Catcher In The Rye
Kayla,Jackie,and Paris
Thesis on J.D Salinger
Although J.D Salinger was known as a great American author who wrote about his characters with vivid detail, his personal lifestyle differed from what is considered normal and many similarities can be seen between himself and the main character
Holden Caufield.
Questions:
1.How might World War II have affected J.D. Salinger and his writing?
~At war he saw a lot of combat action which scarred him emotionally. He wrote about his war time experiences in a lot of his writing. He was hospitalized for post traumatic war stress. The things that he seen at war impacted how vividly he wrote his stories. Also, Salinger met Ernest Hemmingway while at war. Hemmingway gave Salinger advice.
2. Describe Salinger's lifestyle.
~He lived really isolated. He didnt like to be around people. Even his kids had to live in isolation. He also really liked younger women. He wrote many books but did not have them published. However, between 2015 and 2020, 5 of them are rumored to be released. He lived in a secluded, 90-acre place in Cornish, New Hampshire. Salinger died at the age of 91 on January 27th, 2010.
3.What is ironic about the author's own son, Matt Salinger?
~What is ironic about Matt Salinger is that he works in a field that his dad finds “phony" and annoying. Matt Salinger is an actor who has starred in well-known movies such as“Revenge of the Nerds" and "Captain America.”
4.How does Salinger's biography contribute to an understanding of Holden Caufield?
~Salinger and Holden had very similar childhoods. Holden and Salinger both lack relationships with their parents and are both sent to boarding school. Salinger and Holden both have infatuations with younger women. Salinger actually tried to be with younger women, Holden liked to hold on to memories of a younger Jane.
5.Why isn't there a movie version of Catcher in the Rye?
~There isn't a movie version of The Catcher In The Rye because he didn't want to ruin the story. Salinger felt that there would be no person other than himself to portray Holden.
6.If there were a movie version, what modern day actors would play the main characters and why?
Andrew Garfield as Holden Caufield.
Zooey Deschanel as Jane
Michael Cera as Ackley
Young Dakota Fanning as Phobe
Phoebe and a younger Dakota Fanning can relate because they are smart girls who people liked to be around and talk to.
Zac Efron as Stradlater
Zac Efron would be a good portrayal for Stradlater because he is known as being the popular guy in Hollywood. He is the good looking guy like Stradlater that girls want to be with and guys want to be.
7.How might Salinger's relationships have affected his novel? Think of specifics about his relationships when addressing this question. His own family, friendships, romantic relations, etc.
~Salinger based a lot of his characters on people he knew in real life. Phoebe was based of a woman he was having an affair with and wanted to protect. Jane was also based off of a prior love interest who he had to leave behind at war. Also. He was very kept up in his work which neglected him from his family.
Matt Salinger
Joyce Maynard
Margaret Salinger
Textural Evidence.
1. " In my mind, I'm probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw" (p.62)
Much like Holden. J.D Salinger was very intrested in sex and girls, it was one of the only things he pubicly showed intrest in.
2. " I just decided I didn't want to hang around anymore. It made me too sad and lonesome" (p.51)
J.D Salinger shared this with Holden in the sense that he didn't like to be around other people and perferred to spend time alone writing and reading.
3. " Girls with their legs crossed, girls with their legs not crossed, girls with terrific legs, girls with lousy legs, girls that look like swell girls, girls that looked like they'd be bitches if you knew them." (p. 123)
This shows more of a diffrence between Holden and Salinger. Where Holden liked girls for anything and everything, Salinger preferred younger women. However, it still shows Salingers great intrest in girls by describing them in great detail.
Quiz!
1. True/False: J.D Salinger was hospitialized for post-traumatic stress.
2. True/False: J.D Salinger was on his own during the war.
3: True/False: Salinger wrote many books that were never published.
4: Short Answer: What two movies did Matt Salinger star in.
5: True/False: Salinger died at 83 years old.
6: True/Fasle: Salinger and Holden both have infatuations with older women.
7: True/False: Salinger didn't want to make a movie because it would ruin the story.
8: True/False: The only person Salinger felt could really play Holden was his son.
9: True/False: One of Salinger ex's wrote a book on living with Salinger.
10: Short Answer: Why do you think J.D Salingers daughter disliked him so much?
Ouiz Answers!
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. " Revenge of the Nerds" and "Captin America"
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. False
9. True
10. Opinion question.