The Catcher in the Rye
Now with extra rye.
- Course Length: 3 weeks
- Course Type: Short Course
- Category:
- English
- Literature
- High School
Schools and Districts: We offer customized programs that won't break the bank. Get a quote.
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like…"
With a first line like that, you'd better believe Holden Caulfield would've made for the world's most insufferable Facebook friend. Passive aggressive status updates. Messaging you at three am just to tell you he doesn't like you, but you'll do for now. Writing "what a phony" on your profile picture—from three years ago.
And yet, as protagonist and narrator of J. D. Salinger's beloved American novel, Holden slays. Somehow, this misanthropic sixteen-year-old appeals to the inner Holden in us all—effortlessly snarky, wry (or should we say rye), and surprisingly insightful.
As we walk alongside Holden's verbal—and literal—ramble through the streets of New York, we'll
- examine how the personal isolation and alienation of a single human teen became a symbol for a restless post-war generation.
- explore the timeless struggles between the themes of youth and mortality, individualism and loneliness, innocence and disillusionment.
- study the enduring appeal of this classic American novel that's ruffled more than its fair share of feathers. (Can you say banned foreva?)
"Holden" to your hats, folks—this is going to be one crazy ride.
Required Skills
Unit Breakdown
1 The Catcher in the Rye - Catcher in the Rye
This course goes beyond Holden Caulfield—our hapless protagonist—and hops back to the post-WWII 1950s, an era of fake smiles and very real materialism. How did the classic book and its context inform each other? Why do so many assassins love it? Read on and find out.
Sample Lesson - Introduction
Lesson 1.05: "Uh…Thanks but No Thanks" – The Women in this Book
By now, you might've noticed that Catcher is kind of a boy's club. We learn a lot about Holden (of course) and way more than we want to know about his roommates Ackley and Stradlater—seriously guys, it's called basic hygiene. But where the ladies at?
So far, Holden has waxed nostalgic for the girl-next-door Jane Gallagher. The catch, though, is that we don't actually hear from Jane herself—she's filtered through Holden's memories and semi-romantic feelings. Jane is a character who literally has no voice.
Problematic much?
The other female character we've been introduced to is Ernest's mom, who isn't exactly portrayed as the sharpest knife in the drawer. Not only does she believe the pack of lies Holden—err, Rudolf?—tells about her son, but she also invites Holden to visit their house during the summer vacation.
Remember this gem from Chapter 8: "Women kill me…I don't mean I'm oversexed or anything like that—although I am quite sexy. I just like them, I mean. They're always leaving their goddam bags out in the middle of the aisle" (70)?
Okay, Holden. Leaving out the part where you think you're hot, that's a pretty shallow view of women you've got there.
Basically, females have been taking a real hit in this book. They're either portrayed as unrealistic objects of infatuation or nice, but ditzy, ladies.
Unfortunately, the women you'll read about in the next two chapters won't do much to improve that stereotype. But they're amusing to have as our new literary buds, anyhow.
Sample Lesson - Reading
Reading 1.1.05: Chapters 9 and 10
Before we dive back into Catcher, let's add a little historical flavor to the absence of women in the book. Read this brief overview of women's roles and expectations in the 1950s. Spoiler alert—the "M.R.S." degree doesn't stand for something flattering like "medical research science."
After you're done, go ahead and flip open Catcher. For today, read Chapters 9 and 10. Then don't forget to swing by our summary pages in case you missed anything good:
Sample Lesson - Activity
Activity 1.05a: The Birds and the Bees
Holden can be a bit of a hypocrite—he ridicules the women around him even as he falls head over heels for them. A self-proclaimed "sex maniac," Holden has a complicated relationship with sex, lust, and love. Clearly, someone needs to sit him down and give him the "birds and bees" talk.
Step One
Think about these questions:
- How does Holden treat the women he's attracted to?
- How does Holden view sex?
- Why do you think he's so obsessed with it?
Respond to these questions in a paragraph of at least 150 words. Make sure to use specific textual examples or quotes—from any readings up to and including today's—to prove your point.
For example, Shmoop might start off by saying something like:
Holden clearly has some mixed feelings about sex—and it's one of the main topics on his mind at all times. It's natural that he's interested in it and thinks about it a lot, since he's a young teenager with a flood of hormones coursing through him at all times. It seems that every woman he sees is subject to Holden's sexual thoughts, even the woman on the train "…had quite a lot of sex appeal, too, if you really want to know" (Salinger, 8.27).
Step Two
Post your paragraph on the discussion board. Respond to at least two of your peers' posts, using friendly, civil language and 50 – 75 words per post to either agree or disagree with their arguments. Ask questions. Bring up new points and comment on what your peers have said.
Even on the discussion board, etiquette is key. You want to be polite in your responses to your peers, with comments along the lines of:
What an interesting point you make about Holden's attraction to all women. I hadn't thought about that. Do you think he actually wants to "give the time" to all the women he sexualizes, or are there some women he's only thinking about in this way?
Get it? Go to town.
Expository Writing Rubric - 15 Points
Sample Lesson - Activity
- Course Length: 3 weeks
- Course Type: Short Course
- Category:
- English
- Literature
- High School
Schools and Districts: We offer customized programs that won't break the bank. Get a quote.