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Do NowDo Now: : Take out your homework. Take out your homework. (Notes for Socratic and Socratic (Notes for Socratic and Socratic reflections)reflections)

HomeworkHomework: : NoneNone

Objective: Students will gain understanding of J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye. Students will gain understanding of American life in the 1950’s

IntroductioIntroduction to J.D. n to J.D.

SalingerSalinger’’s: s: The The

Catcher in Catcher in the Ryethe Rye

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

1919 – 20101919 – 2010 Has written several Has written several

books about young books about young people including people including The Catcher in the The Catcher in the RyeRye and and Franny Franny and Zoeyand Zoey

Served in WWIIServed in WWII Stopped giving Stopped giving

interviews in 1980.interviews in 1980.

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam: Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam: father was Jewish, mother, Catholicfather was Jewish, mother, Catholic

Jerome David SalingerJerome David Salinger Recognized as one of the most Recognized as one of the most

popular and influential authors of popular and influential authors of American fiction during the second American fiction during the second half of the twentieth century.half of the twentieth century.

Has, by his own choice, remained out Has, by his own choice, remained out of the public eye for most of his life.of the public eye for most of his life.

- Born January 1, 1919 to the family of a prosperous Manhattan food dealer, Salinger had one older sister. He was educated in New York City except for the last two years of high school. These final years were spent at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. - Information about his first six years after graduation is vague. Salinger may have visited Europe and is known to have studied sporadically at New York University, Ursinus College, and Columbia University, concentrating on writing courses. During this time, Salinger published several short stories in popular magazines.

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

Salinger moved to rural Salinger moved to rural New Hampshire and lived New Hampshire and lived as a recluse. He only saw as a recluse. He only saw local youngsters, whose local youngsters, whose company he enjoyed. company he enjoyed. Although the success of his Although the success of his one novel, one novel, The Catcher in The Catcher in the Ryethe Rye (1951), brought (1951), brought him unwanted attention, he him unwanted attention, he kept the public eye at bay kept the public eye at bay by refusing all visitors. by refusing all visitors. However, whenever he was However, whenever he was trapped, he offered trapped, he offered conflicting (or often totally conflicting (or often totally false) biographical false) biographical information.information.

Drafted in 1942 and Drafted in 1942 and trained in England, trained in England, Salinger participated in Salinger participated in the D-Day invasion. He the D-Day invasion. He continued to write continued to write during this period and during this period and more stories appeared more stories appeared in print. There was also in print. There was also an alleged marriage to an alleged marriage to a Frenchwoman, which a Frenchwoman, which supposedly ended in supposedly ended in divorce in 1947.divorce in 1947.

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

“Salinger is a writer, first and last. He adamantly rejects the role of a public figure. He also rejects the position of teacher, refusing to talk about his writing or instruct others on his methods. Although Salinger has retreated from the world, his work offers great immediacy and reality… In addition, his ability to capture the motivations and desires of the soul show that he has an intuitive grasp of the human character.”

J.D. SalingerJ.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

Published in 1951Published in 1951 Has sold over 65 million copies world Has sold over 65 million copies world

wide!wide! Despite its popular success, the critical Despite its popular success, the critical

response to response to The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye was was slow in getting underway.slow in getting underway.

One of the most frequently challenged One of the most frequently challenged books in library history because of sex and books in library history because of sex and vulgar language. vulgar language.

Named one of the best novels of the 20Named one of the best novels of the 20thth century by century by Time Magazine.Time Magazine.

Reasons for Banning? Reasons for Banning?

Until 2006, Until 2006, CatcherCatcher was was one of the most frequently one of the most frequently banned books. banned books. Mark David Chapman Mark David Chapman (assassin of John Lennon) (assassin of John Lennon) and John Hinckley Jr. and John Hinckley Jr. (attempted assassin of (attempted assassin of President Ronald Reagan) President Ronald Reagan) both had copies of the both had copies of the book in their pockets when book in their pockets when they were arrested. they were arrested.

The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye

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

Issues discussed in the book include: Issues discussed in the book include: school, teachers, music, sex, alcohol, school, teachers, music, sex, alcohol, hypocrisy, family, and being a teenager.hypocrisy, family, and being a teenager.

A story is about Holden Caulfield, the 16 A story is about Holden Caulfield, the 16 year old protagonist of the novel, and year old protagonist of the novel, and his experiences in school and New York his experiences in school and New York City. City.

Similarities between J.D. Similarities between J.D. Salinger and Salinger and Catcher in the Catcher in the

RyeRye J.D. Salinger attended prep schools in J.D. Salinger attended prep schools in

NYC and flunked out of McBurney School NYC and flunked out of McBurney School at 13at 13

He attended Valley Forge Military He attended Valley Forge Military Academy and graduated at 15Academy and graduated at 15

He has been referred to as a terrible liar, He has been referred to as a terrible liar, though this is difficult to prove/disprovethough this is difficult to prove/disprove

Alienation from society– Salinger seems Alienation from society– Salinger seems determined to keep his life private from determined to keep his life private from outsiders. outsiders.

Point of ViewPoint of View First-person limited-First-person limited- we see this we see this

story only through Holdenstory only through Holden’’s eyess eyes ““YouYou””- the psychoanalyst and the - the psychoanalyst and the

readerreader Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness; many ; many

digressionsdigressions DialectDialect- Salinger perfected the dialect - Salinger perfected the dialect

of the teenage boyof the teenage boy– This language is the cause of much This language is the cause of much

controversy over the bookcontroversy over the book– This creates a very believable characterThis creates a very believable character

Course Themes Within Course Themes Within CatcherCatcher

Conformity vs. ResistanceConformity vs. Resistance IDENTITY FORMATIONIDENTITY FORMATION Perception of TruthPerception of Truth Changes in Values over TimeChanges in Values over Time

Watch for these themes during your Watch for these themes during your reading of the novel. You will be reading of the novel. You will be expected to pull examples of each expected to pull examples of each theme out of the novel.theme out of the novel.

