Catcher in The RyeCatcher in The Ryeby J.D. Salingerby J.D. Salinger

Catcher in the Rye IntroCatcher in the Rye Intro

Salinger was born in 1919 Salinger was born in 1919 and was wealthy. and was wealthy.

Many events from his life Many events from his life are in the novel. are in the novel.

Novel is set in the end of Novel is set in the end of 40’s and beginning of 50’s.40’s and beginning of 50’s.

Catcher in the Rye IntroCatcher in the Rye Intro

Over the years, the book has Over the years, the book has been banned in schools. been banned in schools.

The protagonist, Holden The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, grows up in an Caulfield, grows up in an America of contrasts. War America of contrasts. War was over, but country was was over, but country was changing and troubled. changing and troubled.

Catcher in the Rye IntroCatcher in the Rye Intro

Holden goes to a private boys’ school Holden goes to a private boys’ school and is financially well to do. and is financially well to do.

The novel tells the story of an The novel tells the story of an individual’s alienation in a heartless individual’s alienation in a heartless world. world.

Holden stands for young people Holden stands for young people everywhere struggling with the pressure everywhere struggling with the pressure to grow up and live according to the to grow up and live according to the rules. rules.

Catcher in the Rye Catcher in the Rye DO NOWDO NOW

How would you characterize How would you characterize Holden after reading Chapter Holden after reading Chapter 1? Use text support for your 1? Use text support for your response to show why you response to show why you characterized Holden as you characterized Holden as you did. did.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeDo NowDo Now

Everyday while we are reading Everyday while we are reading Catcher, you will complete a Catcher, you will complete a reader response journal entry reader response journal entry for the previous day’s reading. for the previous day’s reading.

You need one entry per chapter.You need one entry per chapter. You can put more than one entry You can put more than one entry

on each page.on each page. If your passage is long, write the If your passage is long, write the

beginning of it and then…and beginning of it and then…and write the end of it. write the end of it.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit analysis 1-4Lit analysis 1-4

1. He is the protagonist and 1. He is the protagonist and narrator of the story. narrator of the story.

2. Holden is somewhere in 2. Holden is somewhere in California.California.

3. He failed 4 out of 5 classes. 3. He failed 4 out of 5 classes. 4. His parents are rich. He has been 4. His parents are rich. He has been

to different schools. His parents are to different schools. His parents are absent most of the time. His brother absent most of the time. His brother DB is a writer in Hollywood. DB is a writer in Hollywood.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit analysis 1-4Lit analysis 1-4

5. Spencer read the whole essay 5. Spencer read the whole essay that Holden wrote to him. that Holden wrote to him.

6. He is Holden’s next door 6. He is Holden’s next door neighbor who is annoying. No neighbor who is annoying. No one likes him.one likes him.

7. Holden’s roommate who is a 7. Holden’s roommate who is a jock. He has an athletic build jock. He has an athletic build and always has dates. and always has dates.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit analysis 1-4Lit analysis 1-4

8. She is Holden’s neighbor 8. She is Holden’s neighbor from two years ago. He used from two years ago. He used to play checkers with her.to play checkers with her.

9. Holden is nervous, shy, 9. Holden is nervous, shy, and talks about going down, and talks about going down, but never does.but never does.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeChapters 5-9Chapters 5-9

1. His dead brother Allie’s baseball 1. His dead brother Allie’s baseball glove, which had poems written all glove, which had poems written all over it. over it.

2. He thought Stradlater was 2. He thought Stradlater was ungrateful because he said he wanted ungrateful because he said he wanted it about a room or more typical topic. it about a room or more typical topic.

3. Holden would not stop interrogating 3. Holden would not stop interrogating Stradlater and accusing him of acting Stradlater and accusing him of acting inappropriately with Jane. inappropriately with Jane.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Chapters 5-9 Chapters 5-9

4. First he stopped by Ackley’s room 4. First he stopped by Ackley’s room but left to go to a hotel in NY to give but left to go to a hotel in NY to give his parents time to receive his his parents time to receive his dismissal letter.dismissal letter.

5. Holden met the mother of one of 5. Holden met the mother of one of his classmates, Ernie. his classmates, Ernie.

6. Holden didn’t like Ernie but since 6. Holden didn’t like Ernie but since his mother seemed nice, he wanted his mother seemed nice, he wanted her to feel proud of her son so he said her to feel proud of her son so he said what she wanted to hear. what she wanted to hear.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit Analysis 10-13Lit Analysis 10-13

1. She is Holden’s little sister. He likes 1. She is Holden’s little sister. He likes her a lot, and they communicate well.her a lot, and they communicate well.

