Manuel Vasquez

English 112B

Dr. Warner

3 December 2008

Unit of Study

Adolescence and Conflict in Catcher in the Rye

Rationale:

I chose to do a unit plan on Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger because I wanted to organize a unit on Contemporary Realistic Fiction, focusing on Adolescence and Conflict. I chose this particular text because it encompasses many of the aspects of a good problem novel. The book also has several themes that young adults can relate to. In the book, Holden faces several forms of conflict that are relevant to a teenager. Holden's character and actions demonstrate the importance of dealing with problems because he constantly digs himself deeper into other forms of conflict.

Although the book includes several controversial scenes and themes, the events that surround Holden allow young adult readers to reflect on their own challenges and development. The book is an example of a bildingsroman even though Holden does not resolve many of his obstacles. Instead, the outcome of Holden's inability to take initiative in his studies and in his personal life allows the reader to reflect on his or her own real life problems and helps them consider how they should approach any calamity.

In high school, students encounter pressure from their teachers, friends, and families. Catcher in the Rye, along with the selected activities should provide students with a safe way to meditate on their personal lives. Holden is a stellar English student, but he does not put in any effort into his other subjects. By reading the poetry, writing essays and small writing tasks, and doing the other tasks in the unit plan, students will be aware of the importance of literature and how it provides a medium for expression in times of conflict. Additionally, students will meditate on conflict and how literature provides them with real life implications.

Introduction:

Begin the unit by playing The Beatles' "Nowhere Man" to engage students. This song describes an isolationist who wanders around and simply makes pointless observations about others without changing himself. The speaker in the song offers the Nowhere Man some advice, but the decision is up to the Nowhere Man. The chorus parallels Holden's apathy in life and his lack of effort. By playing this song, students should have an idea of what to expect in Catcher in the Rye.

Song: "Nowhere Man"

(By The Beatles)

He's a real nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.

Chorus:

Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, please listen,
You don't know what you're missin',
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command.

He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?

Nowhere Man, don't worry,
Take your time, don't hurry,
Leave it all 'till somebody else
lends you a hand.

(Chorus)

He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.

• Assignment: Have students search a song in which the speaker/singer deals with conflict. Have them write a one page response to the nature of the conflict and the way the speaker deals with it. Have students bring in a sample of the song to class and have them present their response. This assignment should help students begin to think about conflict and how to approach it in order to come up with a solution.

Readings:

• Assign chapters for students to read each night of the week: In addition, have students write a journal entry in their notebook every night about something that took place in the reading that they were able to relate to. It can be about anything, but the goal is for them to keep up with the readings and make connections with the themes of the novel.

• Quizzes: Each day at the beginning of the class, have students take a 10 question quiz composed of true or false and multiple choice questions so that students will be responsible for the readings.

• Group Discussions: Leave short answer questions for discussion; split the class into groups and assign each one a question based on the reading so that quizzes are fair and so that students learn from each other during the group discussions.

Lecture on Conflict:

In order to assist students and their analysis of the book, discuss the different types of conflict and motivation:

Conflict:

1. External Conflict

• Struggle against nature
• Struggle against society
• Struggle against fate
• Struggle against another person

2. Internal Conflict

• Struggle against self

Motivation:

• The reasons, justifications, and explanations for the action of a character.
• Combination of moral nature with the circumstances.
• Determines action, speech, emotion, or lack of emotion.

(Definitions taken from A Handbook to Literature by Harmon and Holman)

• Assignment: On a sheet of paper, have students identify an example of each of the different types of conflict in Catcher in the Rye – wherever possible. By summarizing the scene and explaining why it connects to the particular form of conflict, they should be able to understand each of the forms of conflict and analyze the way Holden responds to them.

Letter to Holden:

Students will be able to analyze the conflict in the text by writing a personal letter to Holden. Since by this time, they have already identified the way conflict affects Holden, they can select one of the examples they summarized and use it in this assignment. The point of this assignment is to make a personal connection with the text and think about ways to overcome challenges. By offering Holden a piece of advice from their own life experience, they will reflect on their past experiences and think about future decisions.

1. Choose a particular scene where Holden faces one of the forms of conflict and

acts in a questionable way.

2. Start with a proper address to Holden and summarize the scene. (3-4 sentences)

3. Tie the event with the larger "conflict" or struggle. Explain to Holden why you think

he is acting the way he is; think about what it is going on in his life at the time.

(4-5 sentences)

4. Write about a similar experience from your own life and give Holden an alternative

or a piece of advice. (5-6 sentences)

5. Tie your suggestion to a larger context that relates to overcoming the form of

conflict that Holden and you went through. (2-3 sentences)

6. End your letter.

Poetry:

The selected poems are about isolation and death. Holden handles both of these as he wanders through New York and deals with the death of his brother. Both of the speakers in these poems turn detrimental experiences into positive ones, so have students read and discuss the poems and think how Holden could have improved his situation at Pency or moved passed his attachment to childhood and innocence.

