The document provides an in-depth summary and analysis of the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. It describes the plot, characters, themes, and symbols in the book. Specifically, it discusses the story from the perspective of the protagonist Holden Caulfield and his experiences after getting expelled from school. It also analyzes Holden's views on the "phoniness" of the adult world and his desire to protect children from its influence.

1. A report by: Carlos V. Ronquillo

2. 


I don’t read that often, but if I find a book that
I get interested in, it gets hard to make me
stop reading.
I mostly read fantasy, sci-fi and fiction books
but again, if the book interests me I can sort
of read any kind of book.
My favourite books would definitely have to
be the series of A Song of Ice and Fire.

3. 
In my opinion, literature would have to be any
form of writing that would be captivating
enough for me to read, understand, enjoy
and maybe learn from. Although other works
may be considered literature by others, for
me if the text is not understandable I
wouldn’t even consider it to be literature.
(Although that’s a bad opinion it’s the truth in
my case)

4. 
I found this book to be a work of literature
since it was very understandable and
provided a point of view that isn’t shown very
often. It changed my perspective on some
things (can’t say what.) And although on the
outside this book appears to just be about a
teenager and his problems, if you actually
paid attention to what you were reading, you
might figure out that there is more to it than
meets the eye.

5. 

I read it once before, but never really quite
understood its significance. Now seemed like
a good opportunity to actually finish the
novel and analyze it.
I remember slightly changing the way that I
acted after this book because for a while I
actually looked up to the main character.

6. 
J.D. Salinger was an American writer who
mainly wrote short stories but rose to fame
after the publication of his book “The Catcher
in the Rye.” However he had a relatively
troubled life even after all the fame, with his
first wife being somewhat crazy after the
birth of his daughter. He is survived by his
daughter Margaret Salinger

7. 

A 1951 novel by author J.D. Salinger that was
surprisingly meant to be for older audiences
but became popular with the younger ones.
Basically it’s about a young adolescent;
Holden Caulfield who like many teenagers,
feels that it’s him against the world. He drops
out of school and goes to New York and (I’d
hate to say it but) more or less finds himself.

8. 

Time: 1950’s
Place: Rest home in California, Pencey Prep in
Agerstown Pennsylvania and New York City

9. 
Exposition
▪ Holden is introduced as an intelligent but lazy student.
This is evident by him already stating that he had
dropped out of schools and will drop out of his current
school. He gets into a fight with his room-mate and
looses which appears to influence his decision to simply
go to New York.

10. 
Rising Action(s)
▪ Holden has many experiences in New York City which
eventually lead him to his breakdown. He goes out on a
date, watches a Christmas show, watches a movie,
drinks and breaks a gift that he got for his sister.

11. 
Climax
▪ When Holden realizes that he wants to be a “catcher in
the rye” or someone that saves children from the evils of
adulthood. Holden decides to go home at this point.

12. 
Falling Action
▪ Holden visits his former old teacher; Mr. Antolini who
offers him advice in life but is (in my opinion) a bit
sketchy as he offers Holden drinks. Holden wakes up to
Mr. Antolini making advances towards him and hurriedly
leaves.

13. 
Resolution
▪ Holden goes home and experiences a mental
breakdown. He is then sent to a psychiatric hospital in
California for treatment.

14. 
Holden Caulfield
The sixteen year-old narrator whose
experiences form the action of the novel. He
seems to have a history of expulsion and
failure at various prep schools because of his
inability to adjust to institutional life and the
world in general.

15. 
Phoebe
Holden’s younger sister, whom he loves and
respects completely. She is ten, but very clever
and passionate. Throughout the book, Holden
thinks Phoebe is the only person in the world
who understands and loves him completely.
Towards the end of the plot, he is disappointed
that Phoebe scolds him for being expelled from
school and questions what he is going to do with
his life. She makes it up to him, however, when
she packs her suitcase and wants to run away
with him.

16. 
Allie
Holden’s younger brother who died of
leukemia on July 18, 1946. Allie was
extremely close to Holden, and Holden
believes that Allie was "about fifty times as
intelligent" as anyone Holden has ever
known. Allie had a fielder’s mitt that he had
written poems all over in green ink, to give
him something to read when he was in the
outfield all alone.

17. 
Mr. Antolini
Holden’s English teacher from Elkton Hills
who is now teaching at New York University.
Holden holds him in the highest regard and
believes him to be a guardian of morality. In
his hour of need, Holden goes to Mr. Antolini
for help but woke up to what appeared to be
sexual advances.

18. 
Ward Stradlater
Holden’s roommate at Pencey Prep who is
fairly conceited. He is a good-looking prep
school athlete with a history of having sex
with girls. He has a date with Holden’s long
time crush in the beginning of the novel and
fights with Holden when he returns from that
date.

19. 
Robert Ackley
A boy who stays in the room next to Holden’s
at Pencey Prep. He is, according to Holden, a
"terrific bore" and a "slob" in personal
hygiene. However, Holden is in his own way
quite sympathetic toward Ackley and at times
even seeks his company.

20. 

Maurice
The elevator operator at the hotel in which
Holden stays. He is also a pimp.
Sunny
The young prostitute that Maurice sends to
Holden room. Though she seems very young,
she is very businesslike and smart. Holden
does not have sex with her but instead seems
to view her as a person instead of an object to
have sex with.

21. 
Man vs Himself
 Holden appears to view himself as being better
than others. Although he clearly has problems it
seems that he fails to recognize them until later
on.

22. 
The story is told in the first person point of
view.
▪ This point of view is of great importance because it
gives people insight as to what Holden would be
thinking and feeling while the events unfold before him.
It helps you to somewhat empathize with him and also
analyze what might be going on “in between the lines.”

23. 
The catcher in the rye
▪ This metaphor is derived from the song “Comin’ Thro
the Rye.” It describes a “catcher” in a rye field who stops
children from running off the cliff that the rye field is on.
Holden thinks that this is his job in the future with him
the edge of the cliff symbolizing the “phoniness” of
adulthood.

24. 
The Red Hunting Hat
▪ Many times in the novel Holden points out that he is
conscious about his hat and its’ appearance but for some
reason still wears it. This could symbolize Holden’s
longing for companionship but his resistance to it as
well.

25. 
In my opinion the theme of this the
“phoniness” of the world (especially the adult
world)
▪ Phony is probably the most popular word from the
novel. Holden always observes the “phoniness” around
him especially in adults. An interesting point though is
that although he seems to be very good at recognizing
other people’s “phoniness,” he can’t seem to find his
own faults. It appears as though he thinks that he’s right
or benevolent in almost everything. He uses this as an
excuse to be even more isolated from the world.