Stylistic Prose Techniques In Catch 22

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Stylistic Prose Techniques Writing Style- The author’s particular way they write the story in order to give it a particular feel or meaning. The narration and conversation that takes place throughout the novel is often repeated using a short, clipped tone. Every time something is repeated, it emphasizes the importance of that event or conversation. The novel jumps from time to time all throughout, causing the story to be somewhat difficult to follow. The repetition helps the reader to following along more clearly. “Guess how fast?” Dunbar said suddenly. “Huh?” “They go,” Dunbar replied. “Who?” “Years.” “Years?” “Years,” said Dunbar. “Years, years, years.” Tone- The way the author narrates throughout a piece. The tone is meant to give the novel that particular feel and is usually what the reader takes away from the piece. In Catch 22, the tone is full of satire. The novel is basically making a mockery of the US military during World War II. The piece for the most part has a light, funny tone, but then again it zeroes in on the severity of the war and makes several references to the absurd and cruel reality of the war. The characters make countless jabs toward the government and the military, and then before you know it, the war finishes them. When the squadron is ordered to bomb the small innocent village by the mountains, the reason they are told they must do it is: “knock the whole village to send it sliding down the side of the mountain and create a roadblock that the Germans will have to clear.” Point Of View- The perspective in which a story is written. The Point of view in Catch 22 is third person omniscient. The main character is Yossarian and the book focuses on him, but he does not narrate the story. The reader knows whatever it is that Yossarian knows when Yossarian knows it. This fits the novel because not even the soldiers knew everything
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