Catcher in rye essay

Question 1

What is, briefly, in the context paragraph?

Answer 1

• set in post war era of late 1940s and early 1950s, America.
• time of conservatism and beginning of the Cold War era.
• Holden fears change as society instilled fear of another war and also death of his innocent brother Allie.
• He could not prevent this and some may see connection between Salinger’s own experience at war, witnessing large-scale uncontrollable loss of innocent lives.
• Holden rebel against strict social norms and values to prosper and mature.
• Salinger’s use of symbolic “one buck” red hunting hat used at times throughout Holden’s REFLECTIVE FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE when want to cover up physical signs of ageing and externalise rebellion.
• journey of 3 days in New York contribute to decline of psychological health -> hospital

Question 2

Quotes in protection of innocence paragraph?

Answer 2

• symbolic title “the Catcher in the Rye”
• his overly cynical view of world, full of “phonies” and “perves”
• when Phoebe asks, “Name something you’d like to be”
• Mr Antolini’s reference of Holden’s inevitable “great fall” alludes to him having to move into adulthood and struggles he faces in transition.
• ironically, sees authentic beauty in innocent humming from young boy symbolically teetering to close to edge of curb singing, “if a body catch a body comin through the rye”
• “other side” of life, as said to Mr Spencer

Question 3

Explanation of quotes in protection of innocence paragraph:

Answer 3

• Holden visions of standing infront of cliff protecting playing children from falling into adult world.
• only positive action affirmed in novel.
• wants to be completely selfless, to be protector and saviour of innocence.
• loss of brother may be reason
• but also wants to be running children himself and someone else to prevent his fall.
• Mr Antolini “great fall”
• Young boy - yet doesnt recognise beauty in his own risk taking to enter adulthood.
• struggles to live in world where believe full of “phonies” and morally corrupt people, and find acceptance and belonging on “other side” of life, as said to Mr Spencer, which contribute to ambition to protect innocence from adulthood.

Question 4

topic sentence of protection of innocence:

Answer 4

Holden’s ambition to protect the innocence to deal with grief is a key themes that gives the novel its enduring nature.

Question 5

TOpic sentence of artificiality vs authenticity

Answer 5

Although artificiality in adult world alienates Holden and prevent maturation, a carthartic moment of change alters his view and allows him to realise the complexities of world.

Question 6

Quotes in artificiality vs authenticity:

Answer 6

• As Hayden Robel states in his “AP Lit Comp’ blog, “He (Holden) refuses to ackowledge the perplexities he is unable to comprehend… that society and world are at large, not simple categorical archetypes”
• hyperbolic and distressed reaction “Boy, I’ll bet i jumped a thousand feet” is then juxtaposed and dichotomised by later epiphany after reflects on situation

Question 7

What is in Artificiality vs authenticity paragraph?

Answer 7

• experience of ambiguous ‘sexual’ encounter with mr antolini (well respected and icon of morality) allow him to realise complexities of adults.
• “boy ill bet i jumped a thousand feet”
• remembers Mr Antolini wrapping James Castle in his own coat, the boy who committed suicide to avoid confronting bullies.
• both acts holden viewed as noble
• While experiences confronting, became catalyst for Holden to accept complexities of others, and possibly within himself as he matures.

Question 8

topic sentence of painfulness of growing up

Answer 8

the painfulness of coming of age is often reflected in one’s fear of change and losing own identity in process of maturity.

Question 9

Quotes/techniques in painfulness of coming of age:

Answer 9

• “disappearing” in the process of growing up
• obsession with wondering where “the ducks go”, symbol used by Salinger.
• crossing symbolically cold and busy streets of NY, used by Salinger as pathetic fallacy to represent Holden’s fear of impending progression and change.
• repetition of short negatively connoted sentence within, “Allie, don’t let me disappear. x3. Please, Allie” reveal Holden’s desperate tone and turning point for necessary catharsis.
• Allie, true “catcher in the rye”
• must take risks as seen in motif of crossing street, also seen in chapt 1, acts as metaphor of dangerous journey into adulthood.
• Phoebe reaching for symbolic gold ring at end of novel carousel scene thinking, “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the golf ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall of, but its bad if you say anything to them”

Question 10

What is in painfulness of growing up para?

Answer 10

• in beginning of novel, believes everyone should resist growth and maturing leads to “phoniness” - DB.
• Isolates himself in NY as attempt to protect himself against losing identity “disappearing”
• “ducks go”
• however, isolation become self destructive and heightened point of his emotional breakdown comes when Holden fantasises of speaking to Allie when crossing symbolic….
• Allie acts a protector of Holden, true ‘catcher in the rye’, as eternally dead and innocent, something holden cant be in living world.
• must take risks as seen in motif of crossing street…
• end up recognising beauty in taking risks to move into adulthood when sees Phoebe reach for gold ring. (QUOTE)

Question 11

Conclusion:

Answer 11

By exploring text, TCITR, in depth, audiences better understand complexities and inevitably maturity of human nature, drawn upon by h’s view of world.
cathartic moments and anagnorisis he experience in NY brings catalyst for change in perspective of self and others.

• become classic story of adolescence rebellion and endured test of time, becoming voice of not just young readers but to those who have struggled to perceive reality of adult world.

Question 12

Intro:

Answer 12

• adolescents search for authenticity, identity and meaning may require them to endure inner conflict and confronting experiences.
• essential to experience imp moments of epiphany and transition into adulthood.
• HC, protagonist, ,modernist bildungsroman 1951 novel, hold romanticised view of life, shaped by idealistic perception of childhood and past experiences.
• He is often criticised as being a SOLIPSIST.
• Use of alienation as form of self protection and Holden’s overwhelming desire to protect innocence suggest simply coming to terms with painfulness of growing up.
• journey into adulthood reveals benefits of truth and carthasis when struggling to painfulness of coming of age.