Illustration of a man smoking a cigarette

The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger

Start Free Trial

The Catcher in the Rye Questions on Adulthood

The Catcher in the Rye Study Tools

Take a quiz Ask a question Start an essay

The Catcher in the Rye

In The Catcher in the Rye, the carousel and its horses symbolize the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The carousel's continuous circular motion represents the cyclical nature of life, and...

2 educator answers

The Catcher in the Rye

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield experiences a struggle between the innocence of childhood and the phoniness of adulthood. He views adults as insincere and hypocritical, while he cherishes...

6 educator answers

The Catcher in the Rye

The taxi cabs in "The Catcher in the Rye" symbolize Holden's transition to adulthood and his quest for reassurance in a confusing world. During a cab ride, Holden questions the driver about the fate...

1 educator answer

The Catcher in the Rye

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's misunderstanding of a Robert Burns poem creates the central metaphor. He misinterprets "if a body meet a body" as "if a body catch a body," envisioning...

1 educator answer