JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
Day
8
Thesis
development
Journal Warm-Up: Understanding Character

JD Salinger was a very private person. He took his personal life, as
well as his writing, very seriously. According to Salinger’s
Biography, he would only allow his books to be published with a
plain white cover. He did this to make people read the book for
what it was, and not for what it looked like. With society so
interested in looks and appeal, this was a very bold move for
Salinger.

You are now being given the chance to redesign a cover for The
Catcher in the Rye. Imagine Salinger trusts you, and only you, to
truly represent the novel in the best way you think. What will the
cover feature? You can describe the cover the way you want it to
look or you can illustrate it. Explain your choices.



In what ways is The Catcher in the Rye a novel of social protest? What aspects of society
does Salinger critique? What alternatives does he offer?
◦
What does Holden fear?
◦
Does Holden choose to isolate or alienate himself?
◦
Does Holden refuse to accept reality?
◦
What does Holden value?
◦
How does the author’s tone contribute to the critique?
James Bryan notes that Holden “is poised between two worlds, one he cannot return to
and one he fears to enter.” In what ways does Holden embody the limbo between
childhood and adulthood?
◦
Do you think Holden is struggling to grow up?
◦
How does Holden view adulthood or childhood?
◦
Holden develops aliases and pretends to be other people. What purpose does this serve?
◦
Is Holden mature or immature?
◦
What is running away from or trying to escape?
Arthur Heiserman and James E. Miller Jr. write, “American literature seems fascinated
with the outcast, the person who defies traditions in order to arrive at some pristine
knowledge, some personal integrity.” In what ways does this novel exhibit a fascination
with the outcast? Does Holden find his place in the world?
◦
How does he make himself an outcast?
◦
In ways do societal norms further his alienation?
◦
What is Holden desperate for?
◦
What is he searching/seeking/looking for?
Homework:
-Unit 4 Vocabulary Quiz Feb 4th/5th
Success Criteria:
*Complete your thesis and 3 supporting quotes
-letter D in the introduction
 ANALYZING
-letter B & C in all 3 body paragraphs
 The student:
(Total of 7 lines completed)
 i. competently analyses the content,
Learning Intentions:
context, language, structure, technique,
 Students will make important
style of text(s) and the relationship among
texts
inferences when approaching
new and/or unfamiliar reading
or concepts.
◦

Cite strong and thorough textual
evidence to support your thesis
statement
Students will engage in the
evaluation and critique(s) when
approaching new and/or
unfamiliar reading or concepts.

ii. competently analyses the effects of
the creator’s choices on an audience

iii. sufficiently justifies opinions and ideas
with examples and explanations; uses
accurate terminology

Develop a thesis statement that makes a
debatable claim about the main character
(Why does Holden withdraw from
society?)

Record textual evidence (at least 3
different quotes) in your body paragraphs
to support your thesis statement
College and career readiness
ACT:

 ACT:WRITING/Focusing on

the Topic (FOC) 11-12:

 FOC 601. Maintain a precise

focus on discussing the specific 
issue in the prompt throughout 

the essay

 FOC 602. Present a critical

thesis that clearly establishes

the focus on the writer’s

position on the issue
ATL: Thinking Skills
Analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas
Practice observing carefully
Gather and organize relevant information to formulate an
argument
Evaluate evidence and arguments
Draw reasonable conclusions and generalizations
Revise understanding based on new information and evidence
Consider ideas from multiple perspectives
Develop contrary or opposing arguments
Analyze complex concepts and projects into their constituent
parts and synthesize them to create new understanding
Use brainstorming and visual diagrams to generate new ideas
and inquiries
Make unexpected or unusual connections between objects
and/or ideas
Literary Analysis Essay Assessment
Steps to Writing Literary Analysis Essay:
 Review your notes.
◦ Review your literature circle role sheets and journals. What idea
do you keep thinking about or coming back to in your notes?
 Analyze the author’s choices to determine how they contribute to
the theme.
 Write a thesis statement.
 To build your argument, you need to find evidence from the text to
support your thesis statement. You must have a minimum of 3
quotes.
 Start drafting body paragraphs.
 Work on introduction and conclusion.
 Revise.
 Submit final draft.

