The Catcher in the Rye Group

Question:

umlovely
umlovely
Student

Explain how the narrative structure of The Catcher in the Rye impacts its appeal.

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Posted by umlovely on Sunday February 1, 2009 at 2:08 PM and tagged with structure, style, the catcher in the rye.

Answers:


  1. tpisano Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    The Catcher in the Rye is a first person narrative told through the eyes of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield.  This structure adds to the appeal of the reader for many reasons.  One reason is that Holden addresses the reader directly and thereby engages them in the story.  The reader feels as if they are actually speaking with Holden.  For example, Holden often says: “If you really want to hear about it…” appealing to our senses as a reader and making us a part of the story. As the character evolves the reader seems to evolve with him.  The text engages the reader and connects them to the novel.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/catcher/summary

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    Posted by tpisano on Sunday February 1, 2009 at 2:18 PM