Ms. Gokturk
Composition
Catcher in the Rye-United States
of Leland Essay
YOUR TASK: Write a 1000 word comparative analytical essay
about The Catcher in the Rye and The United States of Leland. Take clear
and detailed notes as you watch the film.
GUIDELINES:
As you watch the film, take notes! Highlight the common ground: What reminds you
of Holden and his story? Why?
- Flashback
Structure
- Setting
- Characterization
- Voice /
narrative style / attitude
- Perspective
of life and its difficulties (and joys)
- Characters’
action vs. passivity
- Relationships
and how they are made / lost / needed
- Themes
(Some are: Isolation / alienation, not fitting in, communication, coming
of age, detachment, psychological pressures/fears/confusion, risky
behaviors, “good” vs. “evil,” phoniness, compassion, meaning of life,
coping with loss, and -- keep on looking!)
- Symbols,
motifs (reoccurring images/symbols)
- Cinematography
(Angles, zooms, crosscutting, juxtaposition of scenes, etc. These are the
visual literary devices used to tell a story. Just as an author shows
through writing, the filmmaker presents images.) See The Basic Glossary of
Film Terms (http://www.springhurst.org/cinemagic/glossary_terms.htm)
if you’d like to sound like a filmmaker. Or, use literary terms and apply
them to the visual “novel.”
Don’t ignore the
differences. Even where there is common ground, there are differences. These make for interesting analysis as
well. Consider how the differences shape
the character/s and theme/s.
Something Strikes
You? Write down direct quotes! Did I mention, TAKE NOTES? Yeah, that will be
the first step to a good essay. As far as I know, the full script is not
readily available online at this time.
Main Characters
Leland P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling)
Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle)
Becky Pollard (Jena
Malone)
Albert Fitzgerald (Kevin Spacey)
Marybeth Fitzgerald (Lena
Olin)