CliffsNotes on Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

by Stanley P. Baldwin

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The Catcher in the Rye introduces you to a coming-of-age novel with a twist. J.D. Salinger's best-known work is more realistic, more lifelike and authentic than some other representatives of the genre. Get to know the unforgettable main character, Holden Caulfield, as he navigates the dangers and risks of growing up.

This study guide enables you to keep up with all of the major themes and symbols of the novel, as well as the characters and plot. You'll also find valuable information about Salinger's life and background. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of major players A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays A review section that tests your knowledge A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics

135 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2000

About the author

Stanley P. Baldwin (born 1942) is a writer and teacher, currently living in Nebraska. He is a frequent contributor to scholarly series as SparkNotes and CliffsNotes. He wrote about Beowulf and many others in the latter series, and J.R.R. Tolkien in the former.

Reviews

[Manguins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts
As always, I enjoy CliffNotes to enhance my own experience with the actual book. I particularly enjoy learning the historical context that impacted this novel, as well as which of Salinger's own personal experiences which shaped The Catcher in the Rye.


Quotes
But for the most part, Salinger tried to dissuade any republishing of these [earlier] works. As he said in a rare interview with the New York Times in 1974, he preferred that such inferior efforts "die a perfectly natural death." (3)

Perhaps readers appreciate Holden more because he is not a perfect "hero." Certainly we are attracted to him because he has a heart. (23)


ISBN10: 0-7645-8591-6

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since The Catcher in the Rye is supposed to be a classic I thought I should acquaint myself with it, but I couldn't get more than a few pages into it because the repellant language made me put it down. It was years before I tried again...with the same result. I thought I should know more about it so I had a frame of reference when people talked about it so I hit on the idea of reading the Cliff Notes version so I had an idea what the story was about. Even in Cliff Notes I find the story repugnant. It is base and course and not worth my time. But Cliff Notes did a very good job of acquainting me with it in a brief way and helping me to understand the story. Thank you Cliff Notes for allowing me to learn about the story without having to wallow in the mire of the actual book by Salinger.

[J. S. Seebauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I am a librarian & Yes I read Cliffs Notes.

Yes I am a librarian & Yes I have never read The Catcher in the Rye.

No, I have no intention at this time of reading The Catcher in the Rye.

I picked this up as I want to read King Dork. Based on the suggestion of the individual who gave me the book, I need to have some familiarity with The Catcher in the Rye as the main character in King Dork is obsessed with the book / Holden.

I must thank Cliffs Notes / Baldwin as I believe the did an excellent job giving an overall summary as well as a chapter-by-chapter summary (both of which I read.) I didn't delve into the analysis' but I believe they too would have provided great depths of knowledge had I read / sought them.

[Jsanto45 · Rating 4 out of 5]

holdon is having troubles with himself. he wants to grow up to save the innocence of the young. every time troube comes his way he has a nack of running away from it. he was a bit yellow bwllied too. the duck by the pond represented somthing pure that was filled with innocence.

[Michael Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager I found this a wonderful pal of a book. I also loved the "casual" way Salinger wrote: he gave me a sense that you could really describe the world the way you saw it. You didn't have to write in a "formal" manner to convey the truth

[Katy Kavanagh Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just added this to be funny.

[Eliza Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes no sense but the Cliffs Notes at least help you understand enough to be able to write a paper on the book and still get an A-, as I did in 10th grade English class.

[Satbir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holden Caulfield....you're dissatisfied with everything ....you hate everyone....but I loved you ....you made me laugh like a madman. Crazy sense of humor...Kudos! what a book!

[Courteney-lisa]

awesome

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the children see beyond the rye and... don't be a phonie ;)

[Satbir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holden Caulfield....you're dissatisfied with everything ....you hate everyone....but I loved you ....you made me laugh like a madman. Crazy sense of humor...Kudos! what a book!