““The Catcher in The Catcher in the Rye”the Rye”

Author: J.D. SalingerAuthor: J.D. Salinger

Power point by: Amber EdwardsPower point by: Amber Edwards

AuthorAuthor

He was famous for He was famous for not wanting to be not wanting to be famous. famous.

He wrote many He wrote many books on disturbed books on disturbed people as his people as his characters. characters.

Author (Continued)Author (Continued)

He is very reclusive He is very reclusive and has yet to and has yet to publish another book publish another book since 1965.since 1965.

His works were His works were mainly semi-mainly semi-autobiographical. autobiographical.

Insight of the BookInsight of the Book

Holden Caulfield, the narrator, is a sixteen year Holden Caulfield, the narrator, is a sixteen year old boy that is having a problem finding old boy that is having a problem finding himself. himself.

He can point out other peoples faults before he He can point out other peoples faults before he can point out his. can point out his.

He gives several flashbacks to give the reason He gives several flashbacks to give the reason the way he is now. the way he is now.

The story is based on a couple days before The story is based on a couple days before Christmas and how Holden lives and Christmas and how Holden lives and understands things in life through those days. understands things in life through those days.

Major PointsMajor Points

Holden is expelled from Pencey Prep, a Holden is expelled from Pencey Prep, a boarding school, in the beginning of the book. boarding school, in the beginning of the book.

Holden got into a fight with his roommate, from Holden got into a fight with his roommate, from Pencey Prep, over what he did on a date with Pencey Prep, over what he did on a date with Jane Gallagher, one of Holden’s childhood Jane Gallagher, one of Holden’s childhood friends.friends.

Holden decides to leave before the date of Holden decides to leave before the date of Christmas break since he was expelled Christmas break since he was expelled anyways. He heads off to New York City to lie anyways. He heads off to New York City to lie low until the date his is supposed to come low until the date his is supposed to come home.home.

Major Points (Continued)Major Points (Continued)

He checks into a hotel and entertains himself He checks into a hotel and entertains himself at the hotel’s bar.at the hotel’s bar.

He encounters prostitution at the hotel and He encounters prostitution at the hotel and almost commits to it himself but decides it isn’t almost commits to it himself but decides it isn’t him because he is depressed deeply. him because he is depressed deeply.

He makes a date with a ex-girlfriend and they He makes a date with a ex-girlfriend and they get into a fight, which makes him even more get into a fight, which makes him even more depressed. depressed.

Holden finally decides to go home to visit his Holden finally decides to go home to visit his little sister after his rampages through New little sister after his rampages through New York City. York City.

Themes Themes

PhoninessPhoniness Holden talks about everyone at Pencey Prep Holden talks about everyone at Pencey Prep

being phony saying that they are all dishonest being phony saying that they are all dishonest and aren’t being themselves. and aren’t being themselves.

In reality Holden is being phony as well, he lies In reality Holden is being phony as well, he lies all the time and he doesn’t see himself as a all the time and he doesn’t see himself as a phony.phony.

Holden thinks everyone and everything is Holden thinks everyone and everything is phony except himself. He’s making this excuse phony except himself. He’s making this excuse because he’s trying to preserve his innocence. because he’s trying to preserve his innocence.

Themes (Continued)Themes (Continued)

Alienation Alienation Holden makes it seem like he is better Holden makes it seem like he is better

than everyone else which makes him than everyone else which makes him think that he should isolate himself. think that he should isolate himself.

He alienates himself because he is trying He alienates himself because he is trying to protect himself. to protect himself.

The irony is that this causes more pain The irony is that this causes more pain for him than helping. for him than helping.

Themes (Continued)Themes (Continued)

Trouble of Growing upTrouble of Growing up Holden is trying to find out how the Holden is trying to find out how the

adulthood works but is having difficulty adulthood works but is having difficulty reaching adulthood.reaching adulthood.

He makes up several things by making He makes up several things by making adulthood look phony and he should stay adulthood look phony and he should stay a kid where he will keep his innocence. a kid where he will keep his innocence.

Critical ReviewCritical Review

““The Catcher in the The Catcher in the Rye” in my opinion Rye” in my opinion was a good book was a good book overall. overall.

At the beginning it At the beginning it had a slow start and had a slow start and was hard to was hard to understand but it is understand but it is well worth the time of well worth the time of reading. reading.

Critical ReviewCritical Review

I also think that I also think that Salinger portrayed Salinger portrayed very well what goes very well what goes through people’s through people’s minds that they don’t minds that they don’t admit to. admit to.

It gave great detail of It gave great detail of what teens go what teens go through while through while maturing to maturing to adulthood.adulthood.