J. D. Salinger is most remembered for his wonderful novel “Catcher in the Rye”. Salinger was not only known as a literary legend, but also as a man who cherished his privacy. According to the trailer for the new film about the famous author, the biggest secrets from Salinger’s life will finally be revealed to the public, although his son Matthew Salinger is skeptical that the public will learn anything “secret” about his famous father.
ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post with Answer Key.
The mysterious J.D. Salinger.
Excerpt: Film on Salinger Claims More Books Are Coming, By M. Cieply and J. Bosman, New York Times
“ J. D. Salinger may not be done publishing after all, according to claims in a new film and book set for release next week.
Mr. Salinger, who died in 2010 at the age of 91, has been known for a distinguished but scant literary oeuvre that was capped by the enormous success of his 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye. But a forthcoming documentary and related book, both titled “Salinger,” include detailed assertions that Mr. Salinger instructed his estate to publish at least five additional books — some of them entirely new, some extending past work — in a sequence that he intended to begin as early as 2015.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Wikipedia.
The new books and stories were largely written before Mr. Salinger assigned his output to a trust in 2008, and would greatly expand the Salinger legacy.
One collection, to be called “The Family Glass,” would add five new stories to an assembly of previously published stories about the fictional Glass family, which figured in Mr. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey” and elsewhere, according to the claims, which surfaced in interviews and previews of the documentary and book last week.
Another would include a retooled version of a publicly known but unpublished tale, “The Last and Best of the Peter Pans,” which is to be collected with new stories and existing work about the fictional Caulfields, including “Catcher in the Rye.”
Matthew Salinger, who is Mr. Salinger’s son, and shares responsibility for the Salinger estate with Colleen O’Neill, the author’s widow, declined to discuss plans or the book and film. He said Ms. O’Neill, who did not respond directly to a separate query, would also decline to comment.
In an interview earlier this year, Matthew Salinger said he was skeptical that the planned book and documentary would deepen public understanding of his father, who, he said, for decades had confined his intimate dealings to a small circle of seven or eight people.
Even in old age Salinger never liked being photographed.1988. NYBooks.
The documentary is directed by Shane Salerno, a filmmaker who spent nine years researching and filming the movie that is set for release by the Weinstein Company on Sept. 6, and will air later on PBS in the American Masters series. The companion book, co-written by David Shields, is to be published by Simon & Schuster on Sept. 3.
The book and film have been marketed with the promise of revelations about Mr. Salinger, whose penchant for privacy became a hallmark.”
ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post
Level: Intermediate -Advanced
Language Skills: Reading, writing, speaking and listening. Vocabulary and grammar activities are included.
Time: Approximately 2 hours.
Materials: Student handouts (from this lesson) access to news article, and video.
Objective: Students will read the article with a focus on improving reading comprehension and learning new vocabulary. At the end of the lesson students will express their personal views on the topic through discussions, and writing.
I. Pre-Reading Activities
Predictions
Analyzing headings and photos
Directions: Ask students to read the title of the post and of the actual article they are about to read. Then, have them examine the photos. Based on these sources, ask students to write a paragraph describing J.D. Salinger .
II. While Reading Activities
Vocabulary
Word Inference
Directions: Students are to infer the meanings of the words in bold taken from the article. They may use a dictionary or thesaurus for assistance. Have students use the Word organizer from Enchanted Learning to assist them with new vocabulary. 
- Mr. Salinger, has been known for a distinguished but scant literary oeuvre.
- There is a forthcoming documentary about Salinger.
- Mr. Salinger instructed his estate to publish at least five additional books.
- There are previously published stories about the fictional Glass family.
- Another publication would include a retooled version of the story.
- For decades, those in touch with Mr. Salinger have said that he had continued to write assiduously, though he stopped publishing.
- Matthew Salinger said he was skeptical that the film would deepen public understanding of his father.
- The film and book provide a somewhat unconventional, tour through the life of an author.
- For Mr. Salerno, the simultaneous release of both film and book culminate a quest.
- Salinger is going to have a second act said Mr. Salerno. “There’s no precedent for this.”
Reading Comprehension
True /False/NA-Statements
Directions: Review the following statements from the reading. If a statement is true they mark it T. If the statement is not applicable, they mark it NA. If the statement is false they mark it F and provide the correct answer.
- Mr. Salinger died in 2012.
- Salinger had a happy childhood.
- His first wife was American.
- Both the documentary and book are titled “Salinger”.
- The new books and stories were largely written before Mr. Salinger assigned his output to a trust in 2008.
- One collection, is to be called “The Family Plastic”.
- Salinger was a known democrat.
- Matthew Salinger, is Mr. Salinger’s son.
- Matthew Salinger has 3 children.
- J. D. Salinger confined his intimate dealings to a small circle of seven or eight people.
Grammar Focus
Sentence Scramble
Directions: The following sentences from the article are scrambled. Have students unscramble each sentence. Students can find the original sentences in the reading to check their work.
- One collection, to be called “The Family Glass,” would add five new stories to an assembly of previously published stories.
- “He did rely on some anonymous sources, and I’ve talked to him about that,” said Mr. Karp.
- J. D. Salinger may not be done publishing after all, according to claims in a new film and book set for release next week.
- The new books and stories were largely written before Mr. Salinger assigned his output to a trust in 2008, and would greatly expand the Salinger legacy.
- For decades, those in touch with Mr. Salinger have said that he had continued to write assiduously, though he stopped publishing.
III. Post Reading Tasks
Reading Comprehension Check
WH-How Questions
Directions: Have students use the WH-question format to discuss or to write the main points from the article.
Who or What is the article about?
Where does the action/event take place?
When does the action/event take place?
Why did the action/event occur?
How did the action/event occur?
Discussion/Writing Exercise
Directions: Place students in groups and have them answer the following questions. Afterwards, have the groups share their thoughts as a class. To reinforce the ideas, students can write an essay on one of the following discussion topics.
- J.D.Salinger was known as a recluse. Provide several reasons why some famous people might want to be left out of the public’s eye.
- Can you think of other famous people who kept their lives private? Include famous people in your country.
- The article states,” For decades, those in touch with Mr. Salinger have said that he had continued to write assiduously, though he stopped publishing after a long story…” Why would he continue to write stories and not publish them?
- If your were a famus writer, would you prefer to stay in the public’s eye, or keep your life private as J.D. Salinger? Provide reasons for your answer.
IV. Listening Activity
Video Clip: Remembering J.D. Salinger on Charlie Rose with Adam Gopnick from the New Yorker Magazine.
Talk show host Charlie Rose and author Adam Gopnick discuss J.D. Salinger’s novels.
While Listening Activities
True /False/NA-Statements
Directions: Review the statements with students before the watching the video. As students listen to the video if a statement is true they mark it T. If the statement is not applicable, they mark it NA. If the statement is false they mark it F and provide the correct answer.
- J.D. Salinger’s home was in Cornish New York when he died.
- Salinger was 72 years old when he died.
- Salinger changed American literature with his book Catcher in the Rye.
- Salinger had a wife and 3 kids.
- J.D. Salinger was also known as an open person.
- In 1953 salinger moved from New york to live in rural New Hampshire.
- Adam Gopnick read from Catcher in the Rye.
- J.D. Salinger also wrote the book The Glass Family Stories.
- J.D. Salinger was a soldier.
- Salinger stopped writing publicly when he was 66 years old.
- Gopnick read a description of Mrs. Glass
- Gopnick stated that Salinger’s writing tended to be spiritual.
- One critic stated that Salinger fell in love too deeply with his own characters.
- Gopnick was friends with Salinger.
V. Post-Listening Activities
Questions for Discussion
Directions:Place students in groups and have them discuss the following questions.
- After listening to this video has your personal idea of J.D. Salinger changed in any way? If yes, describe in what way. If no, describe your original opinion.
- With your group members, make up questions that you would like to ask the speakers, or Salinger if you had the opportunity.
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