The Catcher In The Rye

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger is written in the voice of Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old from an affluent family who is recalling a few days spent in New York City before Christmas. This book is distinctive because it is written from the point of view of the main character, including all his thoughts and ideas about the world around him. Students can explore this street scene to identify the main settings within the book and understand the importance of symbolism within the book.

# Learning objectives

1: To understand the context of the novel The Catcher in the Rye.{.info}

2: To describe key characteristics of the main character Holden Caulfield.{.info}

3: To understand the importance of symbols of childhood within the book.{.info}

# Context and Setting{.objective .objective1}

In this section students can learn that the book recalls events that take place over a long weekend just before Christmas in the late 1940s. In this activity students are asked to enter the scene and to describe the environment.

# Main character: Holden Caulfield{.objective .objective2}

In this section we meet all the characters and see all the events through Holden Caulfield’s perspective. His thoughts are unfiltered, which can seem chaotic at times. Students are asked to enter the scene and find the character sat on the bench. What do we know about Holden Caulfield by reading the novel?

# Symbols of Childhood{.objective .objective3}

In this section Holden has an idealised view of childhood and he really wants to preserve childhood innocence. Holden is on the cusp of moving into adulthood, and he seems conflicted about this. Students should look for symbols of childhood. What happens to Holden when he sees his younger sister Phoebe on the carousel.

# Teacher Resources

Download Teacher Notes

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/790471/files/Catcher%20in+the+Rye+Teacher+Notes+1.pdf?date=1675176658&size=1344488&md5=3c120fc4a12ec302525b60a9df0599e8)

Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/790474/files/Catcher%20in+the+Rye+Teacher+Notes+2.pdf?date=1675176776&size=787519&md5=79ac73f778cdc0d2670e7bc64ee93210)

Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/790475/files/Catcher%20in+the+Rye+Teacher+Notes+3.pdf?date=1675176880&size=81821&md5=aa3ad7b811f832508f9a7593107fd55a)