Holden’s secret goal is to be “the catcher in the rye.” In this metaphor,
he envisions a field of rye standing by a dangerous cliff
. Children play in the field with joy and abandon. If they should come too close to the edge of the cliff, however, Holden is there to catch them.
What might the broken record be a metaphor for Catcher in the Rye?
The broken record is symbolic of
both Holden’s losing his innocence and his life “shattering” into little pieces
. Holden cannot seem to keep his life on a straight path, and the record symbolizes Holden’s mistakes at school.
What are the Ducks a metaphor for in The Catcher in the Rye?
Holden’s focus on the Central Park Lagoon ducks symbolizes
his youthful side as well as his true desire to discover how the ducks survive the harsh winter environment
, hoping he can apply their secret to his own struggles.
What literary devices are used in The Catcher in the Rye?
Salinger uses many literary devices throughout this novel. Three of them include:
symbolism, irony, and motifs
. Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. A symbol used in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden’s red hunting hat.
What does The Catcher in the Rye symbolize?
The title of The Catcher in the Rye is a reference to “Comin’ Thro the Rye,” a Robert Burns poem and a symbol for
the main character’s longing to preserve the innocence of childhood
. … “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.”
What is the most important symbol in The Catcher in the Rye?
Holden’s Red Hunting Hat
The red hunting hat
is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. It is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality.
What does the last line of The Catcher in the Rye mean?
The last line of the book says, “
Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
” From what I remember, this means that Holden made up all of those stories.
Why did Holden leave Elkton Hills?
Holden leaves Elkton Hills mainly
because of the phonies he sees on the prep school campus
. He describes them as “coming through the windows” because there are so many. It really is an excuse to “quit” because he was about to be kicked out of Elkton Hills because of his grades.
What is the irony in The Catcher in the Rye?
The irony of The Catcher in the Rye is
that Holden subconsciously longs to be accepted yet feels he cannot make the connection
. Yet he does by making Salinger the unwilling, erstwhile guru to a generation of displaced teenagers who made Holden an icon of their angst.
Why does Holden hate Ernie the piano player?
Ernie is an extremely skillful piano player, but
Holden thinks that he has become too slick
. Ernie has a huge mirror in front of him and a spotlight on his face so that the crowd won’t miss an expression. In a way, Ernie is like Holden’s brother, D.B.
Why did Holden Miss Allie’s funeral?
Holden missed Allie’s funeral
because he was in the hospital, apparently for psychiatric evaluation as well as for attention to his hand
. … His connection to Holden was intense. The older brother could sense when Allie was in the vicinity, although he credits Allie’s red hair for that.
What made Holden not so depressed?
He got her the “Little Shirley Beans” record. What made Holden “not so depressed anymore” on his way to the record store?
The little boy singing as he was walking with his parents.
What does erasing profanity symbolize in The Catcher in the Rye?
In The Catcher in the Rye, what does Holden erasing the profanity symbolize? Holden erasing profanity symbolically represents
his desire to preserve innocence and protect children from the competitive real world
, which is associated with his affinity for his childhood and fear of becoming an adult.
How is imagery used in the Catcher in the Rye?
Using the park, Salinger uses
imagery to show the way Holden sees the world
. Through Holden’s sense of sight, he sees the “dog crap and globs of spit and cigar butts from old men.” This shows the world as a destructive, ugly, and gross place.
What does Holden’s red hunting hat symbolize?
Here, the red hunting hat symbolizes
Holden’s alienation from society and his intentional isolation from people
. In addition, buying the hat is Holden’s way of trying to protect himself from society’s consequences, such as the ridicule he probably received after losing his team’s equipment.
What is anaphora poetic device?
What Is Anaphora? Anaphora is the
repetition of a word or sequence of words at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences
. It is one of many rhetorical devices used by orators and writers to emphasize their message or to make their words memorable.
