Catcher in the Rye- Symbolism Analysis
Name: ________________________
(Worth: 30 points for thorough work; 20 for mediocre work; 10 for poor work).
EQ: What are the various symbols in Catcher in the Rye, and what are their various
interpretations?
Brainstorm of Possible Symbols in the novel:
symbol: any thing (color, image, person, place, object, etc.) that can represent an idea.
Symbols are interpretable and may have more than one, some of which are more accurate
than others.
Directions: 1. Complete the chart below or find the attachment on your class webpage
and type in your answers.
2. Identify the symbols within each quote.
3. Write a 1-paragraph interpretation/ explanation of the meaning of that symbol.
4. Complete the reflection on back.
*Make sure to read the context before responding to the quote.
Page #
Quote
13
“I was wondering if
it would be frozen
over when I got
home, and if it was,
where did the ducks
go… Or if they just
flew away.”
E
X
A
M
P
L
E
36
“The snow was very
good for packing...
Finally I didn’t
throw it at anything.
All I did was close
the window and
walk around the
room with the
snowball, packing it
harder.”
Identification
of Symbols
Pond =
Holden’s Life
Ducks =
Holden
Flying Away
= What will
happen to
Holden now
that he has
left Pencey.
The Snow =
Things that
are “nice and
white” =
Holden not
throwing the
snowball =
Interpretation/ Explanation
Throughout the novel, Holden
questions what happens to the ducks
in winter. Symbolically, Holden
identifies with the ducks, because
like the pond, his life has “frozen
over”, i.e., things don’t seem to be
going very well for him. He wants to
know what happens to the ducks, just
like he would like to know what will
happen to himself.
17
173
96
2
38
154
109
“…and then I put on
this hat that I’d
bought in New York
that morning. It was
this red hunting
hat…It only cost me
a buck.”
“I’d just be the
catcher in the rye
and all.”
“The salesman
Sunny =
probably thought she
was a regular
girl…It made me
feel sad as hell.”
“Now he’s out in
Hollywood, D.B.,
being a prostitute.”
“So what I did, I
wrote about my
brother Allie’s
baseball mitt.”
“Then something
terrible
happened…Phoebe’s
record…broke into
about fifty pieces.”
“…these two nuns
were sitting next to
me…”
Reflection: Explain the major symbolism occurring in Catcher in the Rye. What do most
things represent? What does this tell you about what Holden is concerned with? Why
does he feel this way?