The Catcher in the Rye

     As I near the half way point of  J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, I'm really beginning to get curious as to where this book is heading. The entirety of the first hundred pages have been about the main character, Holden. So far we have learned about much of his life through small anecdotes. He went back about one year before to begin telling his story of why he is wherever he is. Right now, I am really interested in where he goes after just being expelled from school, but not wanting to go home yet. His parents don't know yet so he must stay away from home and school. I am the same age as Holden and I can't imagine just staying in a hotel in New York for a few days after being expelled.
     Referring back to the first sentence of the book, Holden says "If you really want to know about it..." (1). About what? That is what is driving me crazy- half way through and we still don't know. Nonetheless, I really like this book so far. I expected it to be very different since it is such a classic, but it is completely relatable and normal. However, I really want to know where he is.

The Catcher in the Rye

     As I've already said,  J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has really all been about Holden and characterizing him. So far, we, the reader, have learned about his life through imagery, description, and conversations. Now, in section two, I have learned a lot more about him through diction. The way he speaks shows his education and age clearly. He swears constantly. Also, he says things like "I toleja about that" (72). Obviously, he is saying "I told you about that," but the way the author wrote it out phonetically shows Holden is a typical seventeen-year-old. The author also includes Holden's extensive use of profanity to do the same thing. The way Holden speaks helps the reader understand him and that he is a normal teenager.

The Catcher in the Rye

      J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye includes quite a bit of characterization of the main character, Holden. Another prevalent quality of Holden is that he is not extremely confident. He is always calling himself a moron or other names. When talking about how brilliant his siblings are, he says, "I'm the only really dumb one" (67). However, he may have a point. He was kicked out of multiple schools. Although, I feel he really could be smart, he just doesn't apply himself. Also, his careless attitude probably relates back to his psychological issues. The book seems to be set in a psych ward, so we will likely find out why he is there and why he is so strange. The author does a good job of making the reader forget that the whole story is a flashback, and that eventually we will find out what is happening currently with Holden.

The Catcher in the Rye

     The main character, Holden Caulfield, of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, proves to be a very unique guy. Thus far in the novel, the author has used imagery and conversations to convey his character to the reader. One profound trait of Holden is that he is a compulsive liar. He often tells lies even when the do not benefit him at all, just for the sake of lying. At one point, he is talking to a friend's mom on a train. He really has no reason to lie to her; he'll likely never even see her again. But he truly can not help himself.

"Then I started reading this timetable I had in my pocket. Just to stop lying. Once I get started, I can go on for hours if I feel like it" (58).

     The fact that Holden lies so much tells a lot about his character. Due to previous stories, it is obvious he has psychological problems. I don't really know if that is what caused his lying problem, but it is clear both issues are interfering with his life.

Sorting Laundry

Elisavietta Ritchie's poem Sorting Laundry is an extended metaphor. This poem compares sorting laundry to a woman's relationship with a man. Each piece of clothing describes a different aspect of the couple's relationship. Imagery is used to help the reader envision both the clothing and their relationship. "Myriad uncoupled socks which went paired into the foam like those creatures in the ark" (Ritchie, 842). Also, in this quote, we see a simile. Their clothing, and relationship, is now being compares to Noah's ark. Since practically everyone has some idea of this story, this helps the reader to understand more details.

Near the end of the poem, an ellipses marks a shift in mood. The poem started out content and happy with their relationship. However, when the woman recalls a past lover, she begins to fear what would happen if her current man left her.
The overall tone seems to show that she is happy with her lover, even if they have a few problems or fears.

Liquor Never Brewed

Emily Dickinson's poem I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed is one extended metaphor. This metaphor compares alcoholic intoxication to the seasons. Intoxication is like "endless summer days" (Dickinson, 797), This is because the drunkard feels as though the feeling will never end, just as the seasons. The last stanza changes the poem a bit, however.

"Till seraphs swing their snowy Hats, And Saints- to windows run" (797).

The seraphs and the saints give an unexpected attitude of innocence and holiness. This clashes with the overall tone of the poem. By including these images, the poem is given a more light-hearted feeling. Again, I don't really understand the title. Maybe this is her first time drinking. Or possibly, a different feeling after drinking.

The Convergence of the Twain

The poem The Convergence of the Twain is a sad poem by Thomas Hardy that details the sinking of the beloved Titanic. The poem utilizes imagery as its main way of conveying the event to the reader. Hardy describes her stillness and the broken parts of the ship in the water.

"Jewels in Joy designed To ravish the sensuous mind Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind" (Hardy, 778).

This quote shows the reader how beautiful the ship once was and how lifeless she is now. One thing I noticed that I found interesting is the personification. Hardy uses by describing the Titanic as a woman.

"And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she" (Hardy, 778).

Not only does this quote show hardy's use of personification  but this is my favorite line of the poem. It ties together the workers of the Titanic and the horror of her wreck. Once so full of life, and now useless.

I did not understand the Title at first. Even after looking up the meaning of the words, I still don't understand how it really relates to the poem as a whole.