Final Assesment: Cornell Notes

TITLE: The Catcher in the Rye (Themes)
AUTHOR: Answers Corporation
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2006

Main Idea #1: Failure

Summary: In every situation that arises throughout the book, Holden simply fails. He sets himself up to inevitably fail, he almost flaunts his failures. It’s likely he does so to gain attention.


Quote: “Failure serves as a great attention-getting device. And perhaps, more than anything, Holden wants attention from his parents, the absent characters in the book. What Holden really longs for, most likely, is acceptance and love.”


Question: More specifically, who are the absent characters in the book that the author of this article is talking about?


Main Idea #2: Lonliness

Summary: It appears as if Holden enjoys being a misfit, for he knows what others think of him and his actions but refuses to change his ways. His red hunting hat is a great symbol of his loneliness, for he physically hides from his peers with the hat draping over his face, as he simultaneously hides from connecting and interacting with society outside of school.


Quote: “Holden's red hunting cap, which he dons when he is most insecure, is a continuing symbol throughout the book of his feeling that he is different, doesn't fit into his environment, and, what's more, doesn't want to fit in.”


Question: Is it possible that Holden seemingly chose to be lonely out of fear rather than ignorance?


TITLE: Alienation in the Life of Students
AUTHOR: Shaun Kerry
YEAR PUBLISHED:

Main Idea #1:
Summary: Unfortunately for Christopher Creed, he took this quote literally. He physically escapes society by running away. In reality, Chris fell behind society for his social differences, and his solution was to run away from the problem.

Quote: “There is only one way to escape the alienation of present day society: to retreat ahead of it.” – Roland Barthes

Question: How much of Christopher Creed’s decision to run away had to do with his social life at school and how much had to do with issues at home with his mother?


Main Idea #2: Alienation: adolescent’s quest for identity

Summary: An adolescent is at the time of their life, when they search for ways to discover their individual identity; however, many difficulties stand in their way of accomplishing just that.

Quote: “Estranged adolescents feel that they have little control over the events that shape their seemingly meaningless lives. They tend to feel isolated from adults, their peer group, and even themselves.” – Shaun Kerry


TITLE: The Catcher in the Rye: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
AUTHOR: Spark Notes
YEAR PUBLISHED: Unknown

Main Idea #1: Alienation as a Form of Self-Protection

Summary: To avoid being hurt by those that surround him, Holden keeps a distance by being different. He knows that everyone thinks of him as a failure, but by keeping his distance he won’t have to hear it said to his face.

Quote: “… he feels trapped on the “other side: of life, and he continually attempts to find his way in a world in which he feels he doesn’t belong.”


Main Idea #2: The Painfulness of Growing Up

Summary: Holden wants a quick-fix for every problem in life, but it’s becoming obvious to him that there aren’t quick fixes in the adult world.

Quote: “…his central goal is to resist the process of maturity itself.” “He wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed.