Literature Analysis #1

*Disclaimer* I haven't finished reading the book yet; I've been caught up in so many other "selling time" activities that I really wished I could've put this as more of a priority. Never the less, I have tried my best but will continue on finishing the book!

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.).  Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

Catch- 22 does not follow the traditional elements of plot. Although through out reading the readers do find an exposition, inciting incident, climax and falling action, there is no necessary order to where they are placed in. Readers will find one chapter talking about how Yossarian has to complete 60 missions while in few chapters later he will have to complete 55 missions. I think the point the author was trying to get across was how people who are in the wars see the war as opposed to the people who stand and watch the wars. The exposition is introduced through meeting the many different characters and towards the  ¾ of the book where Yossarian has to fly a small amount of missions. The readers learn about Catch-22, which is in theory that there’s no way out of a situation, unless you commit the act of death. Throughout the book, every time Yossarian tries to go home after completing his missions, the mission number goes up, which makes Yossarian more miserable. The climax would have to be when Korn and Cathcart offer a solution that Yossarian ultimately declines. As a conclusion, Yossarian deserts the army and tries to find a way to Sweden to escape the war.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

The theme of the story is that there is always a catch, hence Catch-22. As seen throughout the story, Yossarian is constantly trying to find the loophole of leaving his stay in the military. Unfortunately, there was no guarantee of a leave, which left Yossarian being one of the most sane people in a place full of insane people. Along with that theme could be the added fact that death is the only option out. In order for Yossarian to have left he must have been insane to stay in ward so he could be benched or he would have to die.   
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

Joseph Heller told the story through a satirical tone to display the irony of the whole war situation going on. For example, when Yossarian was told about the Catch-22 dilemma, the situation of Yossarian turned into a pointless discussion instead of focusing on the real problem going on which was why the soldiers couldn’t leave their base when there were eager men back home who would “love” to be fighting.

Also, the situation where Yossarian has to pretend to be the dead soldier, Guiseppe, for his family and at the same time jokes around at the situation shows Heller poking fun at the idea of death. In addition, there is the character named Major Major Major Major who is a joke in himself. The fact that his name was a joke started by his father and how he was only promoted to being a major because he looked like Henry Forda added to the sheer satirical tone of the author. Another example is how Lieutenant Scheisskopf name in German means sh*thead (courtesy to Dr. Preston). In the book, the Lieutenant acts just like his name and no one enjoys his presence because of how two-faced he could be.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.) 

-       Dramatic Irony: There are a few moments in the book where the actions such as Yossarian pretending to be an alive soldier, with the family having no clue but the audience does, which the author uses sporadically throughout the book. (Page 229-230)

-       Foreshadowing: Since the story does not follow the traditional plot structure, the readers read a mix of things that have already happened, that may happen, or that are happening. (Page 63.)

-       Diction: A lot of the words used through out Catch – 22 are vocabulary words I’ve seen through out my years in high school. Some are even from current vocabulary lists that I’m studying in class.  Knowing these words adds a higher understanding to the text. (Page 247)

-       Aphorism: This term is also used various times through out the book, especially to enhance the satirical tone of the book. An exemplary phrase from Catch-22 is “There was so much unhappiness in the world… and there was nothing he could do about anybody’s” (page 258)

-       Dialogue: Most of Catch-22 is filled with dialogue, which really develops a good sense of flow in the book. Dialogue really captures the essence of the situation, for example there is a part where Dobbs wants to kill several of his own military members and he’s waiting for Yossarians approval but Yossarian can’t choke out the words so that convinces Dobbs. (Page 282)

-       Black Comedy: This technique is also prominently shown in Catch-22 with dialogue between characters. An example is when Milo tries to convince Yossarian that his cotton ball chocolate is good for the soldiers. This event in the book is funny in a dumbstruck way but also concerning because of effects of the chocolate cotton ball. (page 330)

-       Telling Detail: There are a myriad of characters in Catch-22 but some characters actions speak louder than words. Telling detail is basically when language or visual element tells a lot about a character’s character. An example is how the people see the chaplain and how he really sees himself through his though process of missing his family. (Page 336)

-       Paradox: Paradoxes are especially used throughout the book to emphasis the author’s intention of telling the story. For example when the chaplain hangs around the drunken people at the bar to get them to believe in god. To see a holy man in a place so sinful really questions the chaplains actions of why he was really there. (Page 352)

-       Motif: The motif of Catch-22 is obvious, the whole story revolves around this idea of catch-22, which is the idea that there really are no ways out despite being given two options.

-        Ambiguity: There are actions in the book that really make the readers question what is the author trying to convey. An example is when Yossarian talks to Major Sanderson about his “fish dream” which then takes a sudden turn for the odd of the subject. (page 368)