Thesis Statements





A thesis statement is one or two complete and concise
sentences that succinctly expresses your view concerning a
particular topic.
What a thesis statement IS:
A thesis statement is a debatable claim that requires
evidence and support, not a universally agreed-upon fact or
an observation; it should present a position that readers
could disagree with realistically.
It is a statement that unifies the paper by stating the
writer's most important or significant point regarding the
topic.
It should attempt to convince readers of something, change
their minds about something, or urge them to do
something.
Is it a thesis statement or not?
People use many lawn chemicals.
 People are poisoning the environment
with chemicals merely to keep their lawns
green.
 The thesis of this paper is the difficulty of
solving our environmental problems.
 Solving our environmental problems is
more difficult than many
environmentalists believe.

In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice,
Shylock is alienated.
 In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice,
Shylock is alienated, justifying his
vengefulness and making him a
sympathetic villain.
 In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s
obsession and memories of Allie may or
may not act as a kind of guardian angel.
 In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s
obsession with Allie causes Holden’s
inability to survive in society.

Citing Your Quotes
To illustrate this, Holden says, “Sometimes you
get tired of riding in taxicabs that same way you
get tired of riding in elevators. All of a sudden,
you have to walk, no matter how far or high
up” (Salinger 88).
 When visiting Mr. Spencer, Holden says,
“’Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I
mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m just going through a
phase right now. Everybody goes through
phases and all, don’t they?’” (Salinger 15).

Is it a thesis statement or not?
A thesis statement is:
 one to two complete and succinct
sentences that succinctly expresses your
view of Holden
 a debatable claim (NOT an obvious fact)

 TIP:
Once you’ve written the thesis, think of a
counter thesis that would oppose yours.
Got one? Good, move forward BUT hang
onto that thought.
avoids 1st person (I think…I believe… I
feel…)
 avoids announcement (My thesis is… My
paper will be about…)

Writing Circles Preparation
1. Review what you have learned about Holden.
◦ Review your literature circle role sheets and journal
warm-ups and cool-downs. What ideas about Holden do
you keep thinking about or coming back to in your
notes?
 2. What claim do you want to make about Holden? Why
does Holden withdraw from society?
 3. Write your thesis statement.
 4. To build your argument, you need to find evidence from
the text to support your thesis statement. You must have a
minimum of 3 quotes to support your thesis statement.

Writing Circles Preparation

1. Review what you have learned about Holden.
◦ Review your literature circle role sheets and journal warm-ups and cooldowns. What idea about Holden do you keep thinking about or coming back
to in your notes?
Character’s Quotes
Page
#
Character Analysis
“Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,” I said. “I
mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m just going
through a phase right now. Everybody goes
through phases and all, don’t they?”
15
Holden’s insistence about him going through a phase but at the same time turning it
into a question demonstrates his anxiety and uncertainty about being able to
transition into adulthood.
“You know those ducks in that lagoon right
near Central Park South? That little lake? By
any chance, do you happen to know where
they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen
over? Do you happen to know, by any
chance?” I realized it was only one chance in
a million.
60
Holden’s inquiring about the safety and whereabouts of the ducks and how they
transition from the comfortable waters to treacherous conditions in winter. His
curiosity demonstrates his concerns and fears about where he will go or belong in
society as he grows up and leaves the comfort of childhood. The answer is very
important to him and he is fearful that he doesn’t know, nor does anybody else
know.
“I could probably tell you what I did after I
went home, and how I got sick and all, and
what school I’m supposed to go to next fall,
after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it.
I really don’t. That stuff doesn’t interest me
too much right now.”
213
Holden is faced with moving forward in his life, but he isn’t ready to address it yet.
He is avoiding his transition back to school and doesn’t want to think about it at all.
He doesn’t know how to face the harsh world and he doesn’t want to turn into an
adult like those he is so critical of.
Writing Circles Preparation
2. What claim do you want to make about Holden? Why does
Holden withdraw from society?
 3. Write your thesis statement.

