The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

J. D. SalingerJ. D. Salinger Born January 1, 1919Born January 1, 1919 Salinger was a good student Salinger was a good student

in grade school, but was in grade school, but was dropped by his prep school dropped by his prep school for his failing grades. for his failing grades.

He attended Valley Forge He attended Valley Forge Military Academy, which Military Academy, which was the model for his only was the model for his only novel, novel, Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye. .

It was at Valley Forge where It was at Valley Forge where he first began writing he first began writing stories. stories.

Salinger was drafted into the Salinger was drafted into the army in 1942, and a member of army in 1942, and a member of the Fourth Army division famous the Fourth Army division famous for the D-Day invasion.for the D-Day invasion.

He was injured in the war and He was injured in the war and hospitalized in Germany for hospitalized in Germany for psychiatric treatment. psychiatric treatment.

He returned home to the He returned home to the United States in 1947. United States in 1947.

In 1955 Salinger married Claire In 1955 Salinger married Claire Douglas.Douglas.

They had two children, Matthew They had two children, Matthew and Peggy. and Peggy.

They were divorced in 1967.They were divorced in 1967.

Until 2010 Salinger lived alone in Until 2010 Salinger lived alone in a cottage in New Hampshire. a cottage in New Hampshire.

He refused all interviews, and did He refused all interviews, and did not published a novel since the not published a novel since the attention from attention from Catcher in the Catcher in the RyeRye scared him years ago. scared him years ago.

He died in January of 2010He died in January of 2010

Holden Caulfield, the narrator, Holden Caulfield, the narrator, begins the story at Pencey Prep begins the story at Pencey Prep School.School.

““Pencey Prep is this school that's Pencey Prep is this school that's in Agerstown, Pennsylvania.” in Agerstown, Pennsylvania.”

Chapter 1Chapter 1

““They advertise in They advertise in about a thousand about a thousand magazines, always magazines, always showing some hotshot showing some hotshot guy on a horse guy on a horse jumping over a fence. jumping over a fence. Like as if all you ever Like as if all you ever did at Pencey was play did at Pencey was play polo all the time. I polo all the time. I never even once saw a never even once saw a horse anywhere near horse anywhere near the place.” the place.”

Holden is standing on a hill, watching Holden is standing on a hill, watching the football game.the football game.

He has just returned from New York He has just returned from New York with the fencing team. with the fencing team.

He had lost the foils and equipment He had lost the foils and equipment on the subway, so there was no on the subway, so there was no fencing match.fencing match.

““The other reason I wasn't down at The other reason I wasn't down at the game was because I was on my the game was because I was on my way to say good-by to old Spencer, way to say good-by to old Spencer, my history teacher.” my history teacher.”

““He had the grippe (flu), and I figured He had the grippe (flu), and I figured I probably wouldn't see him again till I probably wouldn't see him again till Christmas vacation started.” Christmas vacation started.”

““He wrote me this note saying he He wrote me this note saying he wanted to see me before I went wanted to see me before I went home.” home.”

““He knew I wasn't coming back to He knew I wasn't coming back to Pencey.” Pencey.”

““I wasn't watching the game too I wasn't watching the game too much.”much.”

““What I was really hanging around What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-bye. I mean I've left schools a good-bye. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that.”leaving them. I hate that.”

““I don't care if it's a sad goodbye or a I don't care if it's a sad goodbye or a bad goodbye, but when I leave a bad goodbye, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. place I like to know I'm leaving it.

““If you don't, you feel even worse.” If you don't, you feel even worse.”

Chapter 2Chapter 2 Holden visits Mr. Spencer, Holden visits Mr. Spencer,

and their conversation and their conversation inevitably turns to Holden’s inevitably turns to Holden’s failure in school and his failure in school and his pitiful career as a student. pitiful career as a student.

As the visit progresses, As the visit progresses, Holden grows increasingly Holden grows increasingly impatient and annoyed impatient and annoyed with old Mr. Spencer for with old Mr. Spencer for pointing out all of his pointing out all of his shortcomings. shortcomings.

Mr. Spencer forces Holden to listen as he Mr. Spencer forces Holden to listen as he reads aloud from one of Holden’s most reads aloud from one of Holden’s most recent papers, which is a shoddily recent papers, which is a shoddily written, half-done report on mummies. written, half-done report on mummies.

Mr. Spencer then reads the note that Mr. Spencer then reads the note that Holden has written on the bottom of the Holden has written on the bottom of the report, apologizing for his failure to report, apologizing for his failure to perform well on the paper. perform well on the paper.

In the note, Holden reassures the In the note, Holden reassures the professor that he is not a bad teacher. professor that he is not a bad teacher.

The failure rests in Holden alone. The failure rests in Holden alone.

SpencerSpencer

““Well, you could see he really felt Well, you could see he really felt pretty lousy about flunking me. So I pretty lousy about flunking me. So I shot the bull for a while.” shot the bull for a while.”

““I told him I was a real moron, and all I told him I was a real moron, and all that stuff.” that stuff.”

““I told him how I would've done I told him how I would've done exactly the same thing if I'd been in exactly the same thing if I'd been in his place, and how most people his place, and how most people didn't appreciate how tough it is didn't appreciate how tough it is being a teacher. That kind of stuff.” being a teacher. That kind of stuff.”

““The old bull.” The old bull.”

““The funny thing is, though, I was sort The funny thing is, though, I was sort of thinking of something else while I of thinking of something else while I shot the bull. I live in New York, and I shot the bull. I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South.” Park, down near Central Park South.”

““I was wondering if it would be frozen over I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did when I got home, and if it was, where did the ducks go.” the ducks go.”

““I was wondering where the ducks went I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over.” over.”

““I wondered if some guy came in a truck I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to a zoo or something.” and took them away to a zoo or something.”

““Or if they just flew away.” Or if they just flew away.”

Chapter 3-4Chapter 3-4 ““I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw

in your life.” in your life.” ““It's awful. If I'm on my way to the It's awful. If I'm on my way to the

store to buy a magazine, even, and store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible. So when I told old opera. It's terrible. So when I told old Spencer I had to go to the gym and Spencer I had to go to the gym and get my equipment and stuff, that was get my equipment and stuff, that was a sheer lie.” a sheer lie.”

““I don't even keep my goddam I don't even keep my goddam equipment in the gym.” equipment in the gym.”

Holden gives a few details about Mr. Holden gives a few details about Mr. Ossenburger. He is a former student of Ossenburger. He is a former student of Pencey who became an undertaker.Pencey who became an undertaker.

Holden’s dormitory is named after him. Holden’s dormitory is named after him. He makes a speech at Pencey, telling He makes a speech at Pencey, telling

the students not to be embarrassed to the students not to be embarrassed to pray.pray.

OssenburgerOssenburger

Holden bought a hat in New York. Holden bought a hat in New York. ““It was this red hunting hat, with It was this red hunting hat, with

one of those very, very long one of those very, very long peaks. I saw it in the window of peaks. I saw it in the window of this sports store when we got out this sports store when we got out of the subway, just after I noticed of the subway, just after I noticed I'd lost all the goddam foils.” I'd lost all the goddam foils.”

““It only cost me a buck. The way It only cost me a buck. The way I wore it, I swung the old peak I wore it, I swung the old peak way around to the back--very way around to the back--very corny, I'll admit, but I liked it that corny, I'll admit, but I liked it that way.” way.”

““I looked good in it that way.” I looked good in it that way.”

Then Holden turns his attention to his Then Holden turns his attention to his own reading habits and lists his own reading habits and lists his favorite authors. favorite authors.

His brother D.B. tops the list, followed His brother D.B. tops the list, followed by:by:

Ring LardnerRing Lardner Isak DinesenIsak Dinesen

(Yes, it’s a woman)(Yes, it’s a woman) Thomas Hardy. Thomas Hardy.

ReadingReading

““What I like best is a book that's at least What I like best is a book that's at least funny once in a while.” funny once in a while.”

““What really knocks me out is a book What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.”like it.”

AckleyAckley

As he is settling down to read, a As he is settling down to read, a dorm neighbor, Robert Ackley, dorm neighbor, Robert Ackley, interrupts Holden. interrupts Holden.

““He was one of these very, very He was one of these very, very tall, round-shouldered guys--he tall, round-shouldered guys--he was about six four--with lousy was about six four--with lousy teeth.” teeth.”

““The whole time he roomed next to me, I The whole time he roomed next to me, I never even once saw him brush his teeth.”never even once saw him brush his teeth.”

““They always looked mossy and awful, and They always looked mossy and awful, and he damn near made you sick if you saw him he damn near made you sick if you saw him in the dining room with his mouth full of in the dining room with his mouth full of mashed potatoes and peas or something.” mashed potatoes and peas or something.”

““Besides that, he had a lot of pimples. Not Besides that, he had a lot of pimples. Not just on his forehead or his chin, like most just on his forehead or his chin, like most guys, but all over his whole face.” guys, but all over his whole face.”

““And not only that, he had a terrible And not only that, he had a terrible personality. He was also sort of a nasty personality. He was also sort of a nasty guy.” guy.”

I wasn't too crazy about him, to tell you the I wasn't too crazy about him, to tell you the truth.” truth.”

StradlaterStradlater Ward Stradlater is Holden’s Ward Stradlater is Holden’s

roommate.roommate. ““All of a sudden the door opened, All of a sudden the door opened,

and old Stradlater barged in, in a big and old Stradlater barged in, in a big hurry. He was always in a big hurry. hurry. He was always in a big hurry. Everything was a very big deal.” Everything was a very big deal.”

““He came over to me and gave me He came over to me and gave me these two playful as hell slaps on these two playful as hell slaps on both cheeks--which is something that both cheeks--which is something that can be very annoying.” can be very annoying.”

““He was at least a pretty friendly guy, He was at least a pretty friendly guy, Stradlater. It was partly a phony kind of Stradlater. It was partly a phony kind of friendly, but at least he always said friendly, but at least he always said hello to Ackley and all.”hello to Ackley and all.”

He is in the middle of a date and asks He is in the middle of a date and asks Holden to loan him his hound’s-tooth Holden to loan him his hound’s-tooth jacket.jacket.

Holden decides to keep Stradlater Holden decides to keep Stradlater company in the bathroom as he shaves.company in the bathroom as he shaves.

““Stradlater was a secret slob. He always Stradlater was a secret slob. He always looked all right, Stradlater, but for looked all right, Stradlater, but for instance, you should've seen the razor instance, you should've seen the razor he shaved himself with.” he shaved himself with.”

““It was always rusty as hell and full of It was always rusty as hell and full of lather and hairs and crap.” lather and hairs and crap.”

While he is getting ready, he asks While he is getting ready, he asks Holden to write his English composition Holden to write his English composition for him.for him.

““Anything. Anything descriptive. A Anything. Anything descriptive. A room. Or a house. Or something you room. Or a house. Or something you once lived in or something-- you know. once lived in or something-- you know. Just as long as it's descriptive as hell." Just as long as it's descriptive as hell." "Just don't do it too good, is all.” "Just don't do it too good, is all.”

Holden asks Stradlater Holden asks Stradlater about his date, and it turns about his date, and it turns out to be Jane Gallagher, out to be Jane Gallagher, who Holden had known who Holden had known years before.years before.

He tells Stradlater some He tells Stradlater some things about Jane, including things about Jane, including how well she dances and how well she dances and how she keeps the kings in how she keeps the kings in the back row while playing the back row while playing checkers. checkers.

Jane GallagherJane Gallagher

““Her mother and father were Her mother and father were divorced. Her mother was married divorced. Her mother was married again to some booze hound” again to some booze hound”

““Skinny guy with hairy legs. He Skinny guy with hairy legs. He wore shorts all the time. Jane said wore shorts all the time. Jane said he was supposed to be a he was supposed to be a playwright or some goddam thing, playwright or some goddam thing, but all I ever saw him do was but all I ever saw him do was booze all the time and listen to booze all the time and listen to every single goddam mystery every single goddam mystery program on the radio.” program on the radio.”

““And run around the goddam And run around the goddam house, naked. With Jane around, house, naked. With Jane around, and all.” and all.”

Chapter 5Chapter 5 ““We always had the same meal on We always had the same meal on

Saturday nights at Pencey. It was Saturday nights at Pencey. It was supposed to be a big deal, because supposed to be a big deal, because they gave you steak.” they gave you steak.”

““I'll bet a thousand bucks the I'll bet a thousand bucks the reason they did that was because a reason they did that was because a lot of guys' parents came up to lot of guys' parents came up to school on Sunday, and old Thurmer school on Sunday, and old Thurmer probably figured everybody's probably figured everybody's mother would ask their darling boy mother would ask their darling boy what he had for dinner last night, what he had for dinner last night, and he'd say, "Steak.” and he'd say, "Steak.”

““What a racket.” What a racket.”

Holden and Mal Brossard decided to Holden and Mal Brossard decided to take a bus into Agerstown for a take a bus into Agerstown for a hamburger and a movie. hamburger and a movie.

Holden invited Ackley, who “always Holden invited Ackley, who “always had to know who was going. I swear, had to know who was going. I swear, if that guy was shipwrecked if that guy was shipwrecked somewhere, and you rescued him in somewhere, and you rescued him in a goddam boat, he'd want to know a goddam boat, he'd want to know who the guy was that was rowing it who the guy was that was rowing it before he'd even get in.” before he'd even get in.”

Saturday NightSaturday Night

““Brossard and Ackley both Brossard and Ackley both had seen the picture that was had seen the picture that was playing, so all we did, we just playing, so all we did, we just had a couple of hamburgers had a couple of hamburgers and played the pinball and played the pinball machine for a little while, then machine for a little while, then took the bus back to Pencey.” took the bus back to Pencey.”

““It was only about a quarter It was only about a quarter to nine when we got back to to nine when we got back to the dorm. Old Brossard was a the dorm. Old Brossard was a bridge fiend, and he started bridge fiend, and he started looking around the dorm for a looking around the dorm for a game.” game.”

““Old Ackley parked himself in my Old Ackley parked himself in my room, just for a change. Only, room, just for a change. Only, instead of sitting on the arm of instead of sitting on the arm of Stradlater's chair, he laid down on Stradlater's chair, he laid down on my bed, with his face right on my my bed, with his face right on my pillow and all.” pillow and all.”

““He started talking in this very He started talking in this very monotonous voice, and picking at all monotonous voice, and picking at all his pimples.” his pimples.”

““I dropped about a thousand hints, I dropped about a thousand hints, but I couldn't get rid of him.” but I couldn't get rid of him.”

The CompositionThe Composition After Ackley left, Holden began After Ackley left, Holden began

writing Stradlater’s compostion.writing Stradlater’s compostion. In the composition, he describes In the composition, he describes

the baseball glove that the baseball glove that belonged to his little brother belonged to his little brother Allie, who died from leukemia.Allie, who died from leukemia.

Allie had written poems in Allie had written poems in green ink all over his baseball green ink all over his baseball glove so he would have glove so he would have something to read when he something to read when he played outfield. played outfield.

““It was around ten-thirty, I guess, It was around ten-thirty, I guess, when I finished it.” when I finished it.”

““I wasn't tired, though, so I looked I wasn't tired, though, so I looked out the window for a while. It out the window for a while. It wasn't snowing out any more, but wasn't snowing out any more, but every once in a while you could every once in a while you could hear a car somewhere not being hear a car somewhere not being able to get started.”able to get started.”

““You could also hear old Ackley You could also hear old Ackley snoring. Right through the snoring. Right through the goddam shower curtains. goddam shower curtains.

He had sinus trouble and he He had sinus trouble and he couldn't breathe too hot when he couldn't breathe too hot when he was asleep.was asleep.

That guy had just about That guy had just about everything. Sinus trouble, everything. Sinus trouble, pimples, lousy teeth, halitosis, pimples, lousy teeth, halitosis, crumby fingernails.” crumby fingernails.”

““You had to feel a little sorry for You had to feel a little sorry for the crazy sonuvabitch.” the crazy sonuvabitch.”