Genres in Catcher

1. Genres in Catcher Henderson

2. What is a genre? • “Genre” refers to a category in literature based on certain patterns or criteria • Works can and often do fit into multiple genres • Genres can often be combined to form new ones (the ubiquitous “Rom-Com”) • Name some genres!

3. THINK! To what extent does The Catcher in the Rye fulfill the demands of two genres, the Picaresque and the Bildungsroman?

4. The picaresque novel • From the Spanish “picaro”, which means rogue or rascal • Often written in a satirical and realistic style • Depicts the adventures of a roguish hero who lives by his wits in a corrupt society

5. Elements of a picaresque novel • Often told as a first person, autobiographical account • Protagonist is often of low character or social class; gets by through cleverness as opposed to any real productivity (not fans of jobs, these picaros) • There is rarely a cohesive plot. Rather, the story is a loose collection of episodes and adventures. • The picaro’s circumstances may change, but he/she does not really develop as a character through the plot. • The story is told with a plainness of language, or realism. • Satire is an essential element to the story. • Picaro’s behavior is almost criminal. Often depicted as a sympathetic outsider who is untouched by the false rules of society.

6. The Bildungsroman • A coming-of-age story, focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood • Emphasis on character change

7. Elements of a Bildungsroman A bildungsroman is best understood through its plot structure: • Story generally opens with an emotional loss that makes the protagonist set out on a journey • The goal of the bildungsroman is maturity, and the protagonist only gains it gradually, and with great difficulty • Central conflict is typically individual vs. society • Reciprocity of acceptance: the protagonist gradually accepts society’s rules, and the society gradually accepts the protagonist • Subgenres focus on education or art