"I'm nobody! Who are you?"
(By Emily Dickinson)

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

"A Poison Tree"

(By William Blake)

I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole.
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see,
My foe outstretchd beneath the tree.

• Assignment: In the book, Holden's brother is a writer, and Holden demonstrates an interest in literature. Discuss how writing is vital in expressing emotions and have students write their own poems about any conflict they face in life.

Finding Forrester

Viewing Finding Forrester gives students a visual experience that will allow them to see conflict from a different perspective. In the film, Jamal Wallace struggles with his peers and his teacher. Not only does he struggle when he attends a school where the student population is of a different socioeconomic class, but he must stay focus in the athletic department. Jamal faces multiple forms of conflict, but he does his best to excel in his new school. As a talented writer, he expresses himself through his writing, so students will see a more positive individual compared to Holden.

• Assignment: Have students write a one-page response in which they compare and contrast the forms of conflict present in Holden and Jamal's lives and explain how the two characters overcome their obstacles.

Ann Turner Article

In her article "Writing from the Broken Places," Ann Turner talks about the benefit in revisiting past experiences that were painful or challenging. She discusses the courage it takes to revisit the past and the process in writing about personal experiences in order to meditate on one's present state.

• Assignment: Students can write a memoir or a short story about a particular event in their life that proved to be either challenging or life changing.

Censorship and the Importance of Literature

Have students visit Banned Books Online by going to <http://digital.library.upenn.edu/ books/banned-books.html>. Have students look at the lists of previously banned books and make a list of books they have read that have been banned at one point. Discuss the reasons for the controversy over the specific books. After reading Catcher in the Rye, have students discuss the controversial themes in the book and how the book has helped them think about adolescence, conflict, making decisions, and using writing as a tool for expression and meditation. Have students consider why parents want to ban books in the first place; discuss the fears that parents have. In addition, have students talk about the benefits of books with controversial themes. This can be done over a class discussion, and the goal is to have students reflect on the entire unit and how literature and writing helps them manage the obstacles they face in life in a safe and cathartic perspective.

Essay

For a final project, have students write an essay (either five paragraphs or 4-5 pages) on of the following topics. Both of these prompts focus on the discussions of conflict and the process of overcoming difficulties:

• Holden finds himself in a difficult time in his life when he does not put in any effort into his studies. To make matters worse, he avoids going home to face his parents, who are absent in Holden's life throughout the book. Write an essay in which you discuss whether Holden is a victim of neglect (from his parents or society) or if he is responsible for his own predicaments.

• Write an essay in which you compare and contrast Holden's attitude in Catcher in the Rye and Jamal Wallace's in Finding Forrester. How are they alike and how are they different (consider what resources they have and what sort(s) of conflict they both face). Whom do you think is the stronger character and why?

Other books to pair with Catcher in the Rye:

If the school district permits these books to be read by students, consider expanding the unit by reading one of these books. If time does not permit, or if there is a set reading list, these books are worth recommending to students because they are examples of contemporary realistic fiction in which the characters face real life situations; they also contain controversial themes and situations, but like Catcher in the Rye, the reader will benefit form the way the characters explore their options in resolving difficult situations.

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Chbosky's book is about a teenager named Charlie who faces issues related to

adolescence, abuse, isolation, and teenage sexuality. The story is told through a series of letters written by Charlie because he is too shy and introverted. The book touches on several controversial topics, but critics argue that the book has a positive effect on youths.

2. Rule of the Bone by Russel Banks

This book is about a fourteen year old boy who drops out of high school and befriends a Jamaican illegal immigrant. Chappie, the main character, moves to Jamaica and faces some challenges when he lives with a group of rebels who are immersed with drug and sexual abuse.

3. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is about a young high school girl who struggles with the memory of being raped. She faces tension within herself and with those around her, and the book is a good example of how adolescents face challenges. Students will see the way a person deals with depression through the eyes of Melinda Sordino.

(Summaries researched on Wikipedia.com)

Works Cited

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.

Banks, Russel. Rule of the Bone. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Blake, William. "A Poison Tree." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. D.

Ed. Jack Stillinger. New York: Norton and Co, 2006. 96.

Ockerbloom, John Mark. Banned Books Online. 23 Nov. 2008.

<http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html >

Beatles, The. "Nowhere Man." Rubber Soul. Capitol, 1966.

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.

Dickinson, Emily. "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" Taken from Marta Denise's poem

presentation.

Finding Forrester. Dir. Gus Van Sant. Perf. Sean Connery, Rob Brown, and F. Murray

Abraham. Columbia, 2000.

Harmon, William, and Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature. New Jersey: Pearson,

2006.

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, and Co, 1991.

Turner, Ann. "Writing From the Broken Places." The Alan Review. 28 (2001): 17-19.

Wikipedia.com