Catcher in the Rye

1
Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger
2
About the author.

• Born in New York, Jan. 1st, 1919
• Successful family
• Sent to private prep school, flunked out, sent to
  Military school (became model for Pencey Prep)
• Went to Columbia University for 2 semesters,
  finally decided to become a writer
• Wrote 3 volumes of short stories, and only 1
  novel Catcher in the Rye
• Died at the age of 91

3
About the novel.

• Very controversial at the time!
• Language
• Adolescent sex
• Disregard for the establishment- social
  conformity was of utmost importance
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v-wU0Kiu2VGY
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?veJvPGDA9AbENR1fe
  atureendscreen

4
The characters..

• Holden Caulfield narrator, 16 years old, just
  been kicked out of Pencey Prep for failing
• Ackley Holdens next-door neighbour in his dorm
• Stradlater Holdens roommate
• Jane Gallagher girl Holden spent a lot of time
  with one summer
• Phoebe Caulfield Holdens 10 year old sister
• Allie Caulfield Holdens younger brother, has
  died of leukemia 3 years before the start of the
  novel
• D.B. Caulfield Holdens older brother who has
  written a volume of short stories

5
A few more characters.

• Sally Hayes attractive girl who Holden has
  dated for a long time
• Mr. Spencer Holdens history teacher at Pencey
  Prep
• Carl Luce Holdens student advisor at Whooton
  School
• Mr. Antolini Holdens former English teacher at
  Elkton Hills School
• Sunny prostitute Holden hires through Maurice,
  the elevator operator

6
Symbols to look for

• The red hunting cap
• Ducks on the pond
• Museum of Natural History
• The carousel
• The song, Comin Thro the Rye
• The baseball mitt

7
Themes to pay attention to

• Theme is the FUNDAMETNAL and UNIVERSAL idea
  explored in a literary work
• Alienation as a form of self-protection
• The painfulness of growing up (loss of innocence)
• The phoniness of the adult world

8
Lets begin!

• Read together chapters 1-4
• Complete questions for the chapters
• Remember to fill out your character and theme
  charts as you go!