Character’s Quotes
Page
#
Character Analysis
“Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,” I said. “I
mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m just going
through a phase right now. Everybody goes
through phases and all, don’t they?”
15
Holden’s insistence about him going through a phase but at the same time turning it
into a question demonstrates his anxiety and uncertainty about being able to
transition into adulthood.
“You know those ducks in that lagoon right
near Central Park South? That little lake? By
any chance, do you happen to know where
they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen
over? Do you happen to know, by any
chance?” I realized it was only one chance in
a million.
60
Holden’s inquiring about the safety and whereabouts of the ducks and how they
transition from the comfortable waters to treacherous conditions in winter. His
curiosity demonstrates his concerns and fears about where he will go or belong in
society as he grows up and leaves the comfort of childhood. The answer is very
important to him and he is fearful that he doesn’t know, nor does anybody else
know.
“I could probably tell you what I did after I
went home, and how I got sick and all, and
what school I’m supposed to go to next fall,
after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it.
I really don’t. That stuff doesn’t interest me
too much right now.”
213
Holden is faced with moving forward in his life, but he isn’t ready to address it yet.
He is avoiding his transition back to school and doesn’t want to think about it at all.
He doesn’t know how to face the harsh world and he doesn’t want to turn into an
adult like those he is so critical of.

Thesis: Holden withdraws from society because he fears the
transition from childhood to adulthood.
Holden withdraws from society because he fears the transition from childhood to
adulthood.
Holden insists, “‘Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m
just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don’t
they?’” (Salinger 15).
Holden’s insistence about him going through a phase but at the same time turning it
into a question demonstrates his anxiety and uncertainty about being able to
transition into adulthood. It’s unclear to him if other people are experiencing the
traumatic events that he is going through.
Holden’s withdraw from society comes from his fear about making it through the
difficult phase that he’s experiencing.
When meeting with Mr. Spencer, he discusses his most recent struggles and failures
with hesitation.
Holden insists, “‘Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m
just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don’t
they?’” (Salinger 15).
Holden’s insistence about him going through a phase but at the same time turning it
into a question demonstrates his anxiety and uncertainty about being able to
transition into adulthood. It’s unclear to him if other people are experiencing the
traumatic events that he is going through.
His search for reassurance about the transitioning phase suggests his fear about
growing up and moving on to adulthood.
Steps to Success
1. Review what you have learned about Holden.
◦ Examine your character analysis log for patterns. Do the quotes you
have written down on your character log have a key idea in common?
◦ Review your literature circle role sheets and journal warm-ups and
cool-downs. What idea about Holden do you keep thinking about or
coming back to in your notes?
 2. What claim do you want to make about Holden? Why does Holden
withdraw from society?
 3. Write your thesis statement.
 4. To build your argument, you need to find evidence from the text to
support your thesis statement. You must have a minimum of 3 quotes to
support your thesis statement.
 5. Complete “D” in introduction
 6. Complete letters “B” and “C” for all
3 body paragraphs

Writing Circles Expectations

What should it look
like?
◦
Each member shares
thesis statement and
provides feedback
according to thesis
statement
criteria/checklist

What should it sound
like?
◦
One person speaking at a
time: reading thesis
statement or providing
feedback about thesis
statement
Debatable Unit Question:
◦ Why
does Holden withdraw
from society?
JD Salinger “Fun” Fact

Tragically, the alienation of anti-hero Holden
Caulfield has resonated with society’s sociopaths.
After assassinating John Lennon in 1980, Mark David
Chapman was found by police casually thumbing
through a copy of The Catcher in the Rye. Chapman
later claimed that the novel was his statement and
that it provided the answer to why he’d killed the
legendary Beatle. In 1981, after John Hinckley Jr.,
attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan, investigators
reportedly discovered a copy of the book in his hotel
room. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of
insanity. And, in 1989, Robert John Bardo, who had
been carrying the book, murdered Rebecca Schaeffer,
an actress whom he had become obsessed with.
JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
Day
Body
9
paragraph
development
*Also applies to
sentence to sentence.

