A Web Quest for American Literature

by Elizabeth Linn

The Adventures of a Mischievous Boy!

In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, we meet a very mischievous boy.

Our protagonist young Holden Caufield enjoys a life of adventure, we see this sixteen year old boy abandon his life at of responsibilities to enjoy the world waiting beyond the doors of his rigid preparatory school. imagine you had the time, money and opportunity to do the same.

If you had the opportunity to live the life of Caufield, would you go about your journey in the same way?Where would you begin? What would you want to see? He begins his journey in Canada and travels all the way to spicy New York City.

As we know from reading the novel, he doesn't do much. He visits friends and relatives, but he doesn't do a lot of sightseeing. Let's see what possibilities lie ahead of us if we were to take a similar journey.

We begin in the city of Edmonton where Holden goes to prep school. It sure is a beautiful city! Let's look at where our story takes place. What opportunities did Holden have in the city around him?

He could have journeyed the Metro or if the the weather was great, he could have spent the day sight seeing.

Your Task:

1. Look at the sights highlighted above.
2. Decide where you would visit if you had a free day in town to enjoy yourself.
3. List what you have seen on your journey.
4. Write a suggestion to Holden telling him where you think he should be spending his free time.
5. Tell him what you have seen on your visit.

Later in the novel our mischievous protagonist travels by train to New York City. While in The City he spends the night at the Hotel Beverly . He also does many other fun activies. After viewing the sights of New York City, what places would you like to visit?

Your Task:

1. View the Statue of Liberty.
2. View the Guggenheim Museum.
3. View the Empire State Building
4. View the Travel Review for further suggestions.

What a wonderful city New York is! Have you found some exciting places you would want to visit if you had the opportunity?

Now your next task is to take your findings and we will write to J. D.Salinger himself and tell him what we have found on our journey. Perhaps Salinger will respond to your letter. Make sure you give him specific feedback and details. Tell him how you feel about Holden as a character. Make suggestions about how you would have traveled.

In your letter be sure to use appropriate language and terrific grammer. Also watch your spelling, remember he is an author. Have fun!

Designed by Elizabeth Linn, Educational Technology 596