Introduction to J.D. Salinger

1
Introduction to J.D. Salingers The Catcher in
the Rye
2
J.D. Salinger

• 1919 present
• Has written several books about young people
  including The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and
  Zoey
• Served in WWII
• Has not granted an interview since 1980!

3
J.D. Salinger

• Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam father was
  Jewish, mother, Catholic
• Jerome David Salinger
• Recognized as one of the most popular and
  influential authors of American fiction during
  the second half of the twentieth century.
• Has, by his own choice, remained out of the
  public eye for most of his life.

4
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 20th century
  by Time Magazine.

5
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.

6
The Catcher in the Rye

• Tells the story of a teenager expelled from his
  high school and his journey across NYC in the
  1950s.
• 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.

7
Holdens Character and Us

• Holden Caulfield sketch of an American teenager
  
• Nearly all readers identify with or see some of
  their friends reflected in different aspects of
  Holdens 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.

8
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.

9
Point of View

• First-person limited- we see this story only
  through Holdens 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

10
Themes/Topics

• Phonies/Societal Pressures
• phony implies snobbery
• Holden hates phonies
• Adolescence/ Loss of Innocence
• Holden is at the in between stage of life, in
  between a child and an adult
• Holden wants to be accepted by children and
  adults, however, he doesnt fit into either
  category

11
Course Themes Within Catcher

• 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.

12
Dominant Symbols

• The Carousel
• The Red Hunting Cap
• The Catchers Mitt
• The Ducks in Central Park Pond
• The Museum of Natural History
• Pencey Prep

13
Holdens Quests

• Holden is looking for THREE things
• The Innocence of Childhood
• Wants things to remain the same as when he was
  younger
• Love
• Identity
• What do I do with my life? What does this all
  mean?
• How do I live up to expectations and still be an
  individual?

14
What to look for while reading?

• This novel is a character study of Holden.
• Analyze Holdens motivations, his personality,
  and his mental stability.
• Whats Holdens deal? Is there something wrong
  with him (is he crazy?) or is he a just a normal
  teenager?

15
Journal Response

• Put yourself into Holdens shoes. What would you
  do if you were expelled from school and knew that
  your parents would not know you were expelled for
  two days?
• Plan out those two days and please keep your
  responses school appropriate.