The Catcher in the Rye Conflict

Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflict. Have your students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict them using the Storyboard Creator. In the storyboard, an example of each conflict should be visually represented, along with an explanation of the scene, and how it fits the particular category of conflict.

Examples of Literary Conflict in The Catcher in the Rye

MAN vs. MAN

Holden and Stradlater get into a physical fight because Holden is upset that Stradlater took Jane Gallagher out on a date. He thinks Jane is too good for Stradlater, and he’s annoyed that Stradlater won’t tell him what they did on their date. He is also annoyed that Stradlater didn’t like his composition about Allie’s baseball mitt.

MAN vs. SELF

Holden remembers a time when he should have invited Allie to come out and shoot BB guns with him and Bobby Fallon, but instead, he told him he was too young. Holden now tells Allie sometimes to go get his bike and meet them, revealing he has some unresolved guilt and grief about Allie’s death. Later, as his mental breakdown worsens, he asks Allie not to let him disappear.

MAN vs. SOCIETY

Holden is constantly concerned with things that the rest of society either doesn’t want to think about, or doesn’t care about. For instance, Holden is concerned with where the ducks from Central Park go in the winter; he is legitimately afraid that they don’t have anywhere to go, much like him. He is also upset by the profanity he finds carved into the walls at Phoebe’s school, because he sees signs like that as threatening the innocence of children who read them.