1. Symbolism
1.1. Ducks in Central Park
1.2. Red Hunting Cap
1.3. Museum of Natural History
1.4. Carousel
1.5. Movies (motif)
1.6. Phonies (motif)
2. Style
2.1. First person narrative
2.1.1. "I" pronoun
2.1.2. Direct address "you"
2.1.3. digressions / episodic
2.1.4. vagueness in description
2.2. Hyperbole
2.2.1. unreliable narrator
2.2.2. humour
2.2.3. adolescent identity
2.3. Colloquial language
2.3.1. Time-setting
2.3.2. adolescent identity
2.3.3. humour
2.3.4. emotive / direct link to feelings
2.4. Symbolism
2.5. Irony / humour
3. setting
3.1. Physical
3.1.1. Pency
3.1.2. NYC
3.1.2.1. positive side
3.1.2.1.1. Central park - carousel
3.1.2.1.2. museum of Natural History
3.1.2.2. negative-side
3.1.2.2.1. Ernie's
3.1.2.2.2. Radio city
3.1.2.2.3. Edmont hotel
3.1.2.2.4. Antolini's apartment
3.1.2.2.5. Grand Central Station
3.1.2.3. Other / neutral
3.1.2.3.1. Central Park - duck pond
3.1.2.3.2. Caulfield's apartment
3.1.3. Californian Clinic
3.2. Historical
3.2.1. Post WWII materialism / consumerism
3.2.2. NYC post - WWII = the place to be
3.2.3. Social setting
3.2.3.1. Rise of psychiatry
3.2.3.2. Rise of "adolescent"
3.2.3.3. Importance of conformity
3.2.3.4. Importance of nuclear familial structure / marriage
4. Character
4.1. Holden
4.1.1. Development - depression to acceptance
4.1.2. Adolescent identity
4.1.2.1. language features
4.1.2.1.1. slang / colloquialim
4.1.2.1.2. 1st POV vagueness
4.1.2.2. anxiety about pending adulthood
4.1.2.3. Hates convention of school and conforming
4.1.2.4. Adolescence as a new thing in 1940/50's America
4.1.3. Affluence
4.1.3.1. suitcases/ distain for new cars
4.1.3.2. Post-WWII prosperity
4.1.4. Obsessed with preserving / returning to the past
4.1.4.1. Jane Gallager
4.1.4.2. Allie's death / talking to him
4.1.4.3. Museum of natural history
4.1.4.4. Style: digression and recounting of memories
4.1.5. Obsession with the loss of childhood innocence
4.1.5.1. Symbolism
4.1.5.1.1. The Catcher in the Rye
4.1.5.1.2. Museum of Natural History
4.1.5.1.3. Carousel
4.1.6. Social isolation
4.1.7. Hypocrite
4.1.7.1. motif of phonies
4.1.8. Unreliable narrator
4.1.8.1. language feature
4.1.8.1.1. hyperbole
5. Idea
5.1. Isolation (Holden v himself)
5.1.1. Grief
5.1.2. Adolescence
5.1.2.1. search for identity
5.1.2.2. reluctance to give up childhood innocence / honesty
5.1.3. Post-WWII materialism / consumerism
5.1.4. Social awkwardness / hatred of phonies(?)
5.2. Questioning Authenticity (Holden v society)
5.2.1. Post WWII materialism / consumerism
5.2.2. Phonies and corruption of society
5.2.3. Pressure to conform