Reading The Catcher in the Rye in the EFL classroom : A didactic perspective of the reasons and consequences for banning or censoring literature

Abstract

By discussing the ethical issues with banned and censored literature, students can learn how to approach a text written in different contexts. The essay brings to light the triggered instances, which lead to banning The Catcher in the Rye in American schools in the 1950s. Using a cultural studies approach allows an in-depth investigation of the patterns in the triggering instances and leads to findings of possible reasons for ban- and censorship. These instances, sums up to; unrealistic protagonist, vulgar language, blasphemy and a pessimistic and depressing point of view. To introduce these instances into a Swedish classroom can hopefully bring an insight into another historical time and another context, to better understand the Swedish context, e.g. democratic values as well as freedom of speech.