Contributor: Melissa Kowalski. Lesson ID: 12225
When talking about your latest adventure, do you say, "He went to the store and he bought a new video game"? No, you would use first person narration. Learn what difference the narration voice makes!
Watch this 2013 video of Ellen Degeneres discussing talking in the third person.
Elephango wants YOU to keep reading The Catcher in the Rye!
All stories are told by narrators. There are three different categories of narrators: first person, second person, and third person.
The three categories mirror the three persons in English grammar. First-person is I or the self. Second person is you or the person being spoken to. Third person is they, a person not being directly addressed.
Now, you should understand why Ellen was so confused!
Watch the video below to learn more about the different types of narrators.
Then, answer the following questions in your notebook.
By now, you should have read the first 11 chapters of The Catcher in the Rye. If not, check out the first Related Lessons in the right-hand sidebar.
Based on your knowledge of narration and point of view, answer the following question.
Now that you know the type of narrative voice used in the novel, read Chapters 12 through 16.
It would be best to obtain a print copy of the novel, which you can find in a local bookstore or library.
However, if you simply do not have access, you may use this online version of The Catcher in the Rye. It is important to note that this novel will be under copyright protection until 2080, so copies of the complete text are only permitted for educational purposes.
As you read, note the characters Holden encounters in New York City and his reaction to them.
When you have finished reading and taking notes, move to the Got It? section to explore the plot of these chapters in further detail.