Symbolism and Themes of Catcher in the Rye Prompt One: A astute critic points out that “the surface of meaning ____ plot, character, setting, symbol, irony, imagery, metaphor____ provide the controlling context within which we interpret meaning.” In an organized, insightful essay, examine how the different symbols in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye help control and convey the novel’s major themes. To make a truly meaningful and well written novel a theme must exist in the novel. Without the book has no meaning or anything to be learned from. Another great way to write a novel is to tie two elements of literature together such as symbolism and the