Illustration of a man smoking a cigarette

The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger

Start Free Trial

Discussion Topic

Literary Devices in The Catcher in the Rye and Their Effectiveness

Summary:

In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger effectively uses various literary devices to characterize Holden Caulfield and convey themes of alienation and disillusionment. Key devices include simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and irony, which highlight Holden's sarcastic and exaggerated narrative style. Salinger also employs symbolism, such as Holden's red hunting hat and the "catcher in the rye" motif, to explore themes of innocence and protection. The novel's stream-of-consciousness narration and colloquial language further immerse readers in Holden's troubled psyche.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are five literary devices used in chapter 1 of The Catcher in the Rye?

J. D. Salinger’s numerous literary devices in The Catcher in the Rye lend an entertaining and realistic air to Holden’s story of his breakdown. Chapter 1 bombards the reader with various literary techniques as we are introduced to Holden’s personality and situation.

One literary technique is simile, which Salinger uses a lot, since Holden compares people and situations quite a bit. For example, Holden compares a fellow student to a toliet seat, saying,

That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a goddamn toliet seat.

Salinger uses a simile (using the words “like” or “as” to make a comparison between two unlike things) here. There is also a bit of irony (using words to express something that is the opposite of their literal meaning) here, since toliet seats are not sensitive. Holden compares Morrow to the toliet seat to emphasize that he is not truly sensitive.

Holden tells us a little about himself and the people in his life. He describes Selma, the headmaster’s daughter, who he says has

a big nose and her nails were all bitten down and bleedy-looking and she had on those damn falsies that point all over the place.

Salinger employs a bit of imagery (descriptive words that appeal to the senses) here to force the reader to see the world out of Holden’s eyes. Holden also says Selma’s father is a “phony,” a word he uses throughout the book to apply to most of the people around him. Here, Salinger is using motif (a word or idea that is referred to throughout a work to hint at theme).

Holden also discusses his brother, D. B., whom he admires for his writing. He drives a Jaguar because he’s wealthy. Holden says,

Now he’s out in Hollywood, D. B., being a prostitute. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s the movies.

By calling his brother a prostitute, Holden is saying that D. B. lowered his standards by taking a job writing movie scripts. Salinger uses metaphor (a comparison between two unlike things) to show Holden’s feelings about his brother’s action.

Holden explains that D. B. drives a Jaguar because “He’s got a lot of dough,” and since Hollywood “isn’t too far from this crumby place,” D. B. visits quite often. Here, Salinger utilizes an informal, conversational tone (attitude) to relay Holden’s personality and feelings. Salinger is also hinting about Holden’s “crumby” location when Holden reveals he “got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy.” The author employs foreshadowing (hinting at future events) to compel the reader to question where Holden is and why he ended up there.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are five literary devices used in chapter 1 of The Catcher in the Rye?

One example of a literary device is hyperbole, which is an extreme exaggeration in order to make a point. Holden does this frequently (about a billion times, ha ha), such as in the first paragraph of the book, when he says, "my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them."

Another instance of a literary device is when Holden describes the weather as "cold as a witch's teat" in paragraph 8. This is a example of a simile, or a comparison of two things using the words "like" or "as."

Another literary device that persists throughout the story is Holden's use of antithesis, which is two statements that seem to mean the opposite of one another, paired together to create a contrast. Holden does this frequently, but the first time we see it is in paragraph 10 when he says, "That's also how I practically got t.b. and came out here for all these goddam checkups and stuff. I'm pretty healthy, though."

Additionally, Holden uses repetition frequently throughout the story. He repeats words, phrases, and ideas often, showing that he is preoccupied with them. For example, when he says that Dr. Thurmer's daughter knew what a "phony slob" (paragraph 4) he was, he is giving the readers the first of many instances of labeling things "phony." Authenticity is a concept that is very important to Holden and he shows this by repeating the word "phony."

Finally, Holden uses a litote in describing Thumer's daughter. A litote is an understatement, using a negative word (like "not") to imply the opposite meaning. In Holden's description of Selma, he says, "she wasn't exactly the type that drove you mad with desire" (paragraph 4) to imply that she was plain-looking and not that pretty. 

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Identify five literary devices in the first three chapters of The Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger uses simile in the first chapter when he has Holden write,

Anyway, it was December and all, and it was cold as a witch's teat.

A simile is a comparison using the words "like" or "as." Here ,Holden compares the cold weather to a witch's teat, or nipple. This also characterizes Holden: it is typical of him, as he is a teenager who has girls on his mind, to compare cold weather to an icy-cold female body part. Another example is when he jumps on Stradlater:

I landed on him like a goddam panther.

