Katlyn Moore SCED 419 5/5/2010 Final Project

Catcher as Core and Catalyst

Introduction

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger has been one of the most discussed, criticized, praised, hated, and loved books taught in the classroom. Since its original publishing in 1951,

The Catcher in the Rye has been a controversial topic for students, teachers, and parents.

Whether with love or with hate, everyone seems to have a definite, passionate opinion about The

Catcher in the Rye and the possibility of the novel being taught in the classroom. Some people

(mainly teachers) feel adamant about the necessity of teaching the novel in the high school classroom. Others, specifically parents and select teachers, feel that this novel has only limited literary value with topics and language that are too mature for or not relevant to a modern young adult audience. The objections to the text are understandable, justifiable, and within reason.

However, student connection to a text forms understanding, comprehension, and higher-order thinking. The idea that The Catcher in the Rye should not be taught because of the issues addressed is paradoxical as young adults should be presented with themes and issues that challenge them. Sheltering students from ideas that will promote growth can only engender ignorance in education; especially when based on conservative ideals that obstruct progress for fear of context which might deviate from personal values. Such an attitude has only ever been counteractive to the perpetuation of knowledge which is the entire purpose of the classroom.

Although debated for many years, teachers, administrators, and parents still contest about whether or not the book belongs in the classroom. In this chapter, it is my intention to justify why The Catcher in the Rye is a relevant, important, and useful tool in high school classrooms nationwide. The Catcher in the Rye and many other young adult novels offer educational and literary merit that far outweighs the concerns of nescient objectors.

Theme

The main and overwhelming value that The Catcher in the Rye holds in the classroom is its major theme of search for identity. The novel is a prime example of a young person searching for where they belong in the world. From what the reader can gather from the novel, the main character Holden Caulfield has had difficulty identify with anyone or anything his entire life. He has been thrown out of numerous schools, he has trouble keeping relationships with friends and family, and he is completely oblivious to what he wants out of life. Throughout the novel,

Holden is on a desperate search for his purpose and his identity.

Especially in adolescence, discovering one’s identity and finding one’s place in the world is such an important journey that every young adult must undergo. This journey develops who a person will become and how they perceive themselves. It is through these self perceptions that individual decisions and reactions are ultimately determined. The decisions a person makes in their adolescence can influence (positively or negatively) the path a person will follow.

Unfortunately, educators cannot count on the family, friends, or peers of a student to guide them positively in their journey of self-exploration. If left up to family, friends, and peers, students may receive conflicting, biased, and/or an overall negative influence that can hinder the search for self.

As an educator, using literary examples in the classroom that young adults can relate to

(at least on some level) can aid students on their personal search for who they are and where they belong. The job of an educator is not just to ensure that a student understands content; rather, teachers should assist their students to become well-rounded, educated individuals in society.

Life lessons, such as search for identity, are the most valuable and important lessons that a teacher could give his or her students.

Although in a very unconventional way, Holden experiences many of the same ideas and experiences that a normal high school audience would encounter. Feelings of isolation and loneliness, broken relationships with family and friends, failure in school, loss of a loved one, mental illness, drinking, smoking, sexual encounters, and questioning life meaning are all topics that are found in The Catcher in the Rye. There is something in this novel for every adolescent to connect with.

Despite his rough exterior, Holden is a very sensitive young man with sound morals.

Unlike many of his classmates, Holden does not pressure girls into intimacy. He has respect for women and even defends the honor of his old friend Jane Gallagher. Throughout the whole novel, Holden is very concerned with protecting the innocence of children, especially his sister

Phoebe. At one point, Holden goes into Phoebe’s school and notices something that potentially disrupts the innocence of the children in the school:

But while I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody’d written ‘Fuck you’ on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how they’d wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them – all cockeyed, naturally – what it meant, and how they’d all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days. I kept wanting to kill whoever’d written it. (Salinger, 1951)

Holden has virtually no close relationships to anyone, excluding his little sister Phoebe. Holden and Phoebe’s relationship displays how important a family bond is to an individual. In fact, it is

Phoebe that ends up convincing Holden to stay in New York at the end of the novel. Although Holden does not speak very highly of his parents, he is very concerned about his mother’s feelings about him getting kicked out of prep school. Recognizing the positive qualities that

Holden possess’ is not immediately apparent; however, with further analysis, Holden turns out to be a (slightly peculiar) good person. Although Holden displays many negative characteristics throughout the novel, his firm beliefs make him a redeemable character worthy of analysis. All of Holden’s characteristics play a major role in his search for identity.

