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Catcher in the rye literary devices
Literary analysis rhetorical devices the catcher in the rye
Literary analysis rhetorical devices the catcher in the rye
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We all experience a rite of passage in our lives, whether it be the time we learned to swim or perhaps the day we received our driver’s license. A rite of passage marks an important stage in someone’s life, and one often times comes with a lesson learned. Three selections that provide fine examples of rites of passage that individuals confront include “The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant” by W.D. Wetherell, “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins” and “First Lesson” by Philip Booth.
“The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant,” written by W.D. Wetherell, tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy and the summer in which he met Sheila Mant. After weeks of failed attempts and longing for the older woman who seemed just out of his reach, the boy worked
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The author throughout the poem discusses the troubles and changes faced by a newly-turned ten-year-old boy. “This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself, as I walk through the universe in my sneakers. It is time to say goodbye to my imaginary friends, time to turn the first big number.” (Collins 46) The boy feels as though he must leave behind the playfulness of his early childhood with the addition of another digit. As he lies on his bed he remembers the fun he had playing as an Arabian Wizard, a soldier, and a prince. The rite of passage, turning ten, has brought him further into reality, shown by the final stanza. “It seems only yesterday I used to believe there was nothing under my skin but light. If you cut me I could shine. But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life, I skin my knees. I bleed.” Collins …show more content…
A daughter is taught to swim by one of her parents, illustrated by the image on the page and described in the text. “Gently, I will hold you. Spread your arms wide, lie out on the stream and look high at the gulls.” (Booth 45) The other rite of passage is a metaphorical one. By learning how to swim, one also learns to trust the water, which could be symbolic for other people, as there will always be someone to help and support you when it is needed. All you have to do is trust them. “As you float now, where I held you and let go, remember when fear cramps your heart what I told you: lie gently and wide to the light-year stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.” (Booth 45) Trust is a vital aspect of life, one must let go of the fear in their heart and allow the sea to hold
Dennis Covington writes about a unique method of worship—snake handling, in his memoir, Salvation on Sand Mountain. He begins as a journalist, looking in on this foreign way of life; however, as time progresses he increasing starts to feel a part of this lifestyle. As a result loses his journalistic approach, resulting in his memoir, detailing his own spiritual journey. Upon the conclusion of his stay in this world, Covington realizes the significance of this journey, and argues in his memoir that we cannot entirely know ourselves until we step outside of our comfort zone and separate ourselves from our norm.
But what really intrigues me about this poem is the role of the number six. Why is it so important? This poem also informs us of how much he loves his big brother and the importance he thinks he has in this world. He also questions his worth in life. Although I am not sure what this poem is trying to make us feel, I think it can try to make us question certain things like is one truly the loneliest number?
When I decide to read a memoir, I imagine sitting down to read the story of someone’s life. I in vision myself learning s...
The story describes the protagonist who is coming of age as torn between the two worlds which he loves equally, represented by his mother and his father. He is now mature and is reflecting on his life and the difficulty of his childhood as a fisherman. Despite becoming a university professor and achieving his father’s dream, he feels lonely and regretful since, “No one waits at the base of the stairs and no boat rides restlessly in the waters of the pier” (MacLeod 261). Like his father, the narrator thinks about what his life could have been like if he had chosen another path. Now, with the wisdom and experience that comes from aging and the passing of time, he is trying to make sense of his own life and accept that he could not please everyone. The turmoil in his mind makes the narrator say, “I wished that the two things I loved so dearly did not exclude each other in a manner that was so blunt and too clear” (MacLeod 273). Once a decision is made, it is sometimes better to leave the past and focus on the present and future. The memories of the narrator’s family, the boat and the rural community in which he spent the beginning of his life made the narrator the person who he is today, but it is just a part of him, and should not consume his present.
