1. J.D Salinger’s Catcher In The Rye
An Introduction

2. America had won the War!!! We beat the Japanese! We beat the Germans!
It was good to be in America!
It was good to be an American!!
Or was it…

3. Was there a lingering angst in America?

4. Enter J.D. Salinger Born in New York City, Jan. 1, 1919
Publishes Catcher in The Rye in 1951

5. Salinger’s main character, Holden Caulfield epitomizes the growing pains of an entire generation of high school students

6. Holden Caulfield comes from a wealthy background
He attends a fancy boarding school
He has all the assumed advantages and privileges American society can offer
Yet still…

7. He suffers.

8. Quickwrite Imagine you’re rich and go to boarding school
You have every opportunity to have power and influence in society
Why might you still be unhappy?

9. When you’re done, share with a partner.
Loss of Innocence
What does this mean?
Take five minutes and write down a story of when you may have lost a bit of your own innocence.
When you’re done, share with a partner.