Holden uses imagery as he describes visiting his elderly teacher, Mr. Spencer, in his home. Imagery is description using the five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell:

He was reading the Atlantic Monthly, and there were pills and medicine all over the place, and everything smelled like Vicks Nose Drops.

The above quote contains not only visual images, but also a scent image that helps place the reader in the scene.

Holden loves to use hyperbole, or exaggeration. He says of Stradlater:

It took him about an hour to comb his hair.

Holden is also a great lover of slang. Some of it sounds outdated to modern readers, but we are able to figure it out from context, such as when Holden says:

I read a lot of war books and mysteries and all, but they don't knock me out too much. What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours . . .

"Knock me out" is obviously Holden using slang for really loving and being impacted by a book.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Identify five literary devices in the first three chapters of The Catcher in the Rye.

In The Catcher in the Rye, the following five literary devices are prevalent in Holden's narration.  In sum, they contribute to the humor and alienation in his voice and comment on the disillusionment of his episodic misadventure in post-war America:

A. Anaphora: (repetition at beginning of sentence) : “It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach.”

B. Metaphor: “Or you’d just passed by one of those puddles in the street with gasoline rainbows in them.”

C. Alliteration: “crazy cannon”; “we can smoke till they start screaming at us.”

D. Verbal Irony (sarcasm, understatement, overstatement): "It’s really ironical, because I’m six foot two and a half and I have gray hair.”

E. Hyperbole: “The one side of my head—the right side—is full of millions of gray hairs.”

P.S. Actually, hyperbole is an example of verbal irony, as it is overstatement, but I think it still counts...

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Identify five literary devices in the first three chapters of The Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger utilises a variety of literary devices to captivate and intrigue his audience, narrative style, colloquial language, anecdote, imagery and metaphor. There are many others.

We first encounter Holden as an unreliable first person narrator. Holden is vague, repetitive and ambiguous in his account of the events leading to his breakdown. He condemns his peers as 'phonies'  and not worth his time, and yet is fascinated by their personal habits and motivations - as he shows with his descriptions of his teachers and peers.

Holden's use of colloquial language contributes to the ambiguity of his statements and assists in supporting the idea that Holden is not clear who he - or anybody else - really is.

We see Holden demonstrating his affection for his teacher, Mr Spencer, in the anecdote about his indian blanket in chapter 2. The imagery surrounding Holden's visit is particularly vivid.

When Dr Thurmer discusses Holden's expulsion he refers to the metaphor of life being a game. It is not a game at which Holden has any skill and he can see the irony in the last event for him at the school being the failed fencing contest - a result of Holden's ineptitude.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What literary devices are used in The Catcher in the Rye and why are they effective?

Salinger utilizes numerous literary devices to characterize Holden and gives him a believable voice throughout the novel. Holden continually uses hyperbole when he speaks, which is typical of most adolescents. Holden's use of superlatives and over-the-top assessments characterize him as a naive, jaded teenager, who is trying to understand the adult world. In the first chapter, Holden immediately says, "My parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them" (Salinger, 1). Holden continues to use hyperbole when he says that his brother recently bought a Jaguar that "can do around two hundred miles an hour." Holden again uses hyperbole to describe the atmosphere of campus regarding the significant football game against Saxon Hall. Holden says, "It was the last game of the year, and you were supposed to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn't win" (Salinger, 2). Holden's excessive use of hyperbole adds to his voice and characterizes him as a disgruntled, immature teenager. Holden's overstatements also emphasize his negative feelings toward popular people and events.

Salinger also utilizes verbal irony throughout the novel, which gives Holden his sarcastic tone. Holden continually uses the phrase, "Very big deal," when explaining something or someone that society values as significant. During a conversation with Mrs. Morrow on the train, Holden tells her, "I have to have this operation. . . It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain" (Salinger, 43). Holden's sarcastic tone enhances his voice and characterizes him as a bitter adolescent.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What literary devices are used in The Catcher in the Rye and why are they effective?

One of the most basic literary devices is plot. We all tend to take plot for granted because it is one of the first devices we learn.  Writers pay very close attention to how they organize their stories—they do not simply pour the words out on paper and hope for the best.

J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye’s plot is built around a special plot device called the flashback. In fact, almost all of the novel consists of one long flashback. We do not find out until the end of the novel that Holden has had a breakdown and is currently in some sort of hospital:

That’s all I’m going to tell about. I could probably tell you what I did after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I’m supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it.

Holden doesn’t tell us exactly where “here” is, but in the next paragraph he lets us know that it is some sort of clinic for people having psychological problems:

A lot of people, especially this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I’m going to apply myself when I go back to school next September.

