Psychological Theory in Catcher in the Rye & the Lesson
Lab:
When examining a novel, poem, play or film, a certain image or line may repeat, stress, or communicate an idea, theme, object, etc. Taken together, this object, event, or idea becomes a motif and/or a symbol representing something larger than itself.
Characters built with characterization (a character's thoughts, speech (dialogue), description, and/or actions) are often drawn from psychological theories. In order to create truly interesting characters, most literary fiction focuses on the psychological journey of the character's development more so than the physical changes that happen. The use of stream of consciousness is just one way in which an author fleshes out or rounds out the characterization of their protagonist.
POV becomes, then, an important tool as well. As writers, we must choose how we are going to tell our story. Will we tell the story from the perspective of a 1st person narration (a protagonist or even a minor character who reports the story truthfully), or through a 1st person unreliable narrator (a subjective narrator who might not be trusted to tell us the whole truth), or from a more objective, journalistic 3rd person POV (whether that is limited, omniscient, multiple, or objective)?
As viewers or listeners, we need to be aware that symbols or motifs, the use of POV, or characterization is occurring so that we understand what the author intended -- it works the same way in visual art or music. A viewer must be able to decode the visual symbols, the tone or mood of the work that the artist creates in order to understand the message or meaning of the work as a whole.
Using the ideas and theories of the psychologists: John Watson, Rollo May, Lev Vygotsky, Bruno Bettelheim, Francoise Dolto, Harry Harlow, Pavlov, Piaget, Hall, Bandura, Ainsworth, Erikson, Leary and/or Galton write a psychological assessment of Holden Caulfield.
How to do this:
When examining a novel, poem, play or film, a certain image or line may repeat, stress, or communicate an idea, theme, object, etc. Taken together, this object, event, or idea becomes a motif and/or a symbol representing something larger than itself.
Characters built with characterization (a character's thoughts, speech (dialogue), description, and/or actions) are often drawn from psychological theories. In order to create truly interesting characters, most literary fiction focuses on the psychological journey of the character's development more so than the physical changes that happen. The use of stream of consciousness is just one way in which an author fleshes out or rounds out the characterization of their protagonist.
POV becomes, then, an important tool as well. As writers, we must choose how we are going to tell our story. Will we tell the story from the perspective of a 1st person narration (a protagonist or even a minor character who reports the story truthfully), or through a 1st person unreliable narrator (a subjective narrator who might not be trusted to tell us the whole truth), or from a more objective, journalistic 3rd person POV (whether that is limited, omniscient, multiple, or objective)?
As viewers or listeners, we need to be aware that symbols or motifs, the use of POV, or characterization is occurring so that we understand what the author intended -- it works the same way in visual art or music. A viewer must be able to decode the visual symbols, the tone or mood of the work that the artist creates in order to understand the message or meaning of the work as a whole.
Using the ideas and theories of the psychologists: John Watson, Rollo May, Lev Vygotsky, Bruno Bettelheim, Francoise Dolto, Harry Harlow, Pavlov, Piaget, Hall, Bandura, Ainsworth, Erikson, Leary and/or Galton write a psychological assessment of Holden Caulfield.
How to do this:
- Use the graphic organizer to help you compile your thoughts
- Select some key psychological ideas from what we've read (use the handouts to help you...)
- Examples of classical conditioning
- Examples of operant conditioning
- Examples of Piaget's Four-Stage Theory of Cognitive Development
- Examples of Erikson's Stages of Progressive Psychosocial Development
- Examples of Behaviorism
- Examples of Associative Learning
- Examples of both positive and negative reinforcement
- Examples of primary, partial, and conditioned reinforcers
- Examples of learning, or parenting, etc.
- Find textual examples to support these ideas; record the page # and passage
- Be prepared to discuss what you have found in our Socratic seminar today (period 2).
- Psychological criticism examines literature through the theories presented in psychology to find meaning. As we discuss, we are examining how the author created a psychologically sophisticated character. What makes Holden Caulfield tick? What's his problem? Why is he the way he is? Can we attribute any of his characteristics to J.D. Salinger? Let's find some meaning.
If you are reporting what you found in The Lesson (whatever topic you signed up for), prepare your notes and gather your ideas for that play as well.
*if you have completed your analysis & notes, feel free to workshop or continue working on your portfolio during our lab time.
Period 2:
Socratic Seminars for:
- The Lesson
- Catcher in the Rye
We will discuss the play and novel during class. Evaluate your neighbor and participate in the discussion for credit.
Psychological criticism examines a text for psychological theories. How to do this:
- List a psychological theory you are looking for (or use a particular psychologist's theories to examine). Ex. operant conditioning.
- Find examples of the theory by examining the text. Look for characterization, motifs, symbols, or the narrative structure to help you.
- Look for patterns. Find more than one occurrence of the theory you are looking for.
- Create a thesis. Use your found evidence to support your idea or inkling that the author is supporting the ideas of a psychological theory or idea.
- Repeat, explain and reflect as needed.
HOMEWORK: You will be tested on The Catcher in the Rye during our lab time on Monday. If you didn't complete the novel, do so over the weekend and prepare for the test.
Comments