Comparison and Contrast of a Separate Peace and Catcher in...

Comparison and Contrast Essay A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflicts, irony, symobolism, theme, and point of view. In both of the novels, the setting is taken place in an all boys school. The all boys school in A Separate Peace was named Devon High School, located in New Hampshire and the school in The Catcher†¦show more content†¦The cause of this depression is the death of his younger brother Ally. In the novel, he describes that he literally broke all the windows in the garage and that he wasnt able to attend Allies funeral because he spent his time in the hospital healing his hands. Also, the switching of private schools and the way his parents are always neglecting him is another reason of his depression. An example of how they describe Holdens depression is found early in the novel. In chapter 1, Old Spencer says Life is a game boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules. Then Holden replies with, Yes sir. I know it is. I know itÂ…Game my a**. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then its a game, all right- Ill admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there arent any hot-shots, then whats a game about it? Nothing. No Game (Salinger 8). This quote shows that Holden is a victim of depression and in his thoughts he compares himself as not being with the hot-shots, which means that he is alienated in society. However, in A Separate Peace, Gene doesnt have this conflict because he belongs to a club. This club that he is in is called the Super Suicide Society in the Summer Session where his major con flict started. WhenShow MoreRelatedSymbolic Meaning of the Land in Gone with the Wind6993 Words   |  28 Pagesis also concerned with all human beings emotional changes and spiritual world. The previous researches about Gone with the Wind relate to the theme of the novel, the characteristics of the protagonist, the feminism, the tomorrow complex and the comparison between Gone with the Wind and other books. Tara as the family for the heroine Scarlett is conferred with special meanings. To the general extent, the land Tara laid on has a more wide sense in this book. Appearing for many times and associating