Catcher Diagram Essay, Research Paper
There are six parts to a plot of a book. These are the
exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action,
and resolution. I’m sure there is no set way to diagram
“The Catcher in the Rye”, but I believe the following is
accurate.
In the very beginning of “The Catcher in the Rye”, we
are given some background information on the setting and
situation, and of course Holden Caulfield, the protagonist.
We learn that Holden attends Pencey Preparatory, an elite
college preparatory school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania.
There is also Holden’s brother D.B., who we are not
introduced to but are given some information about him.
D.B. is a writer who moved to Hollywood with all the
“phonies”, as Holden called them. This disclosure of vital
background information is called the exposition.
Next, we are told the conflict which is that Holden is
being expelled from Pencey because of his very poor grades.
Although he is supposed to leave in a few days, Holden
decides to leave early and venture to New York City. Since
his parents are under the impression he will be home on
Wednesday and not Saturday, Holden has to fend for himself
in New York City for a few days without much money.
The rising action is the part of the book that begins
with the onset of the conflict up until the climax. During
the rising action, many events occur. Holden leaves Pencey
and takes a train to New York City. During this part of the
book, the infamous scene with the prostitute, Sunny, occurs.
As a result of his encounter with the prostitute, Holden is
nearly killed by her pimp, Maurice, over a dispute about
money. Towards the end of the rising action, Holden decides
to break into his apartment to see his sister, Phoebe. He
arrives there and they chat, but Holden is still in his
sister’s room when his parents get home. He eventually
escapes through the fire escape. In this section Phoebe
also learns of Holden’s scheme to move away from New York.
The climax of the story occurs when Holden meets his
sister in the Museum of Natural History. This section is
the climax because it is when Phoebe tells Holden that she
wants to come with him on his expedition to find a job and
build a log cabin. This is also where Holden finds the
same expletive scribbled on the wall that was on a wall in
Phoebe’s school.
The falling action is from the time Phoebe refuses to
talk to Holden till they get to the carousel. During the
falling action Phoebe is angry because Holden will not let
her come with him on his trip. She doesn’t talk to him or
walk on the same side of the street as he does until they
reach the carousel.
Once they reach the carousel, the resolution occurs
when Holden agrees not to leave his family and move away.
Once Holden agrees to leave, Phoebe pulls a one-eighty and
decides to love her brother again.