Catcher In The RyeCatcher In The Rye

ThemesThemes

ThemesThemes What do you think are the main themes in the What do you think are the main themes in the

novel?novel? RelationshipsRelationships Growing up / Innocence and ChildhoodGrowing up / Innocence and Childhood The individual versus societyThe individual versus society The effect of the environmentThe effect of the environment Honesty and IntegrityHonesty and Integrity

How are these themes are revealed to the How are these themes are revealed to the reader?reader?

RelationshipsRelationships

Holden as an outsiderHolden as an outsider

Adults and ParentsAdults and Parents

Pency PrepPency Prep

LonelinessLoneliness

Attempting to befriend people he meetsAttempting to befriend people he meets

RelationshipsRelationships

Meaningful conversationsMeaningful conversations

Being disappointed by interactionsBeing disappointed by interactions

Frequently misunderstood / fails to make Frequently misunderstood / fails to make himself understoodhimself understood

Relationships in the pastRelationships in the past

‘‘Bildungsroman’Bildungsroman’ A novel which traditionally explores the A novel which traditionally explores the

transition between adolescence and transition between adolescence and adulthood adulthood

Salinger subverts this by not giving us an Salinger subverts this by not giving us an affirmation of Holden’s maturity at the end affirmation of Holden’s maturity at the end of the novelof the novel

At end of novel Holden regains faith in At end of novel Holden regains faith in childhood innocence, which implies a kind childhood innocence, which implies a kind of salvationof salvation

Growing up / Innocence and Growing up / Innocence and ChildhoodChildhood

The transition between adolescence and The transition between adolescence and adulthoodadulthood

Holden sees adult world as superficialHolden sees adult world as superficial

Allie, Phoebe and JaneAllie, Phoebe and Jane

Holden’s childlike qualitiesHolden’s childlike qualities

Fantasy and RealityFantasy and Reality

The individual versus societyThe individual versus society

Pressure to conformPressure to conform

The values of schoolThe values of school

New York peopleNew York people

Materialism Materialism (obsession with possessions)(obsession with possessions)

The effect of the environmentThe effect of the environment Holden experiences three different environments Holden experiences three different environments

throughout the novel:throughout the novel: Pency Prep, New York City and his homePency Prep, New York City and his home..

He tries to escape from each at some pointHe tries to escape from each at some point One of Holden’s paradoxsOne of Holden’s paradoxs He desires to be somewhere, but quickly He desires to be somewhere, but quickly

becomes claustrophobic and has to leavebecomes claustrophobic and has to leave What does this show us about Holden?What does this show us about Holden? That he cannot escape from himselfThat he cannot escape from himself

The effect of the environmentThe effect of the environment

Pency PrepPency Prep

New York CityNew York City

HomeHome

Honesty and IntegrityHonesty and Integrity Holden’s obsession with ‘phonies’Holden’s obsession with ‘phonies’ Who does Holden see as a phony?Who does Holden see as a phony? Just about everyoneJust about everyone

Who does Holden see as honest?Who does Holden see as honest?

Nuns, Phoebe, JaneNuns, Phoebe, Jane

Links to theme of innocence / childhoodLinks to theme of innocence / childhood