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Catcher In The Rye: Documentary Questions

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Catcher In The Rye: Documentary Questions
Salinger Documentary Questions
The questions and answers on this page will also serve as part of your notes over J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye.
FIRST FIVE MINUTES: Exposition of Documentary
1. How does A.E. Hotchner describe J.D. “Jerry” Salinger’s view of himself?
2. How did the people interviewed say they felt about reading The Catcher in the Rye?
3. How many copies of The Catcher in the Rye have been sold?
4. How many continue to be sold each year?
5. What magazine was Salinger on the cover of? Why was this such a big deal?
6. What happened after Salinger achieved fame and success because of The Catcher in the Rye?

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7.
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How did Salinger talk about his characters?
8. One man said that he thought Salinger lived “just like them.” How did Salinger really live during this time?
a. What kinds of schools had he attended?
b. How did he feel about the society he was a part of?
9. Where did Salinger get ‘shipped off to” and began to write?
10. Salinger repeatedly tried to get published by The New Yorker. Why did they turn him down so many times?
a. What happened to stop him from getting published after they finally accepted one of his stories?
11. What kind of interaction did Crawford (a fan) have with J.D. Salinger?
12. What happened to Oona O’Neil and Salinger’s relationship? How did he find out?
13. During what war did Salinger serve?
14. Describe Salinger’s wartime experience.
15. Ernest Hemmingway was one of the most celebrated writers of this time period. How did he react to the writing Salinger shared with

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