NOVEL UNIT: Catcher in the Rye
“In leaving something unsaid the beholder is given a chance to complete the idea and thus a great masterpiece irresistibly rivets your attention until you seem to become actually a part of it.” –on the value of art and suggestion, Kakuzo Okakura--
The novel unit is designed to give students the chance to expand the fundamentals learned during the short story unit at a much larger scope. Students will learn how to break a novel down by applying basic prose elements such as themes, plots, subplots, characters (and character development), while learning about symbols, metaphors, imagery, and word choice.
During the unit students, starting with chapter 6, will be required to keep a journal outline of all chapters. These outlines should include summaries of what happened during the chapter, a description of characters, symbols, metaphors, allusions, foreshadows, imagery, as well as general notes and descriptions of possible themes. These entries will count as your journal requirement for this unit and be equal to 10% of your grade.
Catcher in the Rye is a story about a young teenage named Holden Caulfield. Holden has a conflict with himself – he feels that everyone around him is a phony. He seems to hate everyone and everything. The only thoughts of innocence and childhood bring him joy. Perhaps he struggles to accept the hypocrisy of the adult world. Holden is the narrator and anti-hero. The novel is a coming of age story or a bildungsroman novel. We will look at the following themes, symbols and conflicts while reading:
MAJOR THEMES: SYMBOLS:
Loss of Innocence Alle’s Baseball Glove
Rebellion From Society Holden’s Red Hunting Cap
Mental Instability The Duck Pond
Death The Carrousel
Hypocrisy Holden Caulfield’s name
Sexual Confusion Kings in the back row
Prep School Life
Major Conflict: Person vs. Self. Holden has a hard time dealing with the people around him believing that they are all phonies and either pretending to be something that they are not, or selling themselves for some reason. Everyone is untruthful.
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the unit students will be able to
1) Define character development, irony, metaphor, personification, subplot, atmosphere, tone, allusion, symbol, bildungsroman. Antihero.
2) List all the characters that appear in the novel and describe their physical appearance, motivations, social class.
3) List various allusions and foreshadows and discuss what they mean in relation to plot.
4) List the various types of conflict that occur throughout the novel and discuss who the conflicts are between.
5) Keep a journal that outlines the novel – and the plot
6) List three themes and in a paragraph or more discuss how these themes work in the novel.
7) In an essay of a page or more discuss how Bradbury uses particular images or characters as symbols and discuss how these symbols reflect larger themes or ideas in the novel.
8) Outline the character development (inward change) of various characters (to be mentioned later).
9) List and outline the central plot.
10) In a paragraph or more discuss how the title and the images of innocence or childhood
11) Pick out two or three examples of similes and/or metaphors and in a paragraph discuss how they are used.
12) Given a quotation identify the speaker.
13) Write various journal entries from different characters’ points of view, which demonstrates an understanding of the character and the character’s attitude towards life.
15) Write an essay that analyzes the main character of Holden Caulfield
ACTIVITIES TO BE INCLUDED:
1) Quizzes
2) Reading (inside and outside of class)
3) Viewing Documentaries and Movies that relate to the novel
4) Listening to CDs that relate to the novel
5) Journals
6) Group questions and group work
7) Drawings
8) Unit Final
9) Possible memorization and acting of chara