Other than The Catcher in the Rye, there are many current young adult novels that are relevant to the theme of identity. These novels (or excerpt) could be used in addition to The

Catcher in the Rye in order to give students another perspective of young adults in similar situations. Both Cut by Patricia McCormick and Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by

Koren Zailckas are about two young adults in a search to find themselves and their place in the world.

1. Cut by Patricia McCormick (160 pgs.). Cut, published in 2000, is one of the most popular

books written by Patricia McCormick. The story is about a young teenage girl named

Callie. Like Holden, Callie is a withdrawn adolescent who suffers from a mental illness

and is in a mental facility. Callie ended up in this facility for cutting her wrists. She talks

to no one and has no real friends. Similar to Holden, Callie has a limited relationship with

her parents and brother; however, she does have fond feelings towards her little brother.

In the story, Callie also tries to run away from her problems like Holden. Callie runs

away from the institution and Holden plans to head out west. Both novels are written in a

similar, informal style that speaks (what seems like) directly to the reader. Holden and

Callie have both had a sick brother, a fact that most likely contributes to their mental

illness. Both stories do end on a hopeful note; although both endings are left ambiguous. Callie and Holden are similar in many ways. Their experiences and characteristics offer a

good comparison for character analysis that centers on a young adults search for identity.

Both books have also appeared on numerous banned lists for their content.

2. Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas (368 pgs.). Smashed: Story of

a Drunken Girlhood, published in 2006, is a memoir of a women looking back upon her

youth, a time when she self-medicated with alcohol. Right from the start, Koren and

Holden share the coping method of alcohol. Whenever Holden is alone, he finds some

source of alcohol in order to not feel so lonely. Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood is

not a very uplifting book; the entire story revolves around drinking, depression, and

sexual encounters at an extremely young age (very similar to Holden’s experiences). This

novel is not as enjoyable to read as The Catcher in the Rye; however, it brings Holden’s

relevant issues to a modern time. If a story like The Catcher in the Rye were to be set in

modern New York, the story would most likely end up something like Smashed: Story of

a Drunken Girlhood. Unlike Holden’s ambiguous ending, Koren’s story has a stated,

positive conclusion.

Overall, the main characters in The Catcher in the Rye, Cut, and Smashed: Story of a

Drunken Girlhood are all young adults in search of their self identity. All the main characters

share characteristics, experiences, and obstacles in which they must overcome in their

journey.

The Language

Young adult novels (especially The Catcher in the Rye) attract adolescents not only because of personal connections to the characters, but also for the simple fact that they are fairly easy to read. Reading a young adult novel allows students to focus on the actual story rather than plot elements, complicated language, and/or literary devices. Being able to read a novel just for the story makes reading much more enjoyable. This is not to say that these novels can’t be used for literary analysis. Most young adult novels contain all the elements that a traditional, perhaps archaic text does. So why do most educators still use complicated texts to explain basic concepts and ideas? If educators can choose a text enjoyable to the students while still covering the unit goals and objectives, young adult novels should become a regular part of every classroom.

The Catcher in the Rye has a very informal, conversational writing style. It is written to appear that Holden is speaking directly to the reader. Even as soon as the first line of the novel,

Holden appears to speak directly to the reader. Within the first paragraph, Holden tells the reader, “…I’m not going to tell you my whole goddam autobiography or anything” (Salinger,

1951). The technique of speaking to the audience is very engaging to a reader and is not seen too often in the classroom. It is more difficult for a reader to put a book down when the characters seem like are speaking directly to the audience. This language style and type of narration would be very effective with capturing interest and drawling the reader into the novel.

The Importance of Relevance

As a whole, students really enjoy reading The Catcher in the Rye. Students get excited to read something in the classroom that has literary pleasure. The Catcher in the Rye and other young adult novels are not rigid and dry like many other texts used in the English classroom.

“Young adult literature reflects their experiences with conflicts, focuses on themes that interest young people, includes young protagonists and mostly young characters, and has a language common to young adults” (Bucher & Hinton, 2010). Reading a book out of the ordinary (like a young adult novel) can get students excited about reading:

All of these developmental and community factors have an effect on young adults and an impact on their reading… some adolescents may read to escape the confines of their homes and communities while others may choose not to read because of peer pressure or the lack of importance placed on reading by their families…some young adults prefer literature that realistically addresses the problems of growing up, depicts their culture, or delves into the conflicting emotions they are experiencing… (Bucher & Hinton, 2010).

