3. Catcher in the Rye: Journal Requirements

4. QuotationsAnalysis 1. “ He had a pleasant little apartment, and his daughter was getting an excellent education. His mother was incinerated in the Dresden fire-storm. So it goes ” (Vonnegut 1-2). 1. The novel has just begun, and already the narrator shocks the reader by sharing his surprisingly detached attitude toward death. By using the simple phrase, “ So it goes, ” the narrator seems to be minimizing the horror of this fiery death, thereby immediately conveying his disconnection from the feelings that most of us would experience when learning of such a ghastly event. Since we do not know much about the narrator yet at this point in the novel, the reader is left to guess at his motivation for making such a seemingly insensitive statement. Perhaps the narrator is simply a cold-hearted man. Alternatively, it is possible that the narrator has witnessed so much death and destruction in his life that he now has become numb to it.

6. Bellwork: Society through the eyes of a teen

7. Conformist + Phony: Definitions? Conformist: To be similar or identical To be obedient or compliant To act in accordance with customs or norms Phony: Not genuine or real; fake Dishonest Compare and contrast the two- Which is better? Worse? ______ is to be ______ while _______ is _____. Being ______ has a more positive connotation because ______

9. Holden Caulfield has become an archetype for the angry and alienated teenager. The novel is written from Holden’s point of view, following his thoughts and memories. As a result, readers must decide what is real and what is distorted.

11. The Catcher in the Rye Published in 1951 Has sold over 65 million copies world wide Despite its popular success, the critical response to The Catcher in the Rye was slow in getting underway. One of the most frequently challenged books in library history because of sex and vulgar language. Named one of the best novels of the 20 th century by Time Magazine.

12. Reasons for Banning? Until 2006, Catcher was one of the most frequently banned books. 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.

13. Catcher & John Lennon: On December 8, 1980 Mark David Chapman killed John Lennon outside his Dakota apartment building. He was carrying a copy of The Catcher in the Rye with him at the time of the murder and even sat down and read a few pages following the shooting, while waiting for the police to arrive. He was obsessed with the book and Holden Caulfield and believed that the book expressed who he was. He thought of himself as a catcher in the rye and thought he needed to kill John Lennon, who he saw as a “phony”. Part of his statement following the murder is as follows: Then this morning I went to the bookstore and bought The Catcher in the Rye. I’m sure the large part of me is Holden Caulfield, who is the main person in the book. The small part of me must be the Devil.

14. The Catcher in the Rye Tells the story of a teenager expelled from his high school and his journey across NYC in the 1950’s. Issues discussed in the book include: school, teachers, music, sex, alcohol, hypocrisy, family, and being a teenager. A story is about Holden Caulfield, the 16 year old protagonist of the novel, and his experiences in school and New York City.

15. Similarities between J.D. Salinger and Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger attended prep schools in NYC and flunked out of McBurney School at 13 He attended Valley Forge Military Academy and graduated at 15 He has been referred to as a terrible liar, though this is difficult to prove/disprove Alienation from society– Salinger seems determined to keep his life private from outsiders.

16. The year is either 1948 or 1949, a few years after World War II and the dropping of the atomic bombs. Holden is one of the witnesses of America’s growth as world power and consumerist society.

18. Course Themes Within Catcher BILDUNGSROMAN Conformity vs. Resistance IDENTITY FORMATION Perception of Truth Changes in Values over Time Watch for these themes during your reading of the novel. You will be expected to pull examples of each theme out of the novel.

20. Motifs Loneliness Relationships, Intimacy, and Sexuality Lying and Deception

21. What to look for while reading? 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?