In the JD Salinger novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a teenager who is trying to cope with the death of his brother, Allie. His death is outwardly discussed at a few points in the story. At these points, the syntax used by Salinger helps inform the reader of Holden's feelings toward his loss.

Allie's death is first addressed in chapter five. This is where Holden is writing Stradlater's paper on "something descriptive." While Stradlater suggests writing about a room, Holden chooses Allie's poem-laden baseball mit. Rather than informing the reader of his brother's death right away, Salinger chooses to describe his baseball mit first. This is significant, because it parallels the way Holden dealt with his brother's death. When confronted with his emotions, he changes the subject, or averts his pain to something, or someone, else.

The syntax of this passage differs greatly from...