2 Suchergebnisse

The novel of adolescence (or coming-of-age novel) describes key parts of a young person's passage into adulthood. Experiencing conflicting influences of one or several crises, the protagonist has to make his/her choice. In the process of growing up, the young person investigates into his/her identity and individuality. He/she acquires a growing self-understanding, an aim in life and an individual set of values. If the passage is completed, the young person is finally ready to face adult life.

JEROME D. SALINGER's, The Catcher in the Rye (1951) and SAUL BELLOW's, The Adventures of Augie March (1953) both have an episodic structure. They are built around a line of experiences and sometimes emotionally disturbing, difficult or unpleasant encounters the young protagonist has with various people.

If the main concern of the novel is the inner process of growing up, introspection will be given more importance than the presentation of an intricate or thrilling plot. CARSON MCCULLERS' (1917–1967), The Member of the Wedding (1946) and the sections of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1943), dedicated to the girl Mick, concentrate on the inner development of the protagonist. Much space is given to the presentation of moods, reflections and feelings from the protagonist's point of view.

Other examples

• JAMES JOYCE, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916);
• STAN BARSTOW, Joby (1964);
• BARRY HINES, Kes (1968);
• PAUL AUSTER, Moon Palace (1989)

* 01. Januar 1919 in New York
† 27. Januar 2010 in Cornish (New Hampshire)

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”
(J. D. Salinger: The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1)

Mit diesen Worten beginnt der 1951 erschienene Roman The Catcher in the Rye des amerikanischen Autors JEROME DAVID SALINGER, der den Nerv einer ganzen Generation traf. Das Buch wurde schlagartig ein internationaler Welterfolg und verkauft sich auch heute noch gut. Thematisiert wird das Erwachsenwerden. Aus der Sicht des Jugendlichen Holden Caulfield schildert SALINGER auf tragikomische Weise den Konflikt zwischen der als unschuldig dargestellten Kindheit und einer als heuchlerisch empfundenen Erwachsenenwelt. Über SALINGER selbst ist nur wenig bekannt: Er publizierte noch einige Erzählungen und lebt abgeschieden von der Außenwelt in Neuengland. Über neue Veröffentlichungen gibt es lediglich Spekulationen.