Getting students interested in reading is not an easy task; however, it is a vital skill for teachers to press upon their students. Interest in one book can lead students to find more books that may interest them. The more books that students read, the more they are practicing and perfecting the skill of reading which can help students succeed in every content area as well as in their future professions. One novel can change the way a student perceives reading, English, and school. The

Catcher in the Rye would be a hard book for any student to not enjoy reading. It is a perfect novel to perhaps introduce and hook students into reading for pleasure.

Teaching The Catcher in the Rye

There are numerous directions that The Catcher in the Rye can be taken to be taught. Pop culture movies and songs are a great resource to give the text a modern connection. Articles and websites can also be used in order for readers to research any background information that pertains to the novel. The topic of troubled adolescence has been prominent for decades and the subject can be found in every media source possible. With the use of instructional aides, The

Catcher in the Rye is a novel that can be enhanced and analyzed by using a variety of methods for a variety of purposes. Movies

In order to tie students’ personal lives in with the novel, current movies (in which most students would be familiar with) can be used to show a connection. Mean Girls, released in

2004, is based off the novel, Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. The story revolves about a girl named Cady that moves to the United States and enters a public school. For her whole life, Cady was home schooled while she traveled with her parents in Africa. On her first day at a public school, Cady becomes friends with the “art nerds” and they devise a plan for

Cady to make friends with and then sabotage the popular girls. Through the process, Cady does everything she can to fit in and ends up losing herself and her identity in order to conform. She ends up becoming one of the “phonies” (a trait which Holden himself could be accused of). This movie could be easily paired with The Catcher in the Rye. Like Holden, Cady can’t figure out where she fits in. Through her transformation into one of the “popular girls,” Cady loses her close relationship with her parents, her original friends, her teachers, and her boyfriend. Drinking and sexual encounters also play a role in Cady’s new high school life, similar to those of Holden.

An analysis of the movie and the book would make for an interesting comparison that would be sure to grab students’ attention. The movie also stars many current well-known actresses.

Another popular movie that could be used with The Catcher in the Rye is 10 Things I

Hate About You, released in 1999. This movie (also starring many well-known actors and actresses) is about a girl named Kat. Kat is a cynical and pessimistic young lady that has limited friends and a poor relationship with her family. As the movie progresses, it is discovered that Kat was once popular but after a traumatic experience (like Holden and his brother) she isolated herself and fought off everyone close to her (like Holden and his friends and family). Kat begins to change after meeting a new boy at school. Like Holden, Kat is searching for someone or something to identify with. A character analysis of Holden and Kat would reveal many similarities in their personalities.

Songs

In addition to movies, songs are a great media to use in order to analyze young adult novels. “Green day”, a punk rock band, has produced countless songs about adolescent issues.

One of their songs, “Basket Case,” released in 1994, is a perfect representation of Holden’s decent into mental illness:

“Do you have the time To listen to me whine About nothing and everything All at once I am one of those Melodramatic fools Neurotic to the bone No doubt about it

Sometimes I give myself the creeps Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me It all keeps adding up I think I'm cracking up Am I just paranoid? Am I just stoned?

I went to a shrink To analyze my dreams She says it's lack of sex That's bringing me down I went to a whore He said my life's a bore So quit my whining cause It's bringing her down” (Green Day) As the title of the song references, “Basket Case” is about a person’s doubt about their sanity. On their journey, the person goes to a psychologist and a prostitute in order to hopefully resolve their problems. During Holden’s mental descent, he seems to have a problem with everything and everyone, like the person in the song. Holden actually hires a prostitute too. At the end of the novel, the reader finds out that the entire story is being told to some sort of psychologist. “Green

Day’s” song seems to draw a direct parallel to Holden during his mental demise.

A few years later in 2004, “Green Day” released another song titled, “Boulevard of

Broken Dreams.” Unlike “Basket Case,” this song deals with isolation and loneliness, another very important aspect in Holden’s life.

“I walk a lonely road The only one that I have ever known Don't know where it goes But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams Where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone … My shadow's the only one that walks beside me My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me 'Til then I walk alone … I'm walking down the line That divides me somewhere in my mind On the border line Of the edge and where I walk alone” (Green Day)

This song expresses the epitome of being alone. It also expresses the urge for someone’s help, something in which Holden desperately needs throughout the story. Holden’s loneliness is the major cause in Holden’s identity problem. He has no one he can identify with in the world; the only person he really looked up to died years ago.

Articles

Articles can be a helpful resource when trying to discover more information about the background or topic of a novel. The first article1 could be used when introducing The Catcher in the Rye. It gives a short summary of the story as well as discusses the debate and controversy that the book has faced for decades. This article would be useful so that students have background information going into the discussion.