The painting Light of Hope is a realistic painting of a light house on the coast of an American shore done by contemporary artist Thomas Kinkade. Thomas Kinkade started his career with his first lithograph, and after some time he realized he was inspired to paint not for the money but from his heart. His main goal became glorifying God and spreading His light. Kinkade grew up in Placerville, California and growing up to be a big family man. Often in his paintings he leaves little symbols representing his wife and children. Over the years he has donated his earned money to different charities and is al crediting God for his ability to paint. His purpose as a painter has been and will continue to share of the light of God (Thomaskinkade).
As I am going through this story, I am wondering if the narrator will pick the bass or Sheila. I think that the narrator might pick the bass. I think he will pick the bass because, when he is on the boat with Sheila she begins to only talk about herself and the things she hates and loves. She never gives the boy a chance to talk nor asks questions about him. Another reason why is because, It is one of his favorite
Love, an emotion that grips over people in intense ways, and holds them for an everlasting time. In the short story called “The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant” written by W.D. Wetherell shows how love, or having a passion for someone, or something can drive a person into doing things in different ways. The story deals with the narrator trying to impress and go out with a girl named Sheila Mant, but at the same, the narrator loves fishing very much, so these two different passions would go in conflict with each other in the story. The theme of the story is not letting your love of something be overshadowed by anything else. The story portrays the theme through literary devices such as; the characterization of the narrator, the ironies involved
Throughout life we go through many stepping stones, Maya Angelou's autobiographical essay "Graduation", was about more than just moving on to another grade. The unexpected events that occurred during the ceremony enabled her to graduate from the views of a child to the more experienced and sometimes disenchanting views of an adult. Upon reading the story there is an initial feeling of excitement and hope which was quickly tarnished with the abrupt awareness of human prejudices. The author vividly illustrates a rainbow of significant mood changes she undergoes throughout the story.
Even though we believe there are so many happy things around us, these things are heartbreaking. The poems “Tips from My Father” by Carol Ann Davis, “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith, and “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop convey the sorrow of growing up, of sorrowful pretending, and even of life itself. The poem “Tips from My Father” depicts an episode of the life of a father and his son. The pain from the childhood, the betraying of a lover, countless secrets are settling during the period of life, which can absolutely not be shared and understood by others.
“Dead Men’s Path” by Chinua Achebe. In this short story “Dead Men’s Path,” Chinua Achebe gives the protagonist an exciting chance to fulfill his dream. Michael Obi was officially headmaster of Ndume Central School, which was backward in every sense. He had to turn the school into a progressive one, however the school received a bad report when the supervisor came to inspect.
Life Transitions and Life Completion. (n.d.). : Joan Erikson's 9th Stage of Psychosocial Development. Web. 3 December 2014.
Who is the birthday party a rite of passage for, the birthday boy or his mother?
Throughout life, we are faced with endings that are challenging to accept, and those challenges can also create undesirable occurrences that are inevitable. While most transitions are uncomfortable, the process of accepting a new journey is essential for personal growth. Ending a comfortable way of life and entering into an unknown territory can be an intimidating experience which can force a person to stay in their comfort zone. Why do new experiences make individuals feel lost or undecided about their direction in life? In Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes, the author William Bridges, guides his readers through three stages of change, which include, the ending, the neutral zone, and new beginnings. According to Bridges, transitions start with an ending, however, it is the ending that starts with a beginning. Part of the beginning and ending process is an important portion of the cycle, barriers have to end in
My high school graduation was one of the saddest moments of my life. Although I was excited about graduating, I did not know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. In Maya Angelou’s “Graduation,” Angelou was excited and proud of all that she had accomplished. In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Late Encounter With the Enemy,” Sally Poker Sash was proud that she was finally graduating and just wanted to show that off to all the “upstarts”. In the two readings the pupils are contrasting in a few different areas, and a couple of those areas are in pride and feelings that their families have being involved in the graduation.
To begin something new, you must sacrifice something old. To enter the real world, you must graduate your childhood.