The Catcher in the Rye

J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye is J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel of post-war alienation told by angst-ridden teen Holden Caulfield. Controversial at the time of publication for its frank language, it was an instant best-seller, and remains beloved by both teens and adults. Read a character analysis of Holden, plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Catcher in the Rye and in-depth analyses of Holden Caulfield, Phoebe Caulfield, Mr. Antolini, Mr. Spencer, Stradlater, and Carl Luce.

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Quotes

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Further Study

Test your knowledge of The Catcher in the Rye with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.

Writing Help

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Teacher's Handbook

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