Another article that would be useful appeared in Slate Magazine in 2001. This short article presents both sides to the never-ending argument of The Catcher in the Rye being taught in classrooms. This article would be good for students to consider after reading the novel. How many students feel that this novel shouldn’t be taught? In the debate, no one seems to ever take the students opinion into perspective.

Websites

Another great resource to use alongside a novel is the web! Websites can hold masses of information on any topic possible. For modern students, it may be interesting to research what was happening in the world during Holden’s story. The first example website2 gives events and facts about life in the 1950’s. After looking the information over, students could think about or

1 http://go.galegroup.com.proxy-tu.researchport.umd.edu/ps/retrieve.do? sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=umd_towson&tabID= T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tP osition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3409000439&&docId=GALE|CX3409000439&docType=GALE&role=

2 http://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1950timeline.htm complete an assignment about how the search for identity (peer pressure, gender/race stereotypes, etc.) in the 1950’s is or is not different from what the modern adolescent faces. A timeline website may also help students envision the setting and better understand the events that occur in the text (like when Holden buys his sister a record).

Another website that could be of use to The Catcher in the Rye, is a site devoted to facts about teen depression.3 By looking at these statistics, students can become aware of risk factors for themselves as well as look for potential causes and symptoms of Holden’s own mental deterioration. The students may also be able to identify why and what led to Holden’s difficulty in his search for identity.

Utilizing media sources is a great strategy to keep students’ engaged as well as learning something above and beyond the actual text. As more and more technology finds its way into the classroom, teachers should be able to access information from all over the world. Teaching students how to use these resources at an early age can introduce get them in the habit to start researching.

Using the novel and the media resources, below are a few possible activities that teachers could assign students about, The Catcher in the Rye.

Group Activity Suggestions

1. Upon finishing the novel, have students get into small groups and discuss within those

groups why Holden is in a mental institution. Students should be playing psychologist

and try to determine:

3 http://www.teendepression.org/articles5.html  What is actually wrong with Holden?

 What symptoms did Holden display throughout the novel?

 What needs to be done during his recovery in order for him to get better?

2. After students write their individual letters to the head of the English Department,

students should get into teams based upon whether they believe that the novel should or

should not be taught. After some time to deliberate, teams will face each other in a

debate. One student from each team goes up at a time, the other team will pick their

question for the speaker, and both teams have the chance to rebut. The teacher will decide

the winner. This activity allows every student to voice their opinion as well as stand up

for what they believe in.

Individual Activities

1. Upon finishing the novel, students should individually sit down and write a letter to the

head of the English Department explain why The Catcher in the Rye should or should not

continue to be taught in high school. The letter should be no less than one page and

specific examples from the text should be used.

2. Upon finishing the novel, students should write a two-to-three page paper about the

importance of the search for self and the importance of individuality during adolescence.

Characters and specific examples must be used from the The Catcher in the Rye.

Conclusion

The Catcher in the Rye is an important novel to teach in the classroom so that students can connect with literary themes and learn about themselves through the stories of others. Pretend that an adolescent’s journey into adulthood is like a football game. If forced into a game without any guidance or explanation, a player would make many mistakes because he doesn’t know the rules. He could only follow the guidance of others (which may or may not be correct).

Each young adult novel a student reads, teaches them more about life and what they want out of it. It would not be until a person read many novels (and learned all the rules of the game) that they would be successful and potentially win the game. By reading young adult novels (such as

The Catcher in the Rye,) a person begins to learn the rules of the game (the journey) which gives them a much better chance of winning. The Catcher in the Rye is truly an important text that should be taught in every classroom. The use of this text provides countless uses and benefits for all students. Works Cited

Bucher, K., & Hinton, K. (2010). Young adult literature: exploration, evaluation, and

appreciation. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

McCormick, P. (2000). Cut. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Rholetter, W. (2000). The Catcher in the rye. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, 1.

Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy-

tu.researchport.umd.edu/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&in

PS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=umd_towson&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&r

esultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosi

tion=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3409000439&&docId=GALE|CX3409000439&docT

ype=GALE

Rosenberg, J. (2010). 1950s timeline. Retrieved from

http://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1950timeline.htm

Salinger, J. D. (1951). The catcher in the rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Teenage depression statistics. (2005). Retrieved from

http://www.teendepression.org/articles5.html

Thomas, I. (2001, August 2). Where is Holden caulfield now?. Slate Magazine, Retrieved from

http://slate.msn.com/?id=112966

Zailckas, K. (2006). Smashed: story of a drunken girlhood. New York, NY: Penguin Group.