View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Carl go to school?

2. Who is the regular night elevator boy at Holden's apartment building?

3. What does Holden say about money?

4. What does Phoebe give Holden?

5. What does Holden accidentally do to two nuns?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden feel bad about blowing smoke in the nuns' faces?

2. What does Holden thinking he will disappear as he crosses the street symbolize, and why does he call out to Allie for help?

3. Why does Holden say he would volunteer to sit on an atomic bomb if there is another war?

4. Why does Holden react the way he does when he wakes up to Mr. Antolini patting his head?

5. Why does Holden regret telling his novel?

6. Why does Holden call Sally when he is drunk?

7. Why does Carl suggest Holden see a psychoanalyst?

8. Why is Phoebe angry when she realizes Holden got kicked out of Pencey?

9. Why does Holden want to move to the West and pretend to be a deaf-mute?

10. Why is Holden confused when Sally tells him to stop yelling?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and define the elements of a story arc. Identify the major plot points in The Catcher in the Rye that coordinate with those elements.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Holden Caulfield. What