The Catcher in the Rye: Chapters 6-11

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

In the first Related Lesson, found in the right-hand sidebar, you met the narrator and the protagonist — the main character — of The Catcher in the Rye, during his final Saturday at Pencey Prep.

In your notes, write down a brief description of Holden Caulfield.

• How would you describe his actions and his personality?

Write a paragraph on your impression of Caulfield. Then, compare your thinking to the sample paragraph below.

Although readers are often divided over whether they like or hate Caulfield as a character, many critics see Caulfield as a representative of the emerging teenage culture post-World War II and the restlessness that lay below the surface of the seeming conformity of the post-war era.

To learn more about Caulfield's character, read The Catcher in the Rye: The Voice of Alienation.

After reading, answer these questions.

• Why is Holden Caulfield frequently compared to Huck Finn?
• What commentary did Caulfield provide on the "culture of consensus" of the 1950s?
• How does Caulfield approach his impending adulthood?

• How do you feel about transitioning from childhood into adulthood?

When you are ready, read Chapters 6 through 11 in The Catcher in the Rye.

It would be best to obtain a print copy of the novel, which you can find in a local bookstore or library.

However, if you simply do not have access, you may use this online version of The Catcher in the Rye. It is important to note that this novel will be under copyright protection until 2080, so copies of the complete text are only permitted for educational purposes.

As you read, take notes on the new people Caulfield meets in these chapters and his assessment of their personality.

When you've finished reading, move to the Got It? section to explore the issues raised in these chapters in more depth.