A Study On Narrative Techniques In The Catcher In The Rye

Jerome David Salinger is a famous American writer in the 20 th century. The Catcher in the Rye is his masterpiece, which has been widely concerned since it was published. In general, previous studies have focused on angles like character?s language style, character?s growth theme and comparison among different translating versions. However, based on Genette?s theories of narrative time and focalization, Booth?s and Phelan?s theories of unreliable narration, the author of this dissertation aims to analyze narrative techniques like narrative time, point of view, focalization, unreliable narration and its effect through methods of detailed reading and example analysis. In a word, this dissertation aims to provide a new angle for further study on this novel.This dissertation falls into seven chapters. The first chapter is the introduction of the writer, and his works as well as methodology, purpose and structure of the dissertation. Chapter Two focuses on the development of narratology and the studies on The Catcher in the Rye both at home and abroad. Chapter Three is the theoretical foundation. The first step is to introduce Genette?s relevant theories – narrative time and focalization, then it presents achievements of the study on point of view, finally Booth?s and Phelan?s theories of unreliable narration are illustrated. Chapter Four mainly expounds the techniques of narrative time employed in The Catcher in the Rye, which contains time duration, time order, time frequency and time-space relationship. Chapter Five pays attention to the point of view and focalization, especially the issue on whether this novel belongs to external focalization or internal focalization. Chapter Six analyzes the unreliable narration in the novel from three axes of facts/events, judgment/values and perception/knowledge. Chapter Seven is the conclusion.After studying this novel, some findings are summarized as follows:Firstly, the reasonable arrangement of narrative time in this novel can not only optimize its structure, but also enrich the content, and improve its readability. Moreover, the non-synchronism in some chapters of this novel also creates suspense for the development of the plot. Secondly, the application of first person point of view can deepen readers? understanding of the main character?s personality and inner world, and create a sense of sympathy on him, which narrows the distance between readers and character. Thirdly, the author of this dissertation thinks that this novel applies internal focalization rather than external focalization, because the theme of the novel is to show the main character?s inner world, on this premise, both the story experiencing “I” and narrating “I” are within the same world, and the narrator “I” is not totally outside the story, based on this, it should be internal focalization. Fourthly, unreliable narration exists in the main character, and his unreliability occurs on axes of facts/events, judgment/values and perception/knowledge. Moreover, the unreliable narration in the novel has vividly portrayed both the “Flat character” Stradlater, Phoebe and “Round character” Holden, and creates ironic effect.