2. Young women from Seattle on 2. Young women from Seattle on vacation in NY. He met them and vacation in NY. He met them and danced with them in the Lavender danced with them in the Lavender Room.Room.

3. They are friends who play checkers, 3. They are friends who play checkers, go to movies, and talk. There is no go to movies, and talk. There is no romantic involvement.romantic involvement.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit Analysis 10-13Lit Analysis 10-13

4. He saw a girl, Lillian, who his 4. He saw a girl, Lillian, who his brother used to date and told a lie that brother used to date and told a lie that he had to leave and meet someone. he had to leave and meet someone.

5. He doesn’t like to fight or be 5. He doesn’t like to fight or be confrontational. He calls himself a confrontational. He calls himself a coward, but then corrects it and says coward, but then corrects it and says he is humane to fight or hurt someone. he is humane to fight or hurt someone.

6. He asked for a prostitute, and then 6. He asked for a prostitute, and then changed his mind when she showed changed his mind when she showed up.up.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit Analysis 14-17 Lit Analysis 14-17

1. Maurice tried to get an extra 5.00, so 1. Maurice tried to get an extra 5.00, so Holden called him a moron. Holden called him a moron.

2. He didn’t want a bunch of “stupid 2. He didn’t want a bunch of “stupid rubbernecks” looking at him all gory. rubbernecks” looking at him all gory.

3. Holden called for her to go on a theater 3. Holden called for her to go on a theater date. She is good looking, but a pain.date. She is good looking, but a pain.

4. He didn’t want to see Maurice again, so 4. He didn’t want to see Maurice again, so he went to Grand Central Station and he went to Grand Central Station and checked his bags into a locker. checked his bags into a locker.

5. He met two nuns.5. He met two nuns. 6. They talked about donations and 6. They talked about donations and

Romeo and Juliet.Romeo and Juliet.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the RyeLit analysis 14-17Lit analysis 14-17

7. Little Shirley Beans was the song and he 7. Little Shirley Beans was the song and he thought Phoebe would like it.thought Phoebe would like it.

8. He heard a kid singing the lyrics, “If a 8. He heard a kid singing the lyrics, “If a body catch a body coming through the body catch a body coming through the rye.”rye.”

9. He thought they were the biggest 9. He thought they were the biggest phonies of all time.phonies of all time.

10. Everything stayed exactly the same and 10. Everything stayed exactly the same and it always stayed right where it was. it always stayed right where it was.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 14-17 Lit analysis 14-17

11. He thought he was a 11. He thought he was a snobby phony and resented snobby phony and resented his butting in on his date.his butting in on his date.

12. He started out saying “I 12. He started out saying “I love you and will you marry love you and will you marry me,” and ended the date by me,” and ended the date by hating her. hating her.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 18-21 Lit analysis 18-21

1. He thought it was phony and 1. He thought it was phony and stupid, but so stupid he stupid, but so stupid he couldn’t take his eyes off it. couldn’t take his eyes off it.

2. He was desperate for 2. He was desperate for company and knew Carl was company and knew Carl was intellectual and could perhaps intellectual and could perhaps help him. help him.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 18-21 Lit analysis 18-21

3. They discussed Luce’s romantic 3. They discussed Luce’s romantic life and Holden’s lack of romance. life and Holden’s lack of romance. They also discussed therapy. They also discussed therapy.

4. He wants to see Phoebe. 4. He wants to see Phoebe. 5. Phoebe was glad to see him.5. Phoebe was glad to see him. 6. Phoebe said, “Daddy’ll kill you.”6. Phoebe said, “Daddy’ll kill you.”

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 22-26 Lit analysis 22-26

1. He said it was the worst school he 1. He said it was the worst school he ever went to because of all the phonies ever went to because of all the phonies and mean guys. and mean guys.

2. James was a guy at Elkton Hills who 2. James was a guy at Elkton Hills who wouldn’t take back something he said. wouldn’t take back something he said. The other guys beat him up so badly that The other guys beat him up so badly that James jumped out the window and died. James jumped out the window and died.

3. Holden needs a place to stay the 3. Holden needs a place to stay the night. night.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 22-26 Lit analysis 22-26

4. Holden woke up and Mr. Antolini 4. Holden woke up and Mr. Antolini had his hand on Holden’s head, had his hand on Holden’s head, and it made Holden uncomfortable.and it made Holden uncomfortable.