Get out your Chrome Book and log on!

Where are you at?

In what ways is The Catcher in the Rye a novel of social protest? What
aspects of society does Salinger critique? What alternatives does he offer?
◦ What does Holden fear? Does Holden choose to isolate or alienate himself? Does
Holden refuse to accept reality? What does Holden value? How does the author’s
tone contribute to the critique?

James Bryan notes that Holden “is poised between two worlds, one he
cannot return to and one he fears to enter.” In what ways does Holden
embody the limbo between childhood and adulthood?
◦ Do you think Holden is struggling to grow up? How does Holden view adulthood or
childhood? Holden develops aliases and pretends to be other people. What purpose
does this serve? Is Holden mature or immature? What is running away from or
trying to escape?

Arthur Heiserman and James E. Miller Jr. write, “American literature
seems fascinated with the outcast, the person who defies traditions in order
to arrive at some pristine knowledge, some personal integrity.” In what
ways does this novel exhibit a fascination with the outcast? Does Holden
find his place in the world?
◦ How does he make himself an outcast? In ways do societal norms further his
alienation? What is Holden desperate for? What is he searching/seeking/looking for?
Citation Addendum

Two options:
Human beings have been described by
Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using animals" (3).
◦ Human beings have been described as
"symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).
◦

One source: (Salinger #) every time?
Answer: ?

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye.
Boston: Little, Brown and Company,
1951. Print.
Journal Warm-Up: Understanding Character

Many people draw comparisons between the Simon and Garfunkel song “I Am a
Rock” and how it relates to The Catcher in the Rye. How would you compare these
lyrics to our study of Holden Caulfield? What specific song lyric stands out? OR
What song do you know that relates to Holden in some way? Think of a specific
line and explain.
◦

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKY-smJ6aBQ
A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Homework::
*Complete your body paragraphs! All sections (Topic sentence, example,
quote, analysis, and concluding sentence)
Success Criteria:
-Unit 4 Vocabulary Quiz 4th/5th
Learning Intentions:

Students will engage in the evaluation
and critique(s) when approaching new
and/or unfamiliar reading or concepts.
Write
body paragraphs that cite
strong and thorough textual
evidence to support analysis of
main character
Use signal phrases and transitions
to link the major sections of the
text, create cohesion, and clarify
the relationships quotes and
analysis

ORGANIZING

The student:

i. makes competent use of organizational
structures that serve the context and
intention

ii. organizes opinions and ideas in a
coherent and logical manner with ideas
building on each other

iii. makes competent use of referencing
and formatting tools to create a
presentation style suitable to the context
and intention.

Use textual evidence (at least 3 different
quotes) to support character analysis

Include at least 3 signal phrases and 3
transitions within and between body
paragraphs
College and career readiness
ACT:



ACT: WRITING/Developing
Ideas (DEV) 9-10:
DEV 501. Provide thorough
development in support of
ideas; extend ideas by using
specific, logical reasons and
illustrative examples
DEV 502. Show clear
movement between general and
specific ideas and examples
ATL: Thinking Skills

Analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas

Practice observing carefully in order to recognize
problems

Gather and organize relevant information to formulate
argument

Recognize unstated assumptions and bias

Interpret data

Evaluate evidence and arguments

Draw reasonable conclusions and generalizations

Revise understanding based on new information and
evidence

Formulate factual, topical, conceptual and debatable
questions

Consider ideas from multiple perspectives

Develop contrary or opposing arguments

Analyze complex concepts and projects into their
Character Analysis Essay Assessment






