Lit+Expert

Cut and paste your Reader's responses here. Be sure to properly label them (reading selection, page number, element of literature)

Katie Ahladas, Stefanie Turk, Dylan Ose, Jaimie Rogner The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Brilliant! Response Element 1: Diction Passages where the element is used: A) Page: 48 Paragraph: 12

Holden, as the narrator of the story, says, “The thing is, you didn’t know Stradlater. I knew him.” The author includes this in a passage in which Holden is worrying about his roommate being on a date with a girl he was formerly acquainted with. This very personal, insistent tone is used in order to indicate that Holden is familiar enough with Stradlater’s behavior to be able to predict his actions or thoughts. The way it is written convinces the reader that Holden is an expert of sorts on the subject, so it is easier for the reader to adopt a similar stance on the topic.

Passages where the element is used: B) Page: 73 Paragraph: 2

When speaking to three older girls he has just met at a bar in the hotel he is staying at, Holden hints at frustration by asking rhetorically, “I asked them if they liked it, but do you think you could get an intelligent answer out of those three dopes?” The purpose of both posing his dumbfoundedness as a question and the implement of language such as “dopes” is to create a more relatable narrative. It lends a conversational feel to the novel which makes it seem less like something happening to a faraway fictional persona and more like a close friend describing the events of his or her day. Slang is incorporated to emphasize this informality.

Response Element 2: Verbal Irony Passages where the element is used: A) Page: 61 Paragraph: 1

Upon arriving in New York City, Holden decides to take a taxi cab to a hotel where he can live for a few days until he goes home. He tries to be amiable with the cab driver, even extending an invitation to treat him to a cocktail. When the driver declines, Holden says “He certainly was good company. Terrific personality.” It is obvious that he does not genuinely feel this sentiment and is merely employing a sarcastic tone. It can be deduced that he actually means the exact opposite of what is written. This is used mainly to emphasize just how unfriendly Holden finds the man, adding a touch of exaggeration.

Passages where the element is used: B) Page: 72 Paragraph: 12

In the bar in the hotel lobby, Holden asks a girl to dance with him and asks her a couple of questions while they dance, with the intent of getting to know a little more about her. She gives staccato answers, revealing no more than what he seems to be forcefully drawing out of her. He tells her she is a “very good conversationalist”, despite the fact that he sees that the conversation is going nowhere and not flowing well at all. The sarcasm is a way for him to somewhat jokingly insult her lack of ability to facilitate the conversation. The author includes it to show Holden’s way of coping with undesirable situations through humor.

Nick Bartolotti, Sam Panek, Brenna Marnell, Sarah Berman The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Response Element: Character Internal Conflict

Pasages where the element is used: Throughout the majority of the book

Holden has made it pretty clear that he doesn't like "phony" people. He likes "Real" people; people who are true to their word and act the way they truly feel. Holden's problem is that he's a hypocrite. He hardly ever speaks what's REALLY on his mind and is constantly making up excuses, stories, and lies to keep himself from getting bored. Little simple things keep him entertained and occupied like pretending to tap dance or horsing around with his roomates he doesn't even really like. Holden has no motivation to succeed in life and just isn't ever in the right "mood" to think about what to do with it. For example, Holden at one point finds out his friend Stradlater is going out on a date with a girl Holden was friends with years ago, but hasn't seen her in years. "Jane Gallagher. Jesus....I oughta go down and say hello to her at least." Holden says. Stradlater replies "Why the hell dont'cha!?..." Holden replies, "I'm not in the mood right now." That right there is a great example of Holden's inability to step out of his own comfort shell. He could have easily met his old friend and had a great time. If that was anyone else in that situation Holden would look down at them and roll his eyes and call them a "goddamn phony" like everyone else. Aww, but he likes her and it is probably hard for him to deny his real concern for a girl like Jane going out with a guy like Stradlater.

Alyssa Wood, Heidi Puccio, Taylor Hoysrat, Martina Hojsak The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Response Element: Symbolism

Passages where the element is used: Page 38-39

When Holden's brother Allie passes away, Holden is strongly affected by the loss. All of the minor however meaningful items that bring a stong sense of who Allie was begin to overtake his mind. When asked to write a descriptive essay for Stradlater, he choses Allie's baseball glove because it really stood out as a real representation of Allie. This shows Holden is not completely over the mourning stage after losing his brother, and that he is constantly on his mind. He remembers all the little quirks and traits that Allie was known for (such as writing poems on the outside of his mitt), and is able to write pages because he is able to remember it so clearly. Holden remembers the strong pain that is inside of him, and being that this book is a collaboration of his thoughts, with Allie such an important part (his relationship with Allie seems to be the only thing he finds real in a "phony world"), it shows the death of his brother is such a major event this he has still not able to get over.

Nice. So, to be a bit more explicit, what would you say the glove is symbolic of?