Product Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The Catcher in the Rye introduces you to a coming-of-age novel with a twist. J.D. Salinger’s best-known work is more realistic, more lifelike and authentic than some other representatives of the genre. Get to know the unforgettable main character, Holden Caulfield, as he navigates the dangers and risks of growing up.

This study guide enables you to keep up with all of the major themes and symbols of the novel, as well as the characters and plot. You’ll also find valuable information about Salinger’s life and background. Other features that help you study include

• Character analyses of major players
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• Critical essays
• A review section that tests your knowledge
• A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41726 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 102 pages

From the Back Cover
39 New and Revised Titles. The Best Just Got Better! Plus Glossary from Webster's New World^™ Dictionary Anthem Atlas Shrugged Beowulf Brave New World The Canterbury Tales The Catcher in the Rye The Contender The Crucible The Fountainhead Frankenstein The Grapes of Wrath Great Expectations The Great Gatsby Hamlet Heart of Darkness & The Secret Sharer Huckleberry Finn The Iliad Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Inherit the Wind Jane Eyre Julius Caesar The Killer Angels King Lear The Lord of the Flies Macbeth 1984 The Odyssey The Oedipus Trilogy The Once and Future King Othello The Outsiders Pride and Prejudice The Red Badge of Courage Romeo and Juliet The Scarlet Letter A Separate Peace A Tale of Two Cities To Kill a Mockingbird Wuthering Heights See inside for the complete line-up of available CliffsNotes! Check Out the All-New CliffsNotes Guides To AOL^®, iMacs^™, eBay^®, Windows^® 98, Investing, Creating Web Pages, and more! CliffsComplete^™ CliffsTestPrep^™ CliffsQuickReview^™ CliffsAP^™ Over 300 CliffsNotes Available @ cliffsnotes.com Downloadable 24 hours a day Free daily e-mail newsletters Free tips, tricks, and trivia Free online CliffsNotes catalog Free self-assessment tools Freeware and shareware downloads

About the Author
Stanley P. Baldwin received his M.A. in English from the University of Kentucky. He is a writer and teacher living in Nebraska.

Customer Reviews

Just read the real book!
First of all, if you're too shiftless to read "The Catcher in the Rye," you should probably quit now. Second of all, The book is awesome! You'd be missing out. I'm sure this is a good summary, but C'mon!

The Catcher in the Rye (Cliffs Notes)
The CliffsNotes are very helpful in its explanation(s) of the chapters and characters. I especially found the literary summaries helpful.

the reviewer can't read between the lines
Here are some subtle questions in "Catcher in the Rye" which are not mentioned in Cliffs Notes:

--Holden flunks oral expression class because he couldn't refrain from digressing. Could that have to with his tendency to digress in this novel?
ƒÞ
--Holden repeatedly wonders where the ducks go when the pond freezes over. Could this be because he wonders where students go when they flunk out of school?

--Two boys ask Holden for directions to the mummy exhibit. Could this have to do with the death motif?

--According to one reviewer, Holden watches Phoebe going around on the merry-go-round because he wants to keep her frozen in childhood.

--On page 141, Holden expresses willingness not to kill but to be killed. On page 188, a teacher delivers a quote which favors living for a great cause over dying for a great cause. How do these two connect?

--Holden repeatedly lies about his age and repeatedly orders alcohol. What is he trying to accomplish?

--Holden criticizes almost everyone but his sister. What would a Transactional Analyst say about his "I'm OK, you're not OK" stance?

--Upon virtually every mishap, Holden makes a generalization. How would this be interepreted in light of "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" by David D. Burns?

Under each chapter heading, there is a Summary heading and a Commentary heading. Most of what Kaplan calls Commentary is really more summary.

I had a professor who gave C+'s to students who can only deliver plot summaries. My professor might give Kaplan a C+.