What phrases does Holden Caulfield use a lot?
“All morons hate it when you call them a moron.” “If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late?” “All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.”
What type of language is used in The Catcher in the Rye?
colloquial
Catcher and Vernacular Language Among the major hallmarks of The Catcher in the Rye is J. D. Salinger’s use of mid-twentieth-century slang and colloquial speech. Indeed, the language of the novel is one of the reasons critics considered the novel groundbreaking and controversial upon its initial publication.
Why Catcher in the Rye is banned?
Some books may be banned for the whole novel in general, and some books are banned for just one word or even their book cover (“If You Think We’re Free”). The Catcher in the Rye has been challenged several times for its “excessive vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues” (Sova).
What phrase does Holden hate?
Holden hates the word “grand” with a passion. To him, it’s the epitome of everything that’s false, fake, and—his favorite word—phony. It’s the kind of word that always seems to be used as a euphemism, to make something seem much better than it really is.
What does oiled up mean in Catcher in the Rye?
oiled up here, drunk, intoxicated. ostracized banished, barred, excluded, etc.
What does hot mean in Catcher in the Rye?
Holden’s Vernacular
| Page Number | What Holden Says | Meaning of the Colloquialism |
|---|---|---|
| Pg. 194 | Hot | Well or very good |
| Pg. 18 | Corny | Out of style; or clichéd |
| Pg. 180 | Swanky | Very high-class or expensive |
| Pg. 78 | Necking | Canoodling |
What are some symbols in The Catcher in the Rye?
The Catcher in the Rye | Symbols
- Holden’s Red Hunting Hat. Holden’s cap is a symbol of his insecurities and his creative personality.
- The “Catcher in the Rye” Holden’s journey toward adulthood causes him to want to protect children.
- Allie’s Baseball Glove.
- Museum of Natural History.
- The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon.
What do the Ducks symbolize in Catcher in the Rye?
Holden’s focus on the Central Park Lagoon ducks symbolizes his youthful side as well as his true desire to discover how the ducks survive the harsh winter environment, hoping he can apply their secret to his own struggles.
Does Holden blame himself for Allie’s death?
Holden’s relationship with Allie enables him to see “the beauty of a child’s innocence,” but he feels a great deal of guilt and “blames himself for not being able to ‘catch’ Allie[,] even though there was nothing he could do to save him from cancer.” There is an appropriate, rather than rich, use of language about …
What does Phoebe do that makes Holden cry?
After the mother leaves, Phoebe loans Holden her Christmas money, which makes Holden cry. He gives her his treasured red hunting cap and exits down the building’s back stairs.
What was the style of the catcher in the Rye?
The Catcher in the Rye. Style. The style of The Catcher in the Rye is highly self-conscious and vernacular, defining the main character while keeping the reader aware that the story is a creation of its narrator.
What does the word ambivalent mean in the catcher in the Rye?
The sentence has a spoken quality that feels true to the way a teenager might tell the story, and also conveys Holden’s ambivalence about seeing his teacher. The ambivalent, second-guessing style enforces the sense of Holden as an uncertain character who doesn’t know himself or his own desires.
Which is an example of hyperbole in the catcher in the Rye?
Hyperbole is a form of overstatement that is not meant to be taken literally. An example of hyperbole appears on the novel’s first page, when Holden claims that his parents “would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.” Holden also has a propensity for generalization.
What kind of language does Holden Caulfield use?
The voice is characterized by Holden’s colloquial and frank use of language. As the reader notices from the very first sentence, Holden makes liberal use of 1950s-era slang (like “lousy” and “swell”) and drops curse words (like “hell” and “damn”) frequently.