For those of you who have read Catcher in the Rye...?

Question

My teacher gave us an essay. We have to write whether or not the book should be kept in the school's curriculum. I'm completely stuck, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I believe that Catcher In The Rye should stay in schools' curriculum.

The Catcher in the Rye was a very progressive book. It brought serious subjects into the eyes of many people. However, at the time of the book's release, many people felt that the book was too explicit which caused controversy. The problem is, parents would much rather shield their children from the serious issues than let them be exposed to them. Hiding from an issue doesn't solve it.

Answer 2

Here's an example.
Had to do a book report in high school as part of final grade.
Did'nt say what book.
I did my paper on "Catcher"
Teacher would not accept report because the book was "inappropriate" & failed me.
Should have fought it, but things like that just were not done at that time.
Had to make up the course in summerschool.
A book report was a requirement & "Catcher "was on the reading list .
I used the same report I had been failed on .
Got an "A"
Could be a good basis for your essay.
How a narrow minded individual can have a negative impact on the learning experience & how an open minded approach can open minds
Must be 50 years ago , & still cherish that "A"
Best of luck

Answer 3

Well, have you read Catcher in the Rye?
Holden, like many teenagers, is a depressed kid. He flunks out of not just one, but many schools. He has a fierce disdain for "phony" people, and for him, most adults are phony. The only person he admires is his little sister Phoebe, because she perhaps represents the childhood he wishes he could hang on to.
Holden is a complicated young man, and he has many doubts and fears about who he is, and what he is doing. I believe that many kids have similar thoughts and fears, and that this book should be in a school curriculum, just on the fact that Holden is a character that young people can relate to.

Answer 4

The Catcher In the Rye should be taken OFF the school curriculum because some misguided people obsess about the book, and are led to do idiotic things.
For example, the man who shot John Lennon had copies of the Catcher spread all over his hotel room with special passages underlined in red ink.
The nutcase who shot President Reagan suffered similar psychotic obsessions.
If these two men hadn't of read the book, the assassinations wouldn't have taken place.
That's my theory, anyway.

Answer 5

Of course it should be kept. I read it in high school, and I think it's a good book. It's funny, yet also handles a serious topic. The language is so unique. Salinger did a good job in sounding like a teenager back then- stream of consciousness, I think the writing style is called. Maybe it was controversial back then, but not now. Kids should be exposed to classical literature. I don't believe in censorship. Our first amendment gives us the right of free speech. It's ridiculous when perfectly good works of literature get banned.

Answer 6

i think it should, its one of the few books written in that style, and kids should be exposed to all sorts of literature.

Answer 7

Try this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catcher_in_the_rye