5. He said Holden should pick a 5. He said Holden should pick a career and a school and apply career and a school and apply himself.himself.

6. She packed her bags to go away 6. She packed her bags to go away with Holden. with Holden.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 22-26 Lit analysis 22-26

7. Holden told her she couldn’t go, 7. Holden told her she couldn’t go, which made her angry. Holden which made her angry. Holden changed his mind and told Phoebe changed his mind and told Phoebe he wasn’t going, and let her skip he wasn’t going, and let her skip the rest of the school day.the rest of the school day.

8. He was enjoying watching 8. He was enjoying watching Phoebe ride the carousel, and he Phoebe ride the carousel, and he was crying. (he has had a complete was crying. (he has had a complete breakdown)breakdown)

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Lit analysis 22-26 Lit analysis 22-26

9. Holden says he pictures little kids 9. Holden says he pictures little kids running in a field of rye. He stands running in a field of rye. He stands on the edge of a cliff to stop the kids on the edge of a cliff to stop the kids from falling off. They don’t look from falling off. They don’t look where they’re going, so he comes where they’re going, so he comes out to catch them all day long.out to catch them all day long.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye end of novel questions end of novel questions

1. Because Holden is the narrator, all of the 1. Because Holden is the narrator, all of the action in the novel is filtered through his action in the novel is filtered through his perception of it. It’s not relayed to us perception of it. It’s not relayed to us objectively but through his opinion.objectively but through his opinion.

2. The conflicts are Holden vs.society, 2. The conflicts are Holden vs.society, Holden vs. himself, Holden vs. classmates Holden vs. himself, Holden vs. classmates at Pencey, Holden vs. teachers, vs. parents. at Pencey, Holden vs. teachers, vs. parents. We don’t know if Holden resolved them We don’t know if Holden resolved them because he sounded like he wasn’t sure if because he sounded like he wasn’t sure if anything had changed. anything had changed.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye end of novel questions end of novel questions

3. Holden says everyone bothers him 3. Holden says everyone bothers him because they’re phonies. He is also sad that because they’re phonies. He is also sad that his brother passed away. He has no his brother passed away. He has no connections to anyone. connections to anyone.

4. The unmade phone calls represent 4. The unmade phone calls represent everything that Holden wants to do but everything that Holden wants to do but can’t. can’t.

5. Holden wants to “catch” children before 5. Holden wants to “catch” children before they get to the “cliff” or any dangerous, they get to the “cliff” or any dangerous, corrupt situations. He wants to protect corrupt situations. He wants to protect their innocence of childhood. their innocence of childhood.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye end of novel questions end of novel questions

6. The characters represent stereotypes of 6. The characters represent stereotypes of typical teenagers: Stradlater is a jock; typical teenagers: Stradlater is a jock; Jane is the girl that the guy can’t get; Jane is the girl that the guy can’t get; Ackley is the awkward teenager; Spencer Ackley is the awkward teenager; Spencer is the annoying teacher who embarrasses is the annoying teacher who embarrasses students. students.

7. Holden is sad and depressed because of 7. Holden is sad and depressed because of Allie’s death. He also exaggerates all Allie’s death. He also exaggerates all injuries and sicknesses. injuries and sicknesses.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye end of novel questions end of novel questions

8. The broken record was for Phoebe who 8. The broken record was for Phoebe who Holden wants to keep young. When it Holden wants to keep young. When it breaks it symbolizes the idea that he can’t breaks it symbolizes the idea that he can’t keep her young and protect her from keep her young and protect her from everything. The ducks leaving in winter everything. The ducks leaving in winter symbolize that change is normal and a part symbolize that change is normal and a part of everything. Grand Central station of everything. Grand Central station represents the idea that everyone is represents the idea that everyone is constantly changing and moving. The constantly changing and moving. The hunting hat represents his isolation and hunting hat represents his isolation and avoidance of everyone. avoidance of everyone.

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye end of novel questions end of novel questions

9. Most students do not sympathize with 9. Most students do not sympathize with Holden. They think he is whining and Holden. They think he is whining and don’t feel sorry for him. Some feel sorry don’t feel sorry for him. Some feel sorry for him because he’s going through a lot for him because he’s going through a lot with no one to turn to. with no one to turn to.

10. He is normal going through the stress 10. He is normal going through the stress and tensions of an abnormal world. His and tensions of an abnormal world. His reactions are different from the others at reactions are different from the others at Pencey, but not necessarily abnormal. Pencey, but not necessarily abnormal.