Independent Reading Literary Analysis
The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age fictional novel written by J.D Salinger in 1945. The novel is published by Little,Brown and Company and was published on July 16, 1951. The novel is considered a classic because it revolves around problems that most teenagers go through when growing up. The novel is a 234 page book about the main character's life in the present and the past. The novel was set in the 1950s in Agerstown Pennsylvania and New York. The Catcher in the Rye introduces many different and unique people throughout the novel. The main characters in the novel are Holden Caulfield, Phoebe,D.B, and Allie. The protagonist in the book is Holden Caulfield and the antagonist in the book are the
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The internal conflict that Holden has is the grief he keeps feeling from his brother Allies passing away from leukemia three years ago and as he mentally keeps breaking down he keeps asking Allie to not let him disappear. The external conflict Holden has is he is always concerned with things that other people do not even care about. Another external conflict Holden has is with all of the profanity that is written in Phoebe’s school and thinks that it is intimidating to the little children who read it. The author uses first person, so the reader only knows the thoughts and feeling of Holden Caulfield. The plot is very easy to follow but a little hard to understand. In the exposition, the readers are introduced to Holden, who is writing his story about what happened around last Christmas. He has just been expelled from Pencey a boarding school he went to and needs to spend some time before he goes back home to face his parents. Holden runs away from Pencey in the middle of the night to New York after having a fight with his roommate Stradlater which leads into the rising action. Holden meets many different people through his journey. When he is in the elevator of the hotel he is …show more content…
The novel has a very deep meaningful moral and many different symbols throughout the book. One symbol that was used often in the book was Holden's red hunting hat. His red hunting hat was a symbol of security for him because whenever he put on the red hunting hat he felt safe. “ I was sort of crying. I don't know why. I put on my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back,the way I liked it…” (Salinger 59). Another symbol in the novel is the profanity Holden sees everywhere. The profanity is a symbol of children losing their innocence when they are so young, this bothers Holden because he wants to stop the children from losing their innocence by becoming “the Catcher in the Rye”. The moral of the story is that everyone needs to be more like Holden's sister Phoebe who instead of telling him that he is going to face a lot of consequences if he runs away packs her bags to go with him because she knows that he is struggling and hurting in the
The novel catcher in the rye is set in the 1950’s and is narrated by a
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a popular novel that was originally published in the 1950’s. In the book, Salinger explores various themes through the main character Holden and his interactions with others. Some of these themes include, alienation, loss and betrayal. Holden constantly feels betrayed throughout the novel by several people, including his roommate, teacher, and sister.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an enthralling and captivating novel about a boy and his struggle with life. The teenage boy ,Holden, is in turmoil with school, loneliness, and finding his place in the world. The author J.D. Salinger examines the many sides of behavior and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the novel. The author develops three distinct character types for Holden the confused and struggling teenage boy, Ackley, a peculiar boy without many friends, and Phoebe, a funny and kindhearted young girl.
The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J.D. Salinger that is told from the point of view of Holden Caulfield. Holden is a young man struggling with growing up and facing the adult world. As a misunderstood teenager, Holden learns to deal with the deception of the adult world and the consequences of his choices.
One way for readers to measure their level of comprehension in this story, is to explore the meaning of the title, it's effect on the book's theme and how it provides a deep look into Holden's character. Being an attention demanding tool, the title also can provide a mystery to which the reader can understand by pulling together the clues, hidden in the text. To an experienced reader, who may be familiar with the book, imagery of a catcher in the rye is apparent throughout the story. However, for a new reader the journey begins past the middle of the book.
The Catcher in the Rye is a historical fiction novel by J.D Salinger. The book starts with Holden Caulfield, the main character, explaining a little about himself and goes on to tell his story of what happened after he left Pencey. Everyone strives to set themselves to a place in life where they feel safe, comfortable, and secure, that is the American dream. The journey to achieve this dream is known as the American experience. In the novel, Holden tries to act and look older. He reflects on his shortcomings and the setbacks in life, and leaves to collect himself, all reflecting elements of the American experience.
