Introductory Statement: In the book The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger and in the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, there are many significant symbols throughout both books. In Merriam-Webster Dictionary, symbolism is defined as “artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states”. Both Salinger and Knowles display meaningful symbols throughout their novels that give the reader a …showed first 75 words of 507 total…

…showed last 75 words of 507 total…as the 2 rivers contradicting the struggle of innocence, the loss of innocence through Finny’s fall, Holden’s red hunting cap used to protect childhood innocence and his desire to be a catcher in the rye to keep children with that innocence, reader’s acknowledge the symbols and the meaning of the novels. The book becomes much more significant because of the hidden ideas and that adds to the already amazing books by these authors.