into Holden’s shoes. What
would you do if you were expelled from
school and knew that your parents would
not know you were expelled for two days?

Plan out those two days and please keep
your responses school appropriate.