1. You are an investigative reporter for the New York Times, assigned to look into charges of impropriety at prestigious area prep schools. Choose three characters from the novel and write an interview with them, including your questions as well as their responses. Have friends read the parts of the […]
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1. Discuss the novel as a coming-of-age story. How does Holden’s character change during the course of the novel? 2. Consider one of the following as symbols: the gold ring, Pencey Prep, or Holden’s hunting cap. 3. Discuss the theme of death in the novel, citing specific events or passages. […]
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aces first-rate; expert. Here, Holden uses the term sarcastically to Ackley. affected behaving in an artificial way to impress people. Annapolis the capital of Maryland and location of the United States Naval Academy. asthma a generally chronic disorder characterized by wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and a suffocating feeling, caused […]
Read more Study Help Full GlossaryCritical Essays Major Symbols
Preparatory School Life A literary symbol is something, often an object, that stands for a significant concept or series of ideas. Sometimes it is emblematic of the values of the characters. Some of the most important symbols in The Catcher in the Rye are outlined in the following sections. Pencey […]
Read more Critical Essays Major SymbolsCritical Essays Major Themes
Innocence Themes in literary works are recurring, unifying subjects or ideas, motifs that allow us to understand more deeply the characters and their world. In The Catcher in the Rye, the major themes reflect the values and motivations of the characters. Some of these themes are outlined in the following […]
Read more Critical Essays Major ThemesJ.D. Salinger Biography
Personal Background Jerome David (J.D.) Salinger, whose nickname as a child was “Sonny,” was born on New Year’s Day 1919, in New York, New York, the second and last child of Sol and Marie (Miriam) Jillich Salinger. He had a sister, Doris, eight years older. Salinger’s father, a successful importer […]
Read more J.D. Salinger BiographyCharacter Analysis Mr. Antolini
One of the more controversial characters in the novel, Mr. Antolini was Holden’s favorite teacher at Elkton Hills. Holden admires and respects him because Antolini is not only intellectual and perceptive, but he has a heart. When James Castle committed suicide, it was Antolini who carried his bloody, broken body […]
Read more Character Analysis Mr. AntoliniCharacter Analysis D.B.
Holden’s older brother is one representative of the aesthetic theme of the genuine artist who sells out. Holden feels that D.B. was a truly “terrific” short-story writer before going to Hollywood to write scripts, drive Jaguars, date gorgeous women, and make money. “The Secret Goldfish,” a story about a kid […]
Read more Character Analysis D.B.Character Analysis Allie
Although he has been dead for about three years, Allie is a mystic presence in the novel. Holden thinks of him often and speaks to him when things are darkest in his life. Allie is associated with the theme of death, but his role is not that simple. He also […]
Read more Character Analysis AllieCharacter Analysis Phoebe
Holden’s 10-year-old sister, Phoebe, is bright, pretty, mature beyond her years, sane, and his most trusted link to family. She has red hair and is “roller-skate skinny,” a metaphor that, Salinger seems to be saying, is like jazz; you either understand it when you hear it, or you never will. […]
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