The people Holden admires all represent innocence. ... Holden admires the boy who sings the song "Comin' thro' the rye". ... In this novel, concrete symbols are used to signify the theme of innocence. ... When Holden hears the boy singing the song "comin' thro' the rye", Holden admits to Phoebe that he wants to be the catcher in the rye. ... Through Salinger's use of symbolism, Holden's love of innocence is epitomized. ...

• Word Count: 1143
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

He sings songs about "birds and sunshine and green leaves- in a voice "like inarticulate lament of some vague despair-(Flaubert 76). This coupling of innocence with disease relates to the combination of beauty and corruption that Emma herself has become. ... Later, when Emma dies, the blind man gets to the end of his song about a young girl dreaming. We then discover that what we thought was a song about an innocent woman is actually a bawdy, sexual song. This progression from innocence to sexual degradation mirrors the path of Emma's life and inevitable destruction. ...

• Word Count: 1106
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Experts have claimed in articles such as "Life sucks, Timmy" that social realism novels take away a teenager's innocence. ... Teenagers are exposed to the same content of these specific novels in movies, song lyrics and television shows which have visuals to match and can be quite explicit with no way of avoiding it. ... So give teenagers a chance to keep their innocence so as to restrain them from further anguish so the world can become a more positive place. ...

• Word Count: 504
• Approx Pages: 2

A hidden issue in the novel would be the absence of innocence amongst young children coupled with the task of taking on responsibility well beyond the tender age bracket. ... They locked themselves in for several days ate good food and sang songs to uplift each other's spirits. ...

• Word Count: 1040
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School