Steps to Writing Character Analysis Essay:
1. Review what you have learned about Holden.
◦ Examine your character analysis log for patterns. Do the quotes
you have written down on your character log have a key idea in
common?
2. What claim do you want to make about Holden? Why does
Holden withdraw from society?
3. Write your thesis statement.
4. To build your argument, you need to find evidence from the
text to support your thesis statement. You must have a minimum
of 3 quotes to support your thesis statement.
5. Draft body paragraphs using quote sandwich and
transitions.
When quoting…
Don’t Drop a Bomb!
Make a Sandwich!
Quotations are meant to support your
argument. To use quotations effectively, you
must sandwich them:
Introduction: When you find a relevant quote
that will support your argument, introduce it.
2. Quotation: Include only the most relevant parts
of the text. (Quotes should not be too long.)
3. Explanation: Explain how the quote is relevant
to your argument and helps to prove it.
1.
Don’t just drop a “quote bomb” and move
on to the next idea without tying it all
together.
Quote Sandwich

Quotes do not speak for themselves! You
have to do that for them!
Lead-in/Signal Phrase
 Quote
 Analysis


Holden acknowledges, “Quote” (Salinger
142). Through this, he demonstrates his
cynical viewpoint of…
Some basic ways to introduce:
 X states, “_____”
When X, “_____”
In her book, _____, X demonstrates that
“_____”
 At this point, X says/recalls, “______”
Some basic ways to explain:
 In other words, X believes _____.
Because of this, _______.
Here X appear(s) as _____.
It can then be seen that _____.
“Do you happen to know where they go,
the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?
Do you happen to know, by any chance?”
(Salinger 60)
 How do we sandwich this?

Example Sandwich

Holden is constantly looking for answers
to where the ducks go when not at the
lagoon. When riding in a cab, Holden asks
the driver, “Do you happen to know
where they go, the ducks, when it gets all
frozen over? Do you happen to know, by
any chance?” (Salinger 60). Holden’s
concern for where the ducks go
demonstrates his anxiety with where he
should go in his own personal winter.
Much like winter is a time of scarce food
and shelter, Holden feels he lacks
anywhere safe to head to.
Quote Sandwich

Holden compares, “Quote” (Salinger #).
His fear of…
Transitions
On your chart sheet, circle, underline, or highlight 4-5 transitions you already
use and would use in your writing, AND circle at least 1-2 transitions you have
NOT used before but plan on trying out and using in this paper.









For example
Additionally,
Correspondingly
Also,
In other words,
Likewise
Hence,
Furthermore
In general,
Above all,
 To emphasize

Transitions












Under those
circumstances
In this case
At the same time
Additionally
Accordingly
As a result
To avoid this,
For example
Moreover,
Unfortunately,
For this reason

For example

First, second, third

In other words

Another key point,

Such as

Since

Besides

While

It is the use of
*** Additionally, Holden finds these
And as a result, explanations about the ducks
unsatisfying because he rejects any
help from adults.
Transitions!









Since
Likewise
Similar to
In other words,
Notably
Due to
For example
Henceforth
Another key point







Frequently
Or
However
Moreover
Furthermore
Such as,
To demonstrate,
Transitions









As a result,
In this case,
Not only, [….], but
also,
For example,
Important to realize,
Due to
However,
Despite…
It is the use of…










Frequently
In addition to,
As…
Moreover,
For fear that
Although,
Be that as it may
Therefore,
Unfortunately,
To avoid this,
Transitions








Thus
In other words,
For example,
With this in mind,
In fact,
Although this may be
true,
By the same token,
Such as,









First, second, and
third
Moreover,
However,
In addition to,
Unfortunately,
To avoid this,
For example,
It is the use of…
As a result,
Transitions









In addition
Furthermore
Additionally
For example
Such as
Frequently
Although
Even so
In order to






Instead
Whereas
Otherwise
However
Nevertheless
Regardless
Make the Sandwich


“Sometimes you get tired of riding in
taxicabs that same way you get tired of
riding in elevators. All of a sudden, you have
to walk, no matter how far or high up”
(Salinger 88).
“’Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I
mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m just going
through a phase right now. Everybody goes
through phases and all, don’t they?’”
(Salinger 15).
“Sometimes you get tired of riding in
taxicabs that same way you get tired of
riding in elevators. All of a sudden, you
have to walk, no matter how far or high
up” (Salinger 88).
 Quote Sandwich?