On the surface it seems to be the story of a young man's expulsion school and the events that follow, However The Catcher in the Rye is in fact a perceptive study of one individual's understanding of the human condition. Holden Caulfield, a teenager growing up in 1950s New York, has been expelled from school for poor achievement once again. In an attempt to deal with this he leaves school a few days prior to the end of term, and goes to New York to 'take a vacation' before returning to his parents' inevitable wrath. Written in the first person, the book describes Holden's thoughts and activities over these few days, during which he describes a developing nervous breakdown, typified by his bouts of unexplained depression, impulsive spending and generally odd, erratic behavior, prior to his eventual nervous collapse.
J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a remarkable book that gives readers a unique and perhaps gloomy perspective of the 1950's through Holden Caulfield, a cynical and peculiar teenager. Through The Catcher in the Rye Salinger describes important aspects of the 1950's. Salinger emphasizes several key characteristics of the 50's and criticizes them through Holden. In addition, Holden Caulfield is a very interesting character with several traits that put him at odds with society.
The Catcher in the Rye by, J.D. Salinger is told through Holden the narrative in the story. The setting of the novel takes place in the 1940's early 1950's. Holden is sixteen years old and he has a lot of problems in his life. He becomes seriously depressed to the point he cannot deal with people and life around him. The 1940's were different from today. However, Holden Caulfield is similar to many other teenagers who go through the same problems.
A example of both an external and internal conflict that Holden had and led to unhealthy behavior was the troubles that he had at his school, with his classmates, and his teachers. Holden has a very cynical view of the world and his school Pency. Holden believes that kids at his school are privileged and are phonies which he is himself. With this view Holden doesn’t get along with other students at his school, which causes many problems...
Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas. At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden leaves school and spends 72-hours in New York City before returning home. There, Holden encounters new ideas, people, and experiences. Holden's psychological battle within himself serves as the tool that uncovers the coming-of-age novel's underlying themes of teen angst, depression, and the disingenuous nature of society. The novel tackles issues of blatant profanity, teenage sex, and other erratic behavior. Such issues have supplemented the controversial nature of the book and in turn, have sparked the question of whether or not this book should be banned. The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught at the high school level.
“Catcher in the Rye”, written by J.D Salinger, is a coming-of-age novel. Narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield, he recounts the days following his expulsion from his school. This novel feels like the unedited thoughts and feelings of a teenage boy, as Holden narrates as if he is talking directly to readers like me. I dislike “Catcher in the Rye”. There seems to be no actual, concrete plot to this novel.
Holden is the main character of the book. He is a complicated boy how seems to get thrown out of boarding schools left and right. He is constantly thinking about depressive thoughts of his past, like times he was with his brother, who is dead. His thoughts of his brother bring serious rage for some reason. In one instance he tells about the day after his brothers death, and Holden was filled with such anger and loneliness, he punched through all the glass doors in his garage. This required him to go to the hospital, and unfortunately his stay at the hospital forced him to miss his brothers funeral. He also keeps thinking about his old girl friend Jane. Holden is reminded of past times with her, where her father upset her, and Holden was the only one there to console her. So with that in mind, he thinks he still may have a place with her, and Holden believes that all his happiness will rest with her. Holden is just a guy who is searching for something to get him out of his depression, but he has no idea what it is, and above all how to get it.
Holden Caulfield can be analyzed through his thoughts, actions and circumstances which surround his everyday life. Holden acts like a careless teenager. Holden has been to several prep-schools, all of which he got kicked out of for failing classes. After being kicked out of the latest, Pency Prep, he went off to New York on his own. Holden seems to have a motivation problem which apparently affects his reasoning. The basis of his reasoning comes from his thoughts. Holden thinks the world is full of a bunch of phonies. All his toughs about people he meets are negative. The only good thoughts he has are about his sister Phoebe and his dead brother Alley. Holden, perhaps, wishes that everyone, including himself, should be like his brother and sister. That is to be intelligent, real and loving. Holden’s problem is with his heart. It was broken when his brother died. Now Holden goes around the world as his fake self, wearing his mask. Holden is looking for love, peace and understanding. He is scared to love because he is afraid he might lose it like he did with his brother. That is the reason for Holden's love of the museum, he feels safe because it never changes it always stays the same. Holden is troubled with the pain of death, it effects every aspect of his life causing him to not care about the future, himself or anyone, except Phoebe and Alley.
Holden’s goal is to resist the process of maturing. He fears change and because of this, he comes up with two different personalities; one for childhood and one for adulthood. He feels more safe in one than