The Catcher in the Rye By JD Salinger

Salinger Appreciation Video http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=3CFAD1DA-F40F-45EC-8B4C-74AE80BDFAF8&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10841

Salinger History Born 1919 in New York City Died January, 2010 at age 91 JD was kicked out of several high schools and ended up attending Valley Forge Military Academy—Many argue Valley Forge is the basis for Pencey Prep While at Valley Forge, JD was a manager of the fencing team

College Years Flunked out of New York University Dropped out of Ursinus College Salinger’s father took him to Europe to teach him about the family’s Import/Export business

Early Work In 1941, Salinger published a story in The New Yorker, and the main character’s name is Holden Caulfield

World War II Salinger was drafted into the military during World War II, and he saw action at the Battle of the Bulge in June of 1944

The Catcher in the Rye In 1946, a novelette with Holden was optioned by a publisher, but Salinger refused to have it published Finally, in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye was published

Post-Catcher Following the publication of Catcher, Salinger spent his time hanging out in NYC as a celebrity in literary circles In 1953, Salinger moved to Cornish, New Hampshire where he lived until his death

Other Works Nine Stories, 1953 Franny and Zooey, 1961 “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenter”, 1963 “Hapworth 16, 1924”, 1965

Catcher and Holden Many critics argue that Holden Caulfield is the first character to capture the restless spirit of American youth Catcher can be described as a coming-of-age novel The age group of “teenager” was not defined until the 40s and 50s with the introduction of television and radio advertising targeting these youths. They now had their own fashion, music, and buying power

Controversy of Catcher Catcher has been shrouded in controversy, and it is one of the most banned novels in the world. Reasons: Offensive language, premarital sex, alcohol abuse, and prostitution

Controversy II On December 8th, 1980, Mark David Chapman murdered John Lennon. Chapman had a copy of Catcher on him and claimed that all of the answers as to why he did it are in the book

Controversy III In 1981, John Hinckley, Jr attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. He wounded a handful of people, including the President. Hinckley was reported to be obsessed with Catcher (but more obsessed with the movie Taxi Driver)

Controversy IV In 1989, Robert John Bardo was carrying the novel when he murdered Rebecca Schaeffer, an American actress best known for her role in the sitcom My Sister Sam This case led to stalking laws in California

Catcher, Salinger and Holden Today Catcher, Salinger, and Holden have been alluded to in many films including Finding Forrester, Field of Dreams, Conspiracy Theory, Six Degrees of Separation, Chasing Amy, Annie Hall, Daredevil, Pleasantville, Igby Goes Down, Chasing Holden and Good Girl. On television: Family Guy, Pretty Little Liars, South Park, and Criminal Minds. In music: Green Day, Offspring, Guns n’ Roses, Billy Joel and the Beastie Boys

Six Degrees on Catcher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MqJTFTZSNM&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1 (Run from 1:20-7:03)