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Prewriting Questions:

How does the symbol/motif come up in the novel, and how does it impact what is going on? What happens immediately preceding or immediately following a mention or discussion of this idea or thing?

//**The symbol comes up in the novel whenever Holden feels lonely. Holden always wonders where the ducks go in the winter because Holden has no idea where to go with his life. Holden is jealous of the ducks because they know what they are doing, and stay together. Immediately before Holden mentions the ducks, he realizes he has no idea where he is going. It happened in the taxi, when Holden was just trying to get away. Holden believes that if he were a duck, he would never be lonely, and never have to wander. Holden also talks about the fish in the pond with Horwitz, this interests Holden because in a subconscious way he wishes he could be like the fish because they never have to leave anywhere. The fish simply stay in the pond, or so Holden is told.**// · What is the mood when this idea or thing is brought up? Would you associate this with times when Holden is content? frightened? frantic? confused? Is this mood consistent with every incidence of this motif?

//**Holden's mood is lonely, curious, and worried whenever the ducks are brought up. The thoughts and feelings are identical every time Holden brings up the ducks. Holden mostly uses the question about the ducks to spark conversations with people, such as taxi drivers, etc. Holden just wanted someone to talk to about anything at all due to his loneliness**// · Is Holden alone when this motif/symbol occurs? If not, with whom is he interacting? How would you characterize that interaction? Does this motif occur both when he is alone and when he is with other people? Is there a connection to be made?

//**Holden is always with somebody else when the motif occurs. However, this person is never someone he knows. Holden turns to these strangers during his times of extreme loneliness and depression. The interaction is always brief, and ends with Holden asking the stranger if they would like a drink. None of the people Holden invites for a drink actually accepts his invitation. The connection is that Holden wants companionship, and just wants somebody to talk to, and to relate to.**// · What does this motif/symbol tell you about Holden, in a “big picture” way - Does this suggest anything about his personality? His weaknesses or strengths? His sense of himself?

//**This motif shows that Holden is lonely, and is in desperate need of a friend. This suggests that Holden doesn't ever have anything significant to do. He often turns to drinking and smoking to drown out his sorrows. He is weak when he is alone and often has nobody or nowhere to turn to. He senses himself as a confident man, but when confronted, he avoids the truth of adulthood.**// · Tie it all together: Did any pattern emerge? Pick out other words or ideas used in conjunction with this motif. Look back on your investigation and come up with a single sentence that sums up what you’ve discovered.

//**Ultimately, all Holden really wants is companionship, as a result of his loneliness he tries talking to anyone and normally says something like:**//**//"Hey, I have nothing to do. Would you like to get a drink or something?"//**