"The Catcher in the Rye" was written by J.D. Salinger and published in 1951. The book was very controversial. Its foul language offended many people. The frequent talk of sex and the chapter involving prostitution shocked and horrified people. They felt these subjects had no place in literature and were especially inappropriate for adolescents. It offered little promise for its readers and was a sad depiction of youth. It's main character was a seventeen-year-old boy that was expelled from school and was extremely cynical about the world around him. On top of this, the book called adults "phonies".
Because of the way "The Catcher in the Rye" has continued to make people uncomfortable and infuriated at J.D. Salinger's literary voice, it has been near the top of the banned books list since its publication. Schools across the country have neglected to teach it because of adversity from parents and the community. Its relevance has been challenged repeatedly and it has often been referred to as "outdated" and "useless".
"The Catcher in the Rye" was even at the center of the controversy surrounding John Lennon's assassination in 1980. His assassin, Mark David Chapman, felt that the book spoke to him and he was convinced that Lennon was a "phony". When he was arrested, police officials noted that he was carrying a copy of "The Catcher in the Rye" with him.
The book has acquired quite a reputation over the years since its publication. Now,
it's your turn. How will you defend the book? How can you convince
parents that "The Catcher in the Rye" belongs in the classroom?
Task and Process: What are you doing and how will you do it?
Evaluation: How will you be graded?
Resources: Where can you find materials to help you?
End Note: Want more? What have you learned and where can you go next?