60 Great The Catcher in the Rye Essay Topics Ideas

“The Catcher in the Rye” is a well-known novel by the American writer Jerome Salinger. The main character is a 16-year-old guy named Holden, who talks about his perception of reality and public morality. This story is an essential part of the curriculum, so the teacher may ask you to write an essay after reading it.

The Catcher in the Rye has gained immense popularity, so you won’t avoid working on the story. A typical task is to write The Catcher in the Rye essay. However, you are most likely confused about which topic to choose for an essay. This story is widely discussed in society, so choosing one topic is quite difficult.

In this article, we have described 60 beautiful The Catcher in the Rye Essay Topics, which will serve as an example. You will find that there are many attractive topics to discuss. We share topics ideas for your expository, argumentative, and critical essay. You will definitely pick the right topic!

Interesting Facts You Should Know About “The Catcher in the Rye”

If it’s hard for you to choose the right essay topic, you haven’t studied the story well enough. The fact is that just reading it is usually not enough to write an essay. We recommend that you study criticism, book reviews, and examples of relevant topics. Also, it will be useful for you to find out some facts about the story “The Catcher in the Rye.” Having studied them, you will have more ideas for the essay.

1. “The Catcher in the Rye” is supposed to be a novel. However, it looks and sounds like a story because there are a lot of characters and plot changes throughout a small amount of time. However, the author had been working on the story for ten years. That is why he named it a novel.
2. The main character, Holden, was not a new one for Salinger. He had already appeared in Salinger’s novels and tales. He was the part of “Slight Rebellion off Madison,” for example. That is why the real fans of Salinger were engaged in the story. They were looking for possible similarities.
3. There are some facts from the author’s life in “The Catcher in the Rye.” For example, Holden’s brother served in the war, as the author himself did. That is why the story can be perceived as an autobiographical.
4. The main character seeks to move to some deaf village and live in snug and solitude. Jerome Salinger was also thinking about moving to a small safe village. He wanted to get away from New York after he had published the story.
5. The author was sure the story would be interesting for the middle-aged people. However, it started gathering positive reviews from young people. Nevertheless, the book was banned for reading in US schools for more than 20 years.

The Catcher in the Rye Essay Topics: Contrast and Compare

1. Contrast and compare the similar points in “The Catcher in the Rye” and “13 Reasons Why”;
2. compare Holden’s history to the author’s life;
3. compare the protagonists from “The Catcher in the Rye,” “Hamlet,” and “The Stranger”;
4. contrast and compare Salinger’s books “The Catcher in the Rye” and “I’m Crazy”;
5. compare Holden’s personality from that story and “I’m Crazy”;
6. contrast and compare Christopher from “Into the Wild” and Holden;
7. compare and contrast “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Fahrenheit 451”;
8. compare main characters from “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Life of Pi”;
9. compare Alan Strang and Holden;
10. compare and contrast “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Breakfast of Champions”;
11. compare the plot and style of “The Catcher in the Rye” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest;
12. contrast and compare the protagonists from “Rule of the Bone” and “The Catcher in the Rye.”

Analytic Essay Topics Ideas

1. Analyze the psychological component in the story “The Catcher in the Rye”;
2. analyze the state of mind of the protagonist of the story;
3. analyze the nature and behavior of Holden;
4. study the literary techniques used by the author;
5. describe the main points in the novel that influenced the plot;
6. analyze the target audience of the story;
7. describe Holden’s character as an example of his decisions and remarks;
8. analyze the theme of solitude and loneliness in the novel;
9. analyze Holden’s behavior with teachers, and then with family and friends;
10. describe the way of thinking of the protagonist;
11. analyze the current problems in society on the example of the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”;
12. describe the peculiarity of the style in the story “The Catcher in the Rye.”

Expository Essay Topics Examples

1. Is it possible to recommend a book for reading in the middle classes?
2. Should schoolchildren independently work on a story?
3. How does the story “The Catcher in the Rye” explain the nature and character of a man?
4. What can psychological problems be studied using Holden as an example?
5. What characters influence our perception of the story?
6. Can Holden be considered self-sufficient? Explain this with an example of his behavior;
7. What can we learn from the story “The Catcher in the Rye”?
8. The American dream on the example of the plot of the story;
9. Do I need to put an age limit on reading a book?
10. The theme of loneliness in the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”;
11. Is it possible to use the novel to study the psychology of adolescents?
12. What fears and doubts did the protagonist “The Catcher in the Rye” have?

Argumentative The Catcher in the Rye Essay Topics

1. The main character is a self-sufficient person? Or does it depend on the opinions of people around you?
2. Is Holden’s character acceptable? What character traits of the hero make up his personality?
3. Can Holden be called psychologically unstable? What factors influence this?
4. How did the childhood of the protagonist influence his character?
5. Can the story be called fundamental, or is it rather a unique work?
6. What are the character traits of the protagonist in the novel?
7. Is Holden down-to-earth? Does the protagonist progress as a person in the novel?
8. The main character of the story is an average teenager, or is he very different from others?
9. What qualities of Holden can be considered negative?
10. “The Catcher in the Rye” – is this a comprehensive novel?
11. Does Holden succumb to the influence of his environment, or is he trying to influence the world?
12. Can a teenager understand the essence and message of the story on their own?

Critical Essay Topics Ideas

1. The self-esteem of the protagonist: how does Holden feel about himself?
2. What bad habits are described in the story?
3. How does Holden relate to those around him? What does he think of them?
4. Does Holden need the help of a psychologist?
5. Does Holden feel like a child, teenager, or adult?
6. If the story were written in a third person, would it be easier to understand the nature of Holden?
7. Can “The Catcher in the Rye” be considered as an author’s sort of confession?
8. How is Holden’s character manifested in the dialogues?
9. The story “The Catcher in the Rye” can be considered a description of the life and problems of adolescents?
10. What quotes characterize the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”?
11. What were the reasons for the ban on the novel in 1961? What has changed since then?
12. What points can be called key in the plot of the story?

Find A Suitable Essay Topic

When you state writing an essay, picking a suitable topic is the most important thing. You should write about what you are interested in and what you seek to discuss. If you run out of ideas, use our The Catcher in the Rye essay topics. Find the necessary section and look for some inspiration. Give your feedback on whether our topics ideas are useful for you.