BigBadWolf

· How does the symbol/motif come up in the novel, and how does it impact what is going on? -- The symbol in the story was a red baseball hat. It was Allie's hat and every time Holden wears it, he feels closer to Allie. · What happens immediately preceding or immediately following a mention or discussion of this idea or thing? -- Holden feels like the hat is his security blanket. He feels happy when he is wearing it but when he is questioned about it he feels sad and lonely.

· 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? · 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? **Yes, Holden is alone when he wears his red hunting hat. He only wears it by himself because he feels like his hat shields him from the world. For example, he put his hat on while he was walking back to the hotel by himself. (page 33)** · 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? **When Holden left Pencey, he put on his red hunting hat and turned the peak around to the back. He then yelled, "Sleep tight, ya morons!" (page 520) This shows that Holden likes to keep to himself most of the time. Since most guys he went to school with were phonies, he didn't have that many friends.** · 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.
 * Holden 's red hunting hat was a security blanket to him, since it shielded him from the world. Every time Holden wore the hat, he felt closer to Allie and he feels upset that Allie is not longer there to help him through his problems. When Holden was writing the composition for Stradlater about Allie's mitt, he was wearing the hat (page 38). In conclusion, Holden wears his hat whenever he thinks or talks about his brother Allie.**

I. Introduction a. Hook- Everyone has a "security blanket" that shields them from the world or that reminds them of a special someone in their life.

b. Thesis- Holden Caulfield uses his red hunting hat as a "security blanket" to shield himself from the phonies in the real world and to feel closer to his brother Allie.

II. i. main 1- Holden’s security blanket is his red hunting hat.Holden has very large significance to the hat. ii. main 2- Holden feels that there are many phonies throughout the world. iii. main 3- Holden's red hunting effects his relationships with others and bullies.

I. Body One- Holden’s red hunting hat is his security blanket. It looks good on himself (Salinger pg17). Holden feels closer to his brother when he is wearing it. Holden finds out that there are ear flaps that fold down from the hat to protect you from the cold. He really loves his red hunting hat and decides to wear it on his long cold walk to the station. (Salinger pg53). B ody Three -Holden has very large significance to the hat. He feels really close to Allie while wearing thehat because Allie had red hair and the hat is red.

II. Body Two - Holden feels that there are many phonies throughout the world. He feels that he can be protected from them by wearing his hat (Salinger pg.23). Holden wears his hat when he leaves his home and goes to the station. This shows that Holden feels brave with his hat on and wants to take on the world. (Salinger pg. 52). This is a symbolic way to show that Allie will protect him from these people that he wants to avoid.

III. Holden's red hunting effects his relationships with o thers and bullies. In Chapter 5, Holden gets to a fight Stradlater and at the end, he decides to pick up his pride and walk out with his hat on.(Salinger pg.45 )

V. Conclusion a. Holden Caulfield uses his red hunting hat as a "security blanket" to shield himself from the phonies in the real world and to feel closer to his brother Allie. i. Holden's "security blanket" is his red hunting hat. 1. Holden feels closer to his brother when he is wearing it. ii. Holden feels that there are many phonies throughout the world. 1. He feels brave with his hat on and wants to take on the world. iii. He feels happy when he is wearing it, but when he is questioned about it, he feels sad and lonely. 1. Holden hasn't gotten over the fact that his brother is really dead, so he needs the comfort of his brother's presence with him where ever he goes. iv. Everyone has a "security blanket" and Holden's is his red hunting hat that symbolizes his brother Allie.