Theme Essay Prompts:
1. Non-conformity: How is Holden Caulfield a non-conformist? Do you think he is a misfit, or is society the problem? 2. Growing up: Holden Caulfield is a teenager struggling to grow up and find his place in the world. How does Holden struggle with being a man? Track how Holden has changed throughout the novel. Do you think he has grown up by the end of the book? 3. Innocence: Holden is very concerned about the world corrupting his innocence and the innocence of others. How has Holden defended the innocence of others, and when has his own innocence been under attack? Does the novel end on a hopeless note, or a positive one with regards to Holden and the subject of innocence? 4. Holden’s health: Throughout the novel it becomes clear that Holden is growing more and more unstable. Describe how Holden’s mental and physical health deteriorates. In the end, do you think Holden recovers? 5. Self-image: Holden’s image of himself changes throughout the book, from being lost, to being a “man about town,” to being a “catcher in the rye.” By the end of the novel, is he still delusional, or is he accepting reality? |