The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Create a Holden Caulfield Factfile
Name: Holden Caulfield
Age: 16 at time of novel
Parents: Mr & Mrs Caulfield
Brothers/Sisters: D.B, Allie (Deceased)
Educational Highscool dropout
Background:
Key Features of: Turbulent, Volatile, Protective
Likes: Reading, Smoking
Dislikes:
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Social, Historical and Cultural Context
Social Context The society in which the novel takes place and how it influenced the
characters’ lives.
Historical Context: What historical events took place during the time when the novel is set and
how they influenced the characters’ lives.
Cultural Context: What major cultural movements were happening at the time the novel is
set and how they influenced the characters’ lives.
Important Points
The book is set just after the Second World War in America. It was published in serial form
between 1945 and 1946.
America was becoming a much more materialistic society.
Americans believed (as many still do) that they lived in the greatest country in the world.
Many Americans were very conservative and mistrusted anything that was different, so there
was a great pressure for everyone to conform and behave like everyone else.
Many Americans mistrusted anyone who didn’t believe America was the greatest country.
The Cold War with Russia had begun and people were increasingly afraid of Communism.
Before the 1950s teenagers had no distinct identity but generally obeyed their parents.
In the 1950s teenagers began to form their own individual identity and speak up about their
views, even if they clashed with society or their parents. This was known as ‘the rise of the
teenager’.
The 1950s saw rebellious teens portrayed in films such as James Dean in ‘Rebel Without a
Cause’ or Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One.’ Rock ‘n’ roll also came into fashion.
Culture was influenced by new inventions like the hula-hoop (not the crisps), the photocopier
and other things we now take for granted.
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Themes & Quotes
Theme Quotes
Holden seeing world as phoney
Failure to connect
Innocence
Holden’s view of sex
Depression
Holden’s view of Allie
Holden’s view of Allie’s death
Holden’s view of Phoebe
Holden’s lies
Holden’s fantasy world
Holden contradicting himself
Holden as an outsider
Holden’s view of Jane
Holden losing control of his actions
Holden being immature
Holden not wanting things to change
Holden being impulsive
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
How others see Holden
Relationship to
Name View of Holden
Holden
Mr Spencer
Mrs Morrow
Stradlater
Ackley
Phoebe
Sally
Carl
Faith Cavendish
Maurice
The prostitute
Carl
Jane’s Mum
Mr Antolini
Taxi Driver 1
Taxi Driver 2
Girls in the
Lavender Room
Barman in the
Lavender Room
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
The language of The Catcher in the Rye
Features of spoken language Examples found
Use of slang
Use of a looser sentence style ‘What I have to do, I have to …’
Use of repetition
Use of demonstrative adjectives ‘these little kids’
Use of informal connectives and filler ‘Anyway, I mean’
words
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Mental instability
Event Effect on Holden How can you tell?
Death of Allie
Disliking parents
Attending several different
private schools
Being alone in New York
City
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Holden’s Guide to Life
In your books create a Guide to Life written from the point of view of Holden, to tell people about
his thoughts on life.
Things you should mention:
Views on being phoney
Views on parents
Views on children
Views on life in the city
Views on how to treat others
Views on private schools
Views on love
Views on sex
Views on making things up
Views on the movies
Views on his brother
Psychiatrist’s Report on Holden
Imagine you are a doctor seeing Holden in hospital at the beginning of the book. Write a report on
the patient’s general medical condition and how he has been affected by the following:
The death of his brother
Being sent to various different schools
Not getting on with his parents
Being unable to become an adult
Being alone in New York City
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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Essay Titles:
1. Why does Holden leave Pencey Prep?
2. How does New York affect Holden’s mental condition?
3. How does Salinger make Holden into a believable character?
4. Comment on how Holden sees life.
5. What do you think are the reasons for Holden’s breakdown?
6. What does the novel tell us about school?
7. How does Holden’s way of telling his story affect our response?
8. Holden tries hard to act ‘grown up’ in the novel. Does he succeed?
9. Why is Jane Gallagher an important character in the novel?
10. Do you think Phoebe helps Holden to face his parents?
11. Why can’t Holden fit in, whether in school or in New York?
12. Do you sympathise with Holden?
13. ‘All Holden’s experiences with the opposite sex are negative.’ Do you agree?
14. Why is Phoebe an important character in the novel?
15. Does Holden change at all during the course of the novel?
16. How does Holden see the adult characters in the novel?
17. How does Salinger present the problems of teenagers?
18. ‘Holden doesn’t really know himself at all.’ Do you agree?
19. How does Allie’s death affect Holden?
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