Holden shows a growing ability to adapt
to adult life. For example, at one point he
says, “Sometimes you get tired of riding
in taxicabs that same way you get tired of
riding in elevators. All of a sudden, you
have to walk, no matter how far or high
up” (Salinger 88). Holden is saying here
that people cannot rely on others to help
them and sometimes people just have to
walk for themselves without help.
Furthermore, part of growing up is to be
able to go the distance for one’s own self.
Quote from page 142 of Salinger’s The Catcher in
the Rye:
“If you sat around there long enough and
heard all the phonies applauding and all,
you got to hate everybody in the
world…It was a terrible place, I’m not
kidding. I cut out going there entirely,
gradually.”
 Quote Sandwich:

Transition Practice
Revised Example #1:
 Students who write academic essays need to provide
effective transitions. It is the use of these transitions that
allow writers to connect the main ideas that are present
in an essay. For example, by using introductory elements,
a writer can easily connect one sentence to the next.
Moreover, the use of these words will make the writing
more fluent and less choppy. Unfortunately, students
often fail to use effective transitions, and, as a result, the
essay comes across as disconnected. To avoid this,
writers should always be aware of the need to connect
both sentences and paragraphs together, and they should
strive to find creative ways to do so.

Holden withdraws from society because he fears the transition from childhood to
adulthood.
Holden’s withdraw from society stems from his concern about whether he will make it
through the difficult transition he’s currently experiencing.
For example, when he visits Mr. Spencer’s to discuss his struggles with school and
subsequent failure, although he comes across confident, he shows a deep fear
about what his future holds.
Holden insists, “‘Look, sir. Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I mean it. I’ll be all right. I’m
just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don’t
they?’” (Salinger 15).
Holden’s insistence about him going through a phase but at the same time turning it into a question
demonstrates his anxiety and uncertainty about being able to transition into adulthood. It’s unclear to
him if other people are experiencing the traumatic events that he is going through. He is further
inclined to withdraw from society because he worries what will happen to him.
Holden’s distress about making it through the phase of childhood to adulthood
worries him to the point that he withdraws from society to avoid the possible pitfalls.
Steps to Success
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Steps to Writing Character Analysis Essay:
1. Review what you have learned about Holden.
◦ Examine your character analysis log for patterns. Do the quotes
you have written down on your character log have a key idea in
common?
2. What claim do you want to make about Holden? Why does
Holden withdraw from society?
3. Write your thesis statement.
4. To build your argument, you need to find evidence from the
text to support your thesis statement. You must have a minimum
of 3 quotes to support your thesis statement.
5. Draft body paragraphs using quote sandwich and transitions.
The Red Hunting Hat
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“I put on this hat that I’d bought in New York that morning. It was this
red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks. I saw it in the
window of this sports store when we got out of the subway, just after I
noticed I'd lost all the goddam foils. It only cost me a buck. The way I
wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back—very corny, I'll
admit, but I liked it that way. I looked good in it that way” (Ch 3).
When does he buy it?
 Is the color important?
 When does he wear it? When does he take it off?
 What happens with it at the end?
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“My hunting hat really gave me quite a lot of protection, in a
way, but I got soaked anyway” (Ch 25).
The Carousel
What do we know about carousels?
 The gold ring. What’s that about?
 “…the thing with kids is, if they want to
grab for the gold ring, you have to let
them do it, and not say anything. If they
fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say
anything to them" (25).
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Journal/Discussion Point
The Catcher in the Rye is widely seen as a
cult classic and is part of the American
(and world) literary canon (set of
important texts).
 However, is it still relevant to teenagers
today? Is it dated? Can you connect to it?
Explain your answer. Why?
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