The Catcher in the Rye Test

"'You're a very good conversationalist,' I told her. 'You know that?'"

"The Navy Guy and I told each other we were glad to've met each other."

"Finally, somebody knocked on the door, and when I went to open it, I had my suitcase right in the way and I fell over it and damn near broke my knee."

"'That's the one fault with him [Ernie Morrow] - he's too shy and modest. You really oughta get him to try to relax occasionally.'"

"He was telling us all about what a swell guy he was, what a hot-shot and all, then all of a sudden this guy sitting in the row in front of me, Edgar Marsalla, laid this terrific fart. It was a very crude thing to do, in chapel and all, but it was also quite amusing."

"Then all of a sudden, [Sally] saw some jerk she knew on the other side of the lobby. Some guy in one of those very dark gray flannel suits and one of those checkered vests. Strickly Ivy League. Big deal."

"'I don't feel very much like myself tonight. I've had a rough night. Honest to God. I'll pay you and all, but do you mind very much if we don't do it? Do you mind very much?'"

"'Well, a bunch of us wanted old Ernie to be president of the class. I mean he was the unanimous choice. I mean he was the only boy that could really handle the job,' I said - boy, was I chucking it."

"I sort of started pretending I had a bullet in my guts. Old Maurice had plugged me. Now I was on the way to the bathroom to get a good shot of bourbon or something to steady my nerves and help me really go into acton. I pictured myself coming out of the goddam bathroom, dressed and all, with my automatic in my pocket, and staggering around a little bit."

"'Oh, I'll be all right and everything! [The brain tumor is] right near the outside. And it's a very tiny one. They can take it out in about two minutes.'"

Item that could symbolize protection from the corruption of the adult world.

Could symbolize Holden's desire for stability and permanence in his life, something that does not change

Item that could symbolize reaching for adulthood

Item that could symbolize the cyclical nature of life

Action that could symbolize Holden's desire to preserve innocence