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The Catcher in The Rye Pre-reading Scavenger Hunt
In order to gain a better insight into the book we’ll be reading as a class, you will be
responsible for learning about the book’s background, the historical context of the book,
and literary elements to support reading comprehension. This is information is to help you
understand the context of the book when we start it next week. On your own, you’ll have
one (maybe two) class period to research the four topics below, depending on if you work
effectively. All of your responses should be in complete sentences. Be sure to save this
document in your own document folder.
Use the links that appear below each question to answer the questions.
Part I. Author’s Background
1. http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/salinger.htm
2. http://www.levity.com/corduroy/salinger1.htm
Use these websites to find some interesting facts about the author, J.D. Salinger’s life. List at
least five facts below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part II: The Historical Context
Use the following websites to gain a better understanding of life during the 1940s and
1950s.
1. http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html
Use the above website to find three historical facts, events, experiences, and/or key people
from the 1940s.
1.
2.
3.
Using the same website, find three more facts, events, experiences, and/or key people from
the 1950s.
Courtesy: http://soquelhs.net/library/Teachers/wiles/catcher_in_%20the_%20ryehtm.htm
Page last updated 11/09 by Madeline Britton, Librarian
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1.
2.
3.
2. Fashion: http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/fashion-w.htm
Explore the fashion trends for men, women and teenagers during the 1950s. What do you
notice? How does it differ from today’s clothing? Jot down three things you found
interesting or different from modern fashion.
1.
2.
3.
Part III: The Practice of Banning Books!
Use the website to read about various instances in which The Catcher in the Rye was
banned.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsb
anned
Name 3 detailed instances of Catcher being banned:
1.
2.
3.
4. What seems to be the main reasons for banning this book?
Part IV: Literary Elements ?
In order to fully understand The Catcher in the Rye, we will need to fully understand several
literary devices.
Using the following website, define the remaining terms (two have been defined for you):
http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm
1. theme:
2. symbol and symbolism:
3. antihero: the protagonist (or main character) in a story who lacks typical heroic
qualities of bravery, strength, intelligence, etc. An antihero is usually an outcast from
society and knows it.
4. foil:
5. motif:
6. hyperbole:
7. bildüngsroman: A German word for “novel of development”; also known as a “coming of
age story”. It is usually a narrative of a youthful character who grows and matures in some
way.
Courtesy: http://soquelhs.net/library/Teachers/wiles/catcher_in_%20the_%20ryehtm.htm
Page last updated 11/09 by Madeline Britton, Librarian
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8. point of view:
9. tone:
10. imagery:
Based on what you learned from this scavenger hunt, make 2 predictions or impressions
that you have of the book. Explain your thinking:
1.
2.
Courtesy: http://soquelhs.net/library/Teachers/wiles/catcher_in_%20the_%20ryehtm.htm
Page last updated 11/09 by Madeline Britton, Librarian