The Catcher in the Rye Literary Devices

Definition of Imagery

Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After Apple-Picking" contain imagery that engages... read full definition

Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines from Robert Frost's poem "After... read full definition

Imagery, in any sort of writing, refers to descriptive language that engages the human senses. For instance, the following lines... read full definition

Explanation and Analysis—Right in the Toothbrush:

Salinger uses strong, violent tactile imagery as Holden recounts being unable to restrain himself from hitting Ward Stradlater. He surges up and punches the other boy as Stradlater smugly discusses his date with Jane:

This next part I don’t remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open. Only, I missed. I didn’t connect. All I did was sort of get him on the side of the head or something. It probably hurt him a little bit, but not as much as I wanted. It probably would’ve hurt him a lot, but I did it with my right hand, and I can’t make a good fist with that hand. On account of that injury I told you about.

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Explanation and Analysis—Catcher in the Rye:

Holden hears a child singing the "Catcher in the Rye" song in the street as he heads glumly to buy Phoebe a record. This sweet, nostalgic moment of auditory imagery breaks him out of his bleak mood and makes him feel better:

He was singing that song, “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” He had a pretty little voice, too. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The cars zoomed by, brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the curb and singing “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed any more.

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Explanation and Analysis—Auditorium Rain:

Holden uses smell imagery and hyperbolic description to invoke the comforting, enveloping auditorium at the Museum of Natural History:

[...] [T]he inside of that auditorium had such a nice smell. It always smelled like it was raining outside, even if it wasn’t, and you were in the only nice, dry, cosy place in the world.

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The Catcher in the Rye: Imagery 3 key examples

Definition of Imagery