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.
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.
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.
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.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in The Catcher in the Rye.
Set up stations around your classroom for each type of literary conflict (e.g., Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Society). Students rotate between stations to review and discuss different examples. This activity encourages movement and peer discussion while deepening understanding of conflict types.
Have students work individually or in pairs to design a poster that visually represents a conflict from the novel. Include character names, a quote, and a brief explanation. Display posters in the classroom to reinforce learning and celebrate student creativity.
Invite students to act out short scenes depicting each major conflict from the book. Encourage them to improvise dialogue and body language to express character motivations. This kinesthetic approach helps students internalize the emotions and stakes involved in literary conflicts.
Ask students to write a journal entry reflecting on a time when they experienced or witnessed a similar type of conflict. Prompt them to compare their experience with Holden’s and consider what they learned about handling conflict.
The Catcher in the Rye features several key types of literary conflict: Man vs. Man (e.g., Holden’s fight with Stradlater), Man vs. Self (Holden’s internal struggles and guilt), and Man vs. Society (Holden’s clash with societal norms). Understanding these conflicts helps students analyze character motivations and themes.
Use storyboarding activities where students select and illustrate examples of each conflict type from the novel. Have them visually represent scenes, categorize the conflict (e.g., Character vs. Self), and write short explanations to deepen understanding.
A classic Man vs. Self conflict is Holden’s guilt over excluding Allie from playing with him and Bobby Fallon. Holden’s internal dialogue with Allie reveals his unresolved grief and growing mental struggles throughout the novel.
Conflict drives the plot and helps students connect with characters’ motivations and development. Teaching conflict in The Catcher in the Rye allows students to explore deeper themes like alienation, innocence, and societal expectations.
Assign students to create a storyboard depicting three forms of conflict from the novel. Each panel should illustrate a conflict scene, label the conflict type, and include a brief explanation. This visual approach makes analysis engaging and accessible.