11th Grade Magnet American Literature
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger was published in 1951. The influential and widely acclaimed story details the two days in
the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield after he has been expelled from prep school. Confused and disillusioned, he searches for
truth and rails against the "phoniness" of the adult world. He ends up exhausted and emotionally ill, in a psychiatrist's office. After
he recovers from his breakdown, Holden relates his experiences to the reader.
Your assignment is to read the novel and complete the following assignment for your first major grade in 11th
grade American Literature. After reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, answer the following questions in
as much detail as possible. You will turn this into your teacher at the beginning of the year for a major grade. Your
impressions and opinions are very important; there is no need to consult outside references (other people, the
internet, study guides) for this assignment. This is entirely independent work. You should do this entirely on your
own! You may do the assignment on this document or you may write your answers on separate paper. No need to
copy the questions!
Elements of Plot
1. Describe the setting and the time period in which the novel is set:
2.
How do the setting and time period influence the story? Why is it important?
3.
Create a timeline of a minimum of 5 important events in the book. You must cover events in the story
from beginning to end. Use a separate sheet of paper, if necessary.
4.
Describe the main problem, or conflict, in the story. How does this affect the main character’s actions?
5.
How is the conflict resolved in the story?
6. Is the ending what you expected? Why or why not?
7. Choose one passage (a quote from the book of about 10-20 lines of text) in the book that reveals a main
theme, or message, of the novel. In a well-developed paragraph (about 7-10 sentences in length),
explain the novel’s theme and how your selected passage supports that theme.
Characterization: Complete the chart for at least 3 characters in the book:
Name and Role in Story
Quotation that Reveals
Characteristics
Significance to Story
Adjectives to Describe
Vocabulary: While you read the book, identify at least 10 vocabulary words that you did not know previously
and/or are significant and important to the story. Complete the chart below:
Word and Part of Speech
Definition
Write the sentence from
the book where you found
the word; include page
number.
Write your own sentence
using the word; use
context clues to indicate
that you understand its
meaning.
Example:
Expel from a community or group.
The whole team ostracized me the
whole way back on the train. (3)
He earnestly tried to make friends, but
because of his awkward mannerisms
and total lack of non-verbal
communication skills, he was
usually ostracized or bullied.
Ostracize
(verb)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Memorable Passages: Choose at least 4 passages in the book that are significant to you in some way. Maybe the
lines help you to understand a character better. Maybe the lines illustrate an important lesson in the story. The
lines may be important to you personally and maybe you just liked the lines and the way the author writes. You
need to put the passages in quotation marks because they are not in your own words…
Quotation (include page number)
Why is it important? What made it stand out to you?
Personal Connection: Below, choose one scene and respond to how a moment in your life connects to that scene
in this novel. You may sketch a comic book panel in the space below with an explanation or you may write a
paragraph in the space below that describes your connection – just be sure to be clear about HOW the scene you
chose is meaningful to you in some way.