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What does winter represent to Holden?

Holden's desperate need to find out about the ducks symbolizes his need to survive his own emotional “winters.” Holden struggles with change, especially after his brother's death, so knowing where the ducks go also represents a comfort he might find if he can prove that difficult change isn't always bad or permanent.
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What symbols represent Holden Caulfield?

Symbols
  • The “Catcher in the Rye” As the source of the book's title, this symbol merits close inspection. ...
  • Holden's Red Hunting Hat. The red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. ...
  • The Museum of Natural History. ...
  • The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon.
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What animal is Holden concerned about in the winter when the lake freezes over?

In Catcher In The Rye, protagonist Holden Caulfield asks, "You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That little lake? By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?" Today is the anniversary of J.D.
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What do the ducks mean to Holden?

They represent the vulnerable, innocent characters (Phoebe, Jane, Holden) who at risk of being harmed by events/people in the cold, cruel world. Holden's concern for the ducks represents his own concern about growing up: is it possible for him to stay the same unique and authentic person once an adult?
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What is the symbolic meaning of the fish frozen under the pond?

During this time, he is going through the problem of being expelled from yet another school. The icy, frozen over pond is how he sees his life at the moment, cold and hard. This may be the start of his depression.
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Dead of Winter - How to Play (And should you buy The Long Night?)

Why fish live through cold winters even when the ponds are frozen over?

Some species, like koi and gobies, may burrow into soft sediments and go dormant like frogs and other amphibians, but most fish simply school in the deepest pools and take a "winter rest." In this resting state, fishes' hearts slow down, their needs for food and oxygen decrease, and they move about very little.
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Where do the ducks go in the winter?

Wintering: Moving South for the Winter

Ducks spend much of their time in the southern portions of the United States and along the coastal fringes where weather conditions are mild. They leave northern nesting areas and head for a warmer climate for several reasons, least of which is because the weather is cold.
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What do the ducks in winter symbolize in Catcher in the Rye?

Although Salinger did not directly state it, he intended for Holden's curiosity about ducks to symbolize his desire to protect the childhood innocence that they represent. In addition, the ducks symbolize the uncertainty of the future.
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What does the 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.
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What did Sunny represent in the story?

Sunny represents another of Holden's attempts at female companionship, but she could not be more different from the idealized Jane for whom Holden yearns.
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Why does Holden feel sad about the ice skates?

As he packs, Holden gets depressed a bit because of the ice skates his mother just gave him as a gift. They upset him because his mother had just gone to all the trouble of getting him ice skates, and he was getting kicked out of another school again right after.
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Why does Holden call himself yellow?

He closes out the scene by calling himself 'yellow,' meaning Holden feels his reluctance to fight makes him cowardly. The intimate, personal experience of being engaged in a fight is the part that Holden most desires to avoid.
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How does Holden feel about the snow?

The snow made everything so nice and white and clean. Throughout the book, we see that Holden wants everything to be as peaceful and undisturbed as the snow. Holden dislikes the way things change for the worse as we grow up; and so he similiarily liked the fresh snow while it was untouched.
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What is the biggest symbol in The Catcher in the Rye?

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. The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him.
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What is the most important symbol in The Catcher in the Rye?

The Catcher in the Rye: The novel's most important symbol is found in the title. Holden explains to Phoebe that all he wants to be is the catcher in the rye. He pictures himself wearing a giant mitt, ready to catch kids as they fall off a cliff whille playing in the rye.
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What do cigarettes symbolize in Catcher in the Rye?

Answer and Explanation: Cigarettes symbolize the aftermath of an unsatisfying or depressing event in Holden's life. Unlike the smell of rain, Holden seeks cigarettes after a fistfight with Ward Stradlater over a girl named Jane Gallagher.
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What does Allie's baseball mitt symbolize?

Allie's left-handed baseball glove is a physically smaller but significant symbol in the novel. It represents Holden's love for his deceased brother as well as Allie's authentic uniqueness.
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Why does Holden wear his hat backwards?

He prefers to wear the hat backwards “as a badge of his nonconformity and his rebellion against the rest of society” (Vanderbilt 297). Holden calls his hat “crazy” and Ackley says that Holden “got robbed” even though he only paid a buck for it (Salinger 205, 22).
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What final scene at the park leaves Holden so happy?

Chapter 25 concludes with Holden feeling happy as he watches Phoebe ride on the Central Park carousel.
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What do yellow rubber ducks represent?

The yellow rubber duck has achieved an iconic status in Western pop culture and is often symbolically linked to bathing. Various novelty variations of the toy are produced, and many organisations use yellow rubber ducks in rubber duck races for fundraising worldwide.
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Why did Holden not attend Allie's funeral?

Holden, distraught over the loss of his brother, broke his hand punching the windows out of the garage of their summer home. Holden missed Allie's funeral because he was in the hospital, apparently for psychiatric evaluation as well as for attention to his hand.
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Why are ducks still here in winter?

Some domestic ducks brave the winter with warm homes and resources. Pet ducks and ducks on farms during cold winters will stay in place if they have a regular supply of food, water, and a moist area to lay. Typically, ducks migrate when lakes in their area freeze.
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Why do I see ducks in the winter?

Winter is the time when ducks and geese are prone to communal behavior. Open water—which many waterfowl need to feed, and which offers safety from land predators—is in short supply, so prime areas attract birds by the thousands and occasionally the millions.
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Why do ducks survive winter?

Ducks are extremely cold-hardy due to a nice thick layer of body fat and soft down under their waterproof feathers. They actually need very little in order to be comfortable in cold weather, but there are a few simple things you can do to keep your ducks happier and healthier through the winter months.
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Can goldfish survive under ice?

As mentioned earlier, goldfish can survive freezing temperatures, but they cannot survive being completely frozen. In most cases, as long as the water body is deeper than 3ft, goldfish can escape freezing to death by submerging themselves deeper to the bed of the pond or lake.
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