The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye

  • Submitted By: fullbulb
  • Date Submitted: 02/21/2016 6:56 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 3461
  • Page: 14

The Catcher in the Rye i a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. A controversial novel originally pubished for adults, it has sincee become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage angst and alienation. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major languages.
Around 250,000 copies are sold each year with total sales of more than 65 million books. The novel's protagonist Holdden Caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion. The novel also deals with complex issues of identity, belonging, loss, and connection.
The novel was included on Times 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923 and it was named by Modern Library and its readers as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th centuryy. In 2003, it was listed at #15 on the BBC's survey The Big Read.
Plot
Holden begins his story at Pencey Preparatory, an exclusive private school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania, on the Saturday afternoon of the traditional football game with rival school Saxon Hall. Holden ends up missing the game. He is the manager of the fencing team and loses their equipment on a New York City subway train that morning, resulting in the cancellation of a match. He goes to the home of his history teacher named Mr. Spencer. Holden has been expelled and isn't to return home until after Christmas break, which begins the following Wednesday. Spencer is a well-meaning but long-winded middle-aged man. To Holden's annoyance, Spencer reads aloud Holden's history paper, in which Holden wrote a note to Spencer so his teacher wouldn't feel bad about failing him in the subject.
Holden returns to his dorm, which is quiet because most of the students are still at the football game. Wearing the new red hunting cap he bought in New York City, he begins re-reading a book, but his distraction is temporary. First, his dorm neighbor Ackley disturbs him, although Holden is patient about it. Then later, Holden argues with his roommate Stradlater,...

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