Catcher in the Rye

Reading & Study Guide:

Reading Guide -- Entire Novel

Papers:

Film:

21-minute Film -- This is a video I put together. It mixes a collection of film clips and music that mention Catcher in the Rye.
- Password Needed

Quizzes:

Quiz -- Entire Book

Notes on Novel:

Tracking Words: I like to look at an author's word choice and start to make some meaning from the frequency of certain words. This is my own personal count, and I could be wrong by one or two on each word, but you get the general idea.
- Fiend = 5 times (if we consider Holden a Christ figure, he probably needs to confront the devil at least once).
- Madman = 16 times
- Crazy = 77 times
- Depress = 50 times
- Alone = 18 times
- Lonesome = 8 times
- Sad = 20 times
- Sorry = 35 times
- Suicide = 6 times
- Goddam [sic] = 245
- God = 321 (this includes goddamn) -- (quite a lot of mention of God considering that Holden considers himself mostly atheist).
- Jesus = 21 times (pay special attention to when Ackley says Jesus when he sees Holden's head wound [bloody nose]. Why didn't Ackley use another interjection? Can more be read into this Jesus than just an interjection?)
- Christ = 40 times (3 of these are Jesus Christ; 33 of these are Christmas)
- Chrissake [sic] = 32 times
- Holy = 3 times
- Hell = 281 times
- Fall = 17 times
- Death = 7 times
- Dead = 27 times
- Kill = 64 times
- Game = 40 times
- War = 48 times
- Phony = 35 Times
- Father = 36 times (remember that Holden's dad doesn't ever make a personal appearance in the novel, yet the word father is printed 36 times. This might be a good place to do some thinking).
"Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too" from How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster.
- Here is the checklist that Thomas C. Foster offers with some comments that we came up with in class:
  - crucified, wound in hands, feet, side, and head
    - Holden has a wounded hand. "My hand still hurts me once in a while."
    - He gets punched in the stomach.
    - His head is bleeding after Stradlater fights with him. Holden walks into Ackley's room with blood dripping on his face. There is a light shining behind his head. We might picture a halo. Holden turns on the light, and the first word Ackley says is "Jesus!"
  - in agony
    - we can argue that Holden is agony
  - self-sacrificing
    - we can argue this also. Some students in class pointed to the different items that Holden offers to others. Some of us talked about his actions with Stradlater and Maurice.
  - good with children
    - He wants to catch / save them from falling. Plus, he helps children in many different places in the novel. Think about his experience at the museum. Think about the end of the novel and the writing on the wall.
  - good with loaves, fishes, water, wine
    - some students pointed to his drinking. Some tried to tie the duck and fish conversation. One insightful student questioned the Rye in the title and the song.
  - thirty-three years of age when last seen
    - This is a stretch, but someone pointed to Holden being about 16 1/2. It is a nice number, but probably wouldn't be good support for a paper.
  - employed as carpenter
    - No one was able to get this one to work.
  - known to use humble modes of transportation, feet or donkeys peferred
    - Holden certainly is moving about on foot.
  - believed to have walked on water
    - A couple students pointed to the passage of Holden ice skating
  - often portrayed with arms outstretched
    - No one was able to find a passage. Someone suggested that his arms might be outstretched when Stradlater is kneeling on him, but J.D. Salinger never uses any words or images to make this absolute.
  - known to have spent time alone in the wilderness
    - students said that New York works as a metaphorical wilderness
  - believed to have had a confrontation with the devil, possibly tempted
    - Students point to the passages where the word fiend is used.
  - last seen in the company of thieves
    - Yes. The people at the hotel.
  - creator of many aphorisms and parables
    - No one in class came up with anything for this one.
  - buried, but arose on the third day
    - Holden's journey is three days long. Some students were dealing buried as a metaphor. Holden is buried with depression and angst. On the third day, thanks to Phoebe, he comes out of it.
  - had disciples
    - no, unless we consider Phoebe to be one in some way
  - very forgiving
    - Holden says at the very end, "I sort of miss everybody I told about. Even old Stradlater and Ackley, for instance. I think I even miss that goddam Maurice." It seems as if he has forgiven these people.
  - came to redeem an unworthy world
    - He is not succesful, but Holden certain wishes he could redeem the world that he perceives as being unworthy.
What's in a name?
- Earnest & Ernie (Short for Earnest)
- Faith
- Holden (Hold on.)
- Sunny
- Phoebe -- Bright, prophetic
- Caulfield -- Caul

Resources:

Index
"Searching for Salinger" -- This story comes from TheStory.org. It was broadcast on NPR.
- Here is the website for the story.
Wikipedia entry for Cultural References to Catcher in the Rye.

Recommended Films / Books:

Igby Goes Down
Chapter 27
The Killing of John Lennon
Into the Wild -- A real Holden character. He tries survive away from everyone.
King Dork by Frank Portman -- Read this passage about Holden, Jane Gallagher, and giving someone the time.