So the reader does not find out until the end of the story that Holden has had some sort of breakdown. That requires the reader to re-think everything they’ve just read to take into account Holden’s questionable mental stability.

Salinger also uses extensive repetition in the novel. As we listen to Holden narrate, both in his speech and his thoughts, we hear several key words used over and over again. Possibly the most important such word is “phony.” Holden’s narration tells us that he is very bothered by people who put on a fake appearance, not just physically, but in their attitudes and actions. Considering that we find out later that he is in the process of breaking down psychologically, we can infer, because of the use of repetition, that the idea of “phoniness” is a significant part of the problem he is trying to deal with.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What literary devices are used in The Catcher in the Rye and why are they effective?

The first literary device Salinger uses in "Catcher in the Rye" is allusion. Allusion is a reference to a previous literary work or historical event. In this case, the title of the book is an allusion to a Robert Burns poem and the line, "If a body meet a body comin' through the rye. " Holden changes the words to "If a body catch a body comin' though the rye. Eventually the meaning of this line is revealed as Holden's dream of being a 'catcher in the rye" who can save children from the disillusionment of growing up. This reveals one of the major themes of the novel. The technique the author uses for narrating the book is called "stream of consciousness." What we read is not a straightforward chronology of events but a retelling of the events in the order Holden's meandering mind remembers them. This allows the author to reveal how childish Holden is at times and his unwillingness to grow up even though Holden is unaware of this himself. The book is also full of symbolism.One of the main symbols is Holden's red hunting hat which symbolizes Holden's isolation from other people and his search for something, besides Phoebe, which is meaningful in his life. Ducks are a symbol for the homeless condition of Holden. They are evicted by the cold and Holden is "evicted" by the coldness of his family. All of the symbols point to the theme of an insecure young man desperately fighting maturity and the disillusionment that often comes with it.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What literary elements appear in The Catcher in the Rye?

This is a very broad question, so I'll give a few examples related to symbolism, point of view, and stream-of-consciousness narration.

Point of view

The Catcher in the Rye is told in first-person point of view from the perspective of Holden Caulfield, the story's primary character. Holden tells the story a few months after the events take place, and he seems to be in a hospital. This is shown early in the first chapter when Holden says,

I'll just tell you about this madman stuff that happened to me around last Christmas just before I got pretty run-down and had to come out here and take it easy.

Additionally, Holden often slips into stream-of-consciousness narration, a technique in which a character's thoughts flow uninterrupted. An example of this occurs when he talks about his brother Allie's baseball mitt. After explaining his brother wrote poetry on his baseball mitt so "he'd have something to read when he was in the field and nobody was up to bat," Holden describes his feelings for his brother, making connection after connection. He does this several times in the novel, including his description of the museum and his thoughts about sex. A clue as to when he's using this technique is paragraph length. If the paragraph extends for more than a page, there's a good chance J.D. Salinger is employing the stream-of-consciousness technique.

Symbolism

There are many symbols throughout The Catcher in the Rye. Symbolism occurs when an object stands for something else. While there are many famous examples of symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye (including Holden's red hunting hat and the ducks in Central Park), one symbol I find particularly striking occurs early in the novel when Holden refuses to throw a snowball at a car or hydrant because both look "so nice and white." This whiteness Holden refuses to disturb symbolizes his desire not to spoil anything that seems pure. This idea runs throughout the novel.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What is a literary device in The Catcher In The Rye?

An allusion is a tool used to make a reference to someone or something that the audience might already know about or understand. For example, if an author says that a character is as strong as Stonewall Jackson, s/he would be referring to a general in the Confederate army during the Civil War. In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger employs an allusion in chapter 22 with a song first experienced in chapter 16

First, in chapter 22, Holden Caulfield is talking with his sister Phoebe about how he was kicked out of school again. Holden tells her what he would really like to do in life in the following passage:

". . . I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be" (173).

By saying that he only wants to be the catcher in the rye, Holden refers to the title of the book as well as the title of a song he hears in chapter 16. The use of this allusion calls attention to the message or theme of the book for the reader. For example, Holden gets the idea of the catcher in the rye when he hears a boy singing and humming the song while he passes them on the streets of New York:

I got up closer so I could hear what he was singing. He was singing that song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." He had a pretty little voice, too. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell (115).

The use of allusions is a literary device applied by an author to call the reader's attention to a specific theme or idea. In this case, the idea centers around who Holden wants to become. Some interpret this allusion as Holden wanting to help others from falling off the cliff of childhood into adulthood. Others say he wants to help people from falling off of the cliff of integrity and becoming phonies. Whatever the interpretation, the allusion still exists for the benefit of the reader to make connections from the text to themselves and and also to the world.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial