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Post by Steve Gibbs on Nov 16, 2008 18:51:44 GMT -5
Please explain to me the title of this novel. Holden describes what it means near the end when talking to Phoebe about his career plans, so go beyond simply telling me that he wants to protect children who are running and playing in the tall rye fields where they can't see from blindly falling off a cliff. That much, we know.
What does the book title mean symbolically or metaphorically? What is implied? Does it also have meaning to the author, J. D. Salinger? Are readers playing in the rye? Is Holden a child in the rye? Recall Mr. Antolini warns Holden that he is headed for a fall. Is this the same "fall" as the children face who play in the rye? Is this book The Catcher in the Rye? Has Caulfield/Salinger fulfilled his dream of being a Catcher? If so, how so? Please consider all the questions above and blend them into one response that elaborates on your own interpretations.
Note: This is the last essay-type question. Please elaborate in your response to this question. There will be one last friendly, personal question to be posted later this week. For now put your energies here.
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Post by tcollins on Nov 17, 2008 9:20:52 GMT -5
Personally, i think the title, The Catcher in the Rye, means a person who catches you when you fall. Symbolically, the rye is the unknown. you never truly know where it will lead you. It Implies that we all have someone to turn to to help us in need and that is what holden wants to be. I think in a sense, that Salinger probably had some experiences in his life that led up to this point and these experiences were probably based on this book. I think some readers could be in the rye if they are just coasting through life not making a difference to anything or anyone. I think that holden WAS a kid in the rye, but someone caught him and now he is out of the rye. I think Mr. Adolini was on to something. He definitely foresaw the same fall the children do from playing in the rye. I think Holden/Salinger have become a catcher, but not quite fulfilled the role. I say this because Holden has just become a catcher. he hasn't really helped anyone quite yet. But he will soon...
;D
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Post by jasperthebear on Nov 17, 2008 12:43:27 GMT -5
When he says "he wants to protect children who are running and playing in the tall rye fields where they can't see from blindly falling off a cliff" i think he means he feels bad for children who are growing up because they have to live in this horrible world and be around all the "phonies" and the repetitive, boring, and fake cycle of life. This can also relate to the museum scene when he helps the girl with her skates and all the admiration he has for phoebe. children are people he doesn't have anything against. i think by they end of the book he might be a little better off than before but he hasn't fulfilled his purpose of being the catcher in the rye. it is a coming of age story and by the end he has found where he wants to be in life and what he wants to do.
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Post by tropygrl on Nov 17, 2008 12:57:15 GMT -5
the catcher in the raye is someone that saves someone from falling.it might mean he want to save kids from being just like him.He also means he wants to save himself or find someone that can save him from falling so hard.i think holden has is in the crocess of becoming a catcher in the rye and not completely.
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Post by paige14 on Nov 18, 2008 0:22:21 GMT -5
i think it's talking about how he wants to save kids just like him before they fall. Because he is doing so terriblly in this world and he doesn't want them to be like him. he also cares for the childern, he helps them at the museum and the little girl with her skates. I think these kids could have the same fall, Mr Antolini describes Holden having. And by him staying he can help the most important child, his little sister Phoebe
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Post by abude11 on Nov 18, 2008 0:44:34 GMT -5
The book title means Holden wants to be there for children who fall from the rye. He wants to be there to catch them. When Mr. Antolini says Holden's heading for a fall, we can apply it to Holden going downhill in life and that he needs someone to be there to help him. The meaning of Catcher in the Rye is that maybe the author wanted to be the one to catch those falling out the rye. I think everyone at some point is playing in the rye. We all come to situations where we're falling and we need someones help to prevent us from hitting rock bottom. I don't think Caulfield fulfilled his dream of being a Catcher because he wasn't really there for his family and friends. He was just doing things that'll benefit him. He never really thought about others around him that would be affected by his actions.
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Post by maddiewong on Nov 18, 2008 2:19:40 GMT -5
Holden wants to save [or catch] the children from falling out of the rye. which in other words means he wants to save the children's innocence and keep them away from the adult world that will take their innocents away from them. later on he figures out that he cannot keep them from growing up and losing their innocents and they have to do it themselves
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Post by christa on Nov 18, 2008 12:56:30 GMT -5
The title Catcher in the Rye just seems to me like as Holden descibed such as the fact that he wants to be the catcher of falling children in a field of rye. I feel trully that he jsut wants to save the world from falling into oblivion. Maybe that is just the way he wants to have done and using this book he is conveying about the ability to save a multitude of people. And we the people are the people he wants to save through time and space ever lasting in text. I believe Holden is a example of himself. Well the fall maybe but it's because he helps people so he will always be near the edge but never quite falls. So, I believe that J.D. Salinger is trying to convey his worry about the world through this book and so the world will heed his warning about not falling off the cliff into nothingness.
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Post by christa on Nov 18, 2008 12:58:19 GMT -5
When he says "he wants to protect children who are running and playing in the tall rye fields where they can't see from blindly falling off a cliff" i think he means he feels bad for children who are growing up because they have to live in this horrible world and be around all the "phonies" and the repetitive, boring, and fake cycle of life. This can also relate to the museum scene when he helps the girl with her skates and all the admiration he has for phoebe. children are people he doesn't have anything against. i think by they end of the book he might be a little better off than before but he hasn't fulfilled his purpose of being the catcher in the rye. it is a coming of age story and by the end he has found where he wants to be in life and what he wants to do. I like your view of how he saw things. and why do you think that he is nice to kids? innocence? pity?
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Post by mental on Nov 18, 2008 14:51:48 GMT -5
I believe Holden want's to make sure all other people are safe and free from grief that he feels everday. The author I think spoke of this because it's probably how he feels to society. He believes that people spend to much time giving them selves grief by getting into danger all the time. This book I believe was the author opinion to the world. Kind of sad isn't it?
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Post by reyes92 on Nov 18, 2008 20:27:59 GMT -5
I think Holden has many reasons for wanting to be a catcher in the rye. Any of these reasons can have to do with a number of things. i definetly think that Holden being a catcher in the rye has something to do with Salinger. I mean its the title of the book and obviously a big thought provoking question. The author had to have some reason for thinking of this profession andd most likely it is something he has drawn from his personal life. I think Holden would want to be a catcher because his life somewhat represents the children who fall. They are going about their life haveing fun but not seeing where they are going and they fall. Holden has fallen and he knows what it feels like to land. I think he wants to be the person there to catch those that fall to be able to help them. I think that this is the fall that Antolini was talking about. He saw where Holden was heading and thought it would be wise to warn him. In a sense Mr. Antolini might be considere a catcher in the rye. I don't think Holden has fulfilled his dream of being a catcher just yet but i think he will someay.
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Post by reyes92 on Nov 18, 2008 20:30:25 GMT -5
Holden wants to save [or catch] the children from falling out of the rye. which in other words means he wants to save the children's innocence and keep them away from the adult world that will take their innocents away from them. later on he figures out that he cannot keep them from growing up and losing their innocents and they have to do it themselves i like this view but it kind of contrradicts who he is to me. I see Holden as a bit immature and i think he still believe children can keep their innocence
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Post by lagrimas on Nov 19, 2008 0:53:14 GMT -5
i think that catcher in the rye means that Holden wants to be that person that people come to when they feel lost, in the middle of nowhere. He would be the catcher, and the rye would be the other people's situations. When their lost and confused and ask for him, its a time for him to feel wanted and needed. He would have a reason for him to be around, not just disappear like he was going to. That's why he likes helping the little kids including pheobe. "they NEED him."
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Post by maddiepie on Nov 19, 2008 12:37:00 GMT -5
I think Catcher in the Rye means metaphorically is that if someting wrong goes bad in your life some one would be there to help you. When Mr. Antolini tells him that if you dont do anything with your life then nothing would go right for you and your not headed in the right direction. But its what ever you do with your life you are the one to make the mistakes.
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Post by bendover on Nov 19, 2008 12:37:36 GMT -5
I believe that the children in the story need someone to catch them if they fall or mess up in life. That person to catch them is the catcher in the rye. Holden first thought of this as he watched the children playing outside the window. Holden has fallen before and he found someone to "catch him" after searching. He wants to be there when other people fall
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