Dominant SymbolsDominant Symbols

The CarouselThe Carousel The Red Hunting The Red Hunting

CapCap The CatcherThe Catcher’’s Mitts Mitt The Ducks in Central The Ducks in Central

Park PondPark Pond The Museum of The Museum of

Natural HistoryNatural History Pencey PrepPencey Prep

What to look for while What to look for while reading?reading?

This novel is a character study of This novel is a character study of Holden.Holden.– Analyze HoldenAnalyze Holden’’s motivations, his s motivations, his

personality, and his mental stability.personality, and his mental stability.– WhatWhat’’s Holdens Holden’’s deal? Is there s deal? Is there

something wrong with him (is he crazy?) something wrong with him (is he crazy?) or is he a just a normal teenager?or is he a just a normal teenager?

The 1950’sThe 1950’s The United States in the 1950s experienced marked The United States in the 1950s experienced marked

economic growth - with an increase in manufacturing and economic growth - with an increase in manufacturing and home construction amongst a post-World War II economic home construction amongst a post-World War II economic boom.boom.

The Cold War and its associated conflicts helped create a The Cold War and its associated conflicts helped create a politically conservative climate in the country. Fear of politically conservative climate in the country. Fear of communism caused public Congressional hearings in both communism caused public Congressional hearings in both houses in Congress and there was a strong anti-houses in Congress and there was a strong anti-communism sentiment in the United States throughout the communism sentiment in the United States throughout the period.period.

Conformity and conservatism characterized the social Conformity and conservatism characterized the social mores of the time. Accordingly, the 1950s in the United mores of the time. Accordingly, the 1950s in the United States are generally considered both socially conservative States are generally considered both socially conservative and highly materialistic in nature. and highly materialistic in nature.

The 1950s are noted in United States history as a time of The 1950s are noted in United States history as a time of compliance, conformity and also, to a lesser extent, of compliance, conformity and also, to a lesser extent, of

rebellionrebellion..

The classic American family

Family roles were fairly traditional in Salinger’s day:•Dad was the sole provider and the head of the household•Mom was most often a homemaker – cooking, cleaning and taking care of her husband and kids

And the kids?And the kids?

Education was much less of a priority than it is Education was much less of a priority than it is today.today.

IfIf the kids finished high school, college was a the kids finished high school, college was a relatively rare option.relatively rare option.– Getting a job and getting married straight out Getting a job and getting married straight out

of high school were much more common.of high school were much more common.– How does this compare to your plans?How does this compare to your plans?

What changed?What changed? After World War II ended (1945), the After World War II ended (1945), the

old-school family structure and roles old-school family structure and roles started to change a bitstarted to change a bit– Victorious war effort left the U.S. much Victorious war effort left the U.S. much

more financially stable…people had more financially stable…people had money again! Woohoo!money again! Woohoo!

– And what do people do when they have And what do people do when they have money?money?

Spend it!Spend it!

In the late 1940s/early 50s, there In the late 1940s/early 50s, there were two consumer products that were two consumer products that helped to create our modern concept helped to create our modern concept of of the teenagerthe teenager::– The televisionThe television– The automobileThe automobile

Hmmmm…Hmmmm…

So, how would an increase in TV and So, how would an increase in TV and car purchases change American car purchases change American families?families?

And more specifically, how would And more specifically, how would these purchases impact teenagers?these purchases impact teenagers?– (insert brainstorm here)(insert brainstorm here)

TVs/HollywoodTVs/Hollywood

Advertising split Americans into Advertising split Americans into demographics (men, women, old, young, demographics (men, women, old, young, teen, etc.)teen, etc.)

““Family time” changedFamily time” changed Different shows appealed to different agesDifferent shows appealed to different ages Attractive people – the pin-upsAttractive people – the pin-ups

1950s Now

Ryan Gosling

Marilyn Monroe

James Dean

Megan Fox

1950s

Elvis Presley

Now

Justin Timberlake

CarsCarsMore accessible + more affordableDetract from familySense of freedomImages of “cool”Emergence of fast foodPossibilities for drinking + sex

The new teenagerThe new teenager

So all in all, the 1950s saw the birth of So all in all, the 1950s saw the birth of “the modern teenagers,” as we think of “the modern teenagers,” as we think of themthem

Holden Caulfield, the narrator of Holden Caulfield, the narrator of The The Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye, is arguably the first , is arguably the first modern teenager of literature. modern teenager of literature.

Key questions as we read Key questions as we read CatcherCatcher::

What are the pros, cons and responsibilities What are the pros, cons and responsibilities of each age group?of each age group?

Why does Holden have such a difficult time fitting Why does Holden have such a difficult time fitting in?in?

What makes Holden so relatable as a What makes Holden so relatable as a narrator?narrator?

Similarities/differences between Holden’s issues Similarities/differences between Holden’s issues and the issues of today’s teens?and the issues of today’s teens?

What are Holden’s priorities? Why?What are Holden’s priorities? Why? How does J.D. Salinger use symbolism to help How does J.D. Salinger use symbolism to help

develop his themes over the course of the novel?develop his themes over the course of the novel?