Catcher in the Rye By J.D.Salinger

Background Info Salinger was born in New York City in 1919 Salinger was born in New York City in 1919 Catcher, written in 1951, was banned in several countries. Catcher, written in 1951, was banned in several countries. Salinger - Upper middle class and attended private schools Salinger - Upper middle class and attended private schools Managed the fencing team in high school, but flunked out of academics Managed the fencing team in high school, but flunked out of academics Enrolled in a military academy where he began writing stories Enrolled in a military academy where he began writing stories

Catcher in the Rye published in 1953 Other works –Nine Stories (1953), Franny and Zooey (1961) Other works –Nine Stories (1953), Franny and Zooey (1961) Salinger became involved in Zen mysticism Salinger became involved in Zen mysticism Became reclusive and hostile towards media and outsiders Became reclusive and hostile towards media and outsiders

Themes in Catcher Immaturity Immaturity Responsibility Responsibility Values Values Conformity vs. individuality Conformity vs. individuality grief grief

Motifs Recovering from the death of his brother Recovering from the death of his brother Deception Deception Coping with parental and school authority Coping with parental and school authority Defending the vulnerable Defending the vulnerable Accepting help for emotional illness Accepting help for emotional illness

Literary Terms Symbolism – an object that stands for a complex or abstract idea or relationship and implies more than the literal meaning of the word or words Symbolism – an object that stands for a complex or abstract idea or relationship and implies more than the literal meaning of the word or words First person point of view – narrative spoken by a character indicating personal motivation and events. Holden speaks his own story and we see his quirks and weaknesses. Slang and diction is another clue to his immaturity. First person point of view – narrative spoken by a character indicating personal motivation and events. Holden speaks his own story and we see his quirks and weaknesses. Slang and diction is another clue to his immaturity.

Allusion Allusion. A brief reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event: Allusion. A brief reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event: If you take his parking place, you can expect World War II all over again. If you take his parking place, you can expect World War II all over again. Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. – Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. – Notice in these examples that the allusions are to very well known characters or events, not to obscure ones. (The best sources for allusions are literature, history, Greek myth, and the Bible.) Note also that the reference serves to explain or clarify or enhance whatever subject is under discussion, without sidetracking the reader. Notice in these examples that the allusions are to very well known characters or events, not to obscure ones. (The best sources for allusions are literature, history, Greek myth, and the Bible.) Note also that the reference serves to explain or clarify or enhance whatever subject is under discussion, without sidetracking the reader.

J.D. Salinger quotes ….there was discouraging word from Cornish, N.H., where J. D. Salinger has been a near-recluse in his cliffside chalet almost since the 1951 success of The Catcher in the Rye. Although his novel of adolescent turmoil still sells 400,000 copies annually, the author has not published since ….there was discouraging word from Cornish, N.H., where J. D. Salinger has been a near-recluse in his cliffside chalet almost since the 1951 success of The Catcher in the Rye. Although his novel of adolescent turmoil still sells 400,000 copies annually, the author has not published since "I love to write and I assure you I write regularly," Mr. Salinger said in a rare interview published by The Boston Sunday Globe. "But I write for myself and I want to be left absolutely alone to do it." "I love to write and I assure you I write regularly," Mr. Salinger said in a rare interview published by The Boston Sunday Globe. "But I write for myself and I want to be left absolutely alone to do it." "I could not have foreseen all that's happened since I began this writing business," Mr. Salinger said, "and sometimes I wish I'd never published. I have absolutely no plans to publish at this time. "I could not have foreseen all that's happened since I began this writing business," Mr. Salinger said, "and sometimes I wish I'd never published. I have absolutely no plans to publish at this time. "There's no more to Holden Caulfield. Read the book again. It's all there. Holden Caulfield is only a frozen moment in time." "There's no more to Holden Caulfield. Read the book again. It's all there. Holden Caulfield is only a frozen moment in time."

Metaphor Metaphor. A comparison which imaginatively identifies one thing with another dissimilar thing, and transfers or ascribes to the first thing some of the qualities of the second. Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing, not just that one is like another. Very frequently a metaphor is invoked by the to be verb: Metaphor. A comparison which imaginatively identifies one thing with another dissimilar thing, and transfers or ascribes to the first thing some of the qualities of the second. Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing, not just that one is like another. Very frequently a metaphor is invoked by the to be verb: Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life." --John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life." --John 6:35 The mind is but a barren soil; a soil which is soon exhausted and will produce no crop, or only one, unless it be continually fertilized and enriched with foreign matter. -- Joshua Reynolds The mind is but a barren soil; a soil which is soon exhausted and will produce no crop, or only one, unless it be continually fertilized and enriched with foreign matter. -- Joshua Reynolds