AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CATCHER IN THE RYE 1919-2010 Served in WWII Wrote several books about young people including Catcher and Franny and Zooey Had not done an interview since 1980 Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam: father was Jewish, mother, Catholic Recognized as one of the most popular and influential authors of American fiction during the second half of the twentieth century. Had, by his own choice, remained out of the public eye for most of his life.
Published in 1951 Over 65 million copies have been sold. It is one of the most frequently challenged books in library history. Named one of the best novels of the 20th century by Time Magazine. 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.
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.
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.
Watch for these themes during your reading of the novel. You will be expected to pull examples of each theme out of the novel. Innocence/Loss of innocence Lies and deceit (or phoniness) Isolation as a form of protection Pain and confusion of sexuality Coping with sadness
You will be expected to explain these, so keep a close eye out for them as we read! Holden’s hunting hat Allie’s baseball glove The ducks in Central Park The Museum of Natural History The Catcher in the Rye
These are NOT the only symbols throughout the book, so watch for others as well. 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?
“I would far rather be ignorant than knowledgeable of evil.” -Aeschylus “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” --Sigmund Freud “Any relic of the dead is precious, if they were valued living.” --Emily Bronte “Action is character.” --F. Scott Fitzgerald “’I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir,’ said Alice, ‘because I’m not myself you see.’”
-Alice in Alice in Wonderland (It is possible to not be able to understand your own thoughts and emotions.)