The Loss of Innocence

Definitions The Loss of Innocence: The journey from innocence to experience Innocence: The inability to do evil or to be physically or morally harmful

Characteristics The loss of innocence involves a movement from the world of innocence to the world of experience. The innocent character intends no evil, yet sometimes becomes the victim of some power that does them moral or physical harm. Loss is both PERSONAL and SOCIAL Hero must come face to face with a previously unexpected truth

How the Loss Occurs 1. An Awareness of Loss 2. The Sullying of Beauty 3. The Awareness of Limitations 4. First Encounters with War, Crime, or Sex

1. An Awareness of Loss The characters suffers an actual loss Death Loss of friendship Loss of reputation

2. The Sullying of Beauty The character realizes that the world is not ideal. People say and do mean things Politicians aren’t always truthful Sometimes cheaters win

3. The Awareness of Limitations The character realizes that s/he has flaws and weaknesses and that these sometimes set him or her apart from others. Doesn’t make the team Is socially awkward Has unusual physical characteristics

4. First Encounters with War, Crime, or Sex The character’s ability to come to terms with any of these confrontations can mean death or a life of eternal suffering. If the character is victorious in any of these confrontations, great insight and power become his/ her character traits.

The Right of Passage The move from innocence to experience occurs in three stages: 1. Limited Vision- hero is unaware of the realities of life. 2. The Initiation- hero is exposed to the reality of life that s/he has never before experienced. 3. The Metamorphosis- hero changes positively or negatively.

What do you think? Which method of the losses of innocence do you think that the following quotes relates to? Just a Reminder… The Losses of Innocence are: 1. An Awareness of Loss 2. The Sullying of Beauty 3. The Awareness of Limitations 4. First Encounters with War, Crime, or Sex

What do you think? Quote # 1 “ Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it ’ s a game, all right – I ’ ll admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren ’ t any hot-shots, then what ’ s a game about it? Nothing. No game. ” Holden, page 8, The Catcher in The Rye, J.D. Salinger

What do you think? Quote #2 If you want to know the truth, I ’ m a virgin. I really am. I ’ ve had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I ’ ve never got around to it yet. Something always happens. ” … “ I sort of figured this was my big chance, in a way. I figured if she was a prostitute and all, I could get in some practice on her, in case I ever get married or anything. ” Holden, page 92, The Catcher in The Rye, J.D. Salinger

What do you think? Quote # 3 “ The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody ’ d move. ”… “ Nobody ’ d be different the only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you ’ d be so much older or anything. It wouldn ’ t be that, exactly. You ’ d just be different, that ’ s all. ” Holden, page 121 The Catcher in The Rye, J.D. Salinger

What do you think? Quote #4 “ He ’ s dead now. He got leukemia and died when we were up in Maine, on July 18, ”… “ I was only thirteen, and they were going to have be psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all the windows in the garage. I don ’ t blame them. I really don ’ t. I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it. I even tried to break all the windows on the station wagon we had that summer, but my hand was already broken and everything by that time, and I couldn ’ t do it. I hardly didn ’ t even know I was doing it, and you didn ’ t know Allie. ”

What do you think? #5 Which stage of the loss of innocence do you believe that Holden was in? Reminder… 1. Limited Vision 2. The Initiation 3. The Metamorphosis

QUIZ TIME! Please divide into four equal groups.

Question #1 In the very last chapter, Holden talks about whom he misses. What character does he mention that is surprising, and which loss does this pertain to? A. Robert Ackley; An Awareness of Loss B. Mr.. Anatolini; First Encounters with War, Crime, or Sex C. Jane Gallager; Sullying of Beauty D. Maurice; An Awareness of Loss

Answer #1 D. Maurice; An Awareness of Loss

Question #2 How many stages does a character go through to move from a state of innocence to a state of experience? A: Three B: Four C: Five D: One

Answer #2 A: Three

Question #3 What is the definition of innocence? A: Contrast between what seems real and what actually is real B: When the reader has information that the character does not C: The inability to do evil or to be physically or morally harmful D: The search for life ’ s meaning and purpose

Answer #3 C: The inability to do evil or to be physically or morally harmful

Question #4 The loss of innocence involves a movement from the world of innocence to the world of experience. A. True B. False

Answer #4 A. True

Question #5 The Sullying of Beauty is when: A: The character suffers an actual loss B: The character realizes that the world is not ideal C: The character realizes that he or she has flaws and weaknesses and that these sometimes set him or her apart from others D: The character ﾕ s ability to come to terms with war, sex, or crime can mean death or a life of eternal suffering

Answer #5 B: The character realizes that the world is not ideal

Question #6 What example of the loss of innocence does Holden experience with the loss of his brother? A: An Awareness of Loss B: Sullying of Beauty C: Awareness of Limitations D: Fist Encounters with Crime, War, or Sex

Answer #6 A: An Awareness of Loss

Question #7 What is the name of the student who killed himself? A: Ackley Kid B: Scagle C: James Castle D: Phil Stabile

Answer #7 C: James Castle

Question #8 What physical characteristic does Holden have which qualifies for an awareness of imitations? A: Height B: Gray hair C: Long arms D: A deep voice

Answer #8 B: Gray hair

Question #9 What was the name of Holden ﾕ s brother who died? A: D.B. B: Allie C: Mark D: Ackley

Answer #9 B: Allie

Thanks! Special thanks to Mrs.. Sheldon for her notes on the Loss of Innocence that helped us to create and teach this lesson about the Loss of Innocence and it’s relationship to The Catcher in the Rye!