catcher in the rye lit terms
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Powerpoint of literary terms and examples used in the study guidesTRANSCRIPT
Catcher in the Rye
Literary Terms and Definitions
Study Guide Examples
Catcher in the Rye
Chapters 1-4
Chapters 1-4
Allusion: a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication
Literary examples of Allusion
“for the birds” (p2) Holden is telling the reader that something is worthless; untrue
“the ax” (4) fired or expelled
“faggy” (2) thin (this term is not used this way any longer)
“killed me” (23) delighted or surprised
Conflict
The struggle between two opposing forces, usually characters.
Internal conflict- struggle within oneself or conscience
External- struggle with an outside force {nature, environment or a character}
Characters
Individuals involved (directly or indirectly) in the action of the story.
Protagonist: central character of the story. Struggles against the antagonist
Antagonist-conflicting force against the protagonist.
(FYI the antagonist can be another person, force of nature or the protagonist struggling within themselves)
Setting
The time and place, or where and when, the action occurs.
This includes the social and political environment, as well as the mood or atmosphere
Chronological-the time in which a story takes place (era, season, date, time of day, etc)
Setting of The Catcher in the Rye
Pennsylvania
New York City
Late 1940s-early 1950s
Long weekend
Point of View
Perspective from which a story is told. Narrator-the “voice” that tells the story First Person-narrator that uses first
person pronouns (I, me, my, myself, etc)
Third Person Limited- narrator tells the story from a third person perspective (using he, she, it, they, etc)
Third Person Omniscient-like third person limited only this type of narrator observes the action as an outside observer revealing the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of several characters
Diction
Simply the selection of words or phrases an author has made.
The words chosen by the author may provide a literal definition and add an implied meaning.
Syntax
Organization of words and their relationship to each other.
It’s how the words are arranged on the page.
For example, an author may use short words spaced by gaps in dialogue may “sound” stunted and uncomfortable.
Explain how Salinger uses syntax or specific diction to convey a particular image, idea or impression
“Grand. There’s a word I really hate. It’s a phony” (Salinger, 9).
Explanation: This is the first time Holden uses the word “phony” in the story, but it recurs several times afterwards. Hypocrisy is one of the greatest faults that he finds with the adult world.Holden has no problem chastising people for being “phony”, yet he doesn’t directly call Mr. Spencer a phony. Holden treats the word like a person by calling it a “phony” instead of saying that someone who uses that word is acting “phony”. This reveals Holden’s willingness to forgive or overlook the faults that he despises in others.
Literary Terms
Chapters 5-8
Bildungsroman
Bildungsroman
A novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character.
Traditionally there are four areas of growth:
1. shows the individual development of character and progression towards maturity within a particular period or specific social structure
2. the journey is initiated by a loss or disappointment that prompts the hero to leave the safety of a home at a young age
.
Bildungsroman continued
3. evolution of the individual’s character is long and difficult.
4.journey results in the individual’s tolerance to and adoption of society's values
Subtext
Subtext
Underlying meaning or implication that relies heavily on the author’s use of diction {words the author
chooses} and syntax {organization of the words}
Explain how the following quote reveals something about Holden’s personality, others’ personalities, or his opinions about others that he has not explicitly stated.
“I didn’t answer him right away. Suspense is good for some bastards like Stradlater. ‘What on?’ I said” (Salinger, 28).
Holden attempts to toy with Stradlater, but his question reveals that he will most likely do what Stradlater asks. This scenario implies this happens to Holden often. Holden is accustomed to doing what Stradlater asks and Stradlater is accustomed to getting his way.
Quotation Citation Class example
Use the following information and put it in the proper format for an in text quote.
Salinger “ “ ( ) 1 , He used to be just a regular writer, when he was home.
“He used to be just a regular writer, when he was home” (Salinger, 1).
" 'Canasta, for Christsake. Do you know what time it is by any chance?'
" (47).
• Turn to page 47 and find a line you want to quote.
Example of a quote within a quote.
Single then double quotes
Catcher in the Rye
Chapters 9-12
Literary Terms
Foil-where the author creates a character whose primary purpose is to create a contrast to another character.
HoldenStradlater Ackely
Examples of how Ackely and Stradlater are foils
Ackey Stradlater
Slob- smells bad, does not brush his teeth, cuts nails over the rug, picks his nails, pops his pimple and eats with his mouth open
Personal Hygiene “secret-slob”—looks good and well groomed, but toiletries are
a mess and razor is filthy
Senior in high school
Ackley puts a lot of emphasis on
how old he is—tries to be an adult .
Age/Grade in schoolSenior in high school
Stradlater doesn’t really pull ‘rank’ on Holden even though he
is older.
Physical AppearanceBroad shoulders, athletic build, good looking— ‘year book good
looking’
Catcher in the Rye
Chapters 13-16
Literary Terms
Conflict: the struggle found in fiction.
Types of conflict:Man vs. Man-this can be with an individual or
societyMan vs. Nature- this can be the natural worldMan vs. Himself- when you are fighting
internally over an issue
Stream of ConsciousnessAdd it below the chart on your study guide
Stream-of-consciousness- relies heavily on the voice of the narrator—leaving the world of reality behind—emphasizes the viewpoint of the character.
Catcher in the Rye is not a complete stream-of-consciousness novel because it doesn’t all happen in Holden’s head, but his story is told to another person.
At the beginning of chapter 10 & 11, Holden imparts two long memories of his sister Phoebe and Jane. Fill in the chart
comparing the two memories and follow his train of thought.
Phoebe Jane
Holden things of calling her while putting on his shirt.
What, if anything, sparks these thoughts?
He says she ‘pops’ into his head on the way to the lobby.
Using the text for support, describe his transitions from one
point to another within the memories.
Transitions are slower and keep pace with the progress of their relationship from the their first to their most intimate meeting.
Descriptive. Holden spends a lot time describing her likes and dislikes, he commends her ‘sense’ and taste in movies—he even shares her favorite move, Alfred Hitchcock's 39 Steps
Does this memory seem mainly descriptive or is there more
action? Use examples to explain.
Examples of Conflict
Quote: “I’m one of those very yellow guys” (88).
Opposition: himself, man v. man, man v. society
Explanation: Holden is struggling with his passive nature and tells the reader that his why he is weak. He struggles with the idea that ‘real’ men are supposed to be aggressive and like violence. Salinger uses Stradlater’s character to represent this manly ideal.
Let’s do one together
Quote: “Life is a game boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules’… Game, my ass. Some game” (8).
Type of Conflict: man v. society, man v. himself, man v. man and man v. natureExplanation: Holden realizes that whenever someone tells him that life is a game they don’t also point out that the cards may be stacked for against certain players. The rules of life aren’t fair so the game isn’t always the same for everyone.
Catcher in the Rye
Chapters 17-21
Perspective of Narrative Devices
There are two that we will focus on:
Narrative Distance in time
Reliability of the narrator
Narrative distance in time
Refers to the gap between the time a story takes place and the time the narrator tells it to the reader.
Example: If someone tells you about their military experiences as they experience them then the accuracy of events may be more precise. However, if a grandfather waits to tell of his military experiences fifty years after experiencing them his life experiences will change his accuracy of what he dealt with.
Reliability of the Narrator
The degree to which the reader can accept what the narrator relates as fact. Essentially, we must ask, “Can the reader trust what the narrator is saying?”
For example: In chapter 17 Sally tells Holden to keep his voice down while Holden reassures the reader that he was calm. Is Holden’s retelling of this scene accurate? Is he trustworthy?
Read the quote. Decide if Holden is simply intentionally or unintentionally omitting the
truth.
“Stop screaming at me, please, ‘she said. Which was crap, because I wasn’t even screaming at her” (132).
a.What is Holden’s point of view? How do we know what he believes? Holden believes he is acting normally. He calls her view ‘crap’, showing that he is not fully in control.
b.What does Sally believe about the situation? How do we know? The reader only knows what Sally says or does through Holden.
c. Why do you think this discrepancy occurred?Holden is focused on asking Sally to run away with him, but Sally is more concerned how others will see her. He is thinking with his emotions, not logic.
d. Which interpretation do you agree with and why?Holden is getting very excited at the prospect of leaving everything behind which puts his credibility into questions since most sane people to plan to run away spur of the moment.
Catcher in the Rye
Chapters 22-26
characters who never make an actual appearance in the story, but who have great influence over the main character’s decisions.
Absent Characters
Identifying feelings about absent characters
Character’s Name: Character’s name: Character’s Name: Character’s Name:
Allie D.B.
"[He] had this left-handed fielder’s mitt" (38).
"He used to be just a regular writer, when he was home"(1).
"he’s always investing money in shows on Broadway" (107).
"You’re damn rightI know her" (31).
Holden’s feelings about this person: Holden loved Allie deeplyand is still sufferingfrom his death.
Holden’s feelings about this person:
He admires D.B.’s writing , but is disappointed with the fact he’s writing for Hollywood now.
Holden’s feelings about this person:
Holden’s feelings about this person:
Influence on Holden:
Holden is still grieving For Allie, and hasdisconnected himselfform others and travelsthrough the novellooking for some greatermeaning to life; wishing toprotect children/innocence.
Influence on Holden:Holden misses D.B. –especially after the loss of Allie. He finds himself going to all of their old ‘haunts’ and thinks of better times when D.B. was there.
Influence on Holden: Influence on Holden:
Symbolism
Symbolism- a word or object that stands for another word or object.
For example a dove stands for Peace. The dove can be seen and peace cannot.
Symbolism in Catcher in the Rye
Symbol Description Explanation
Holden’s Hunting hat
Holden’s hat is a ‘loud’ red statement where he separateshimself from anyone else when he wears it. He calls it his "people shooting hat" and doesn’t care what he looks like in it.
The hat is supposed to shield Holden from the cold, but it really shields him from the phonies in the adult world. The hat is also a reminder of both Allie and Phoebe’s red hair even if it is onlysubconsciously.
Allie’s baseball glove
left-handed leather mitt that was well worn with poems written all over it in green ink
Allie’s mitt is a physical representation of the person—who Allie was. Allie was smart kid—represented by the poems, young--green can be used symbolically for ‘youth’ things that are young are ‘green’ and he was all around a good person. Think of the epitome of Americana—loves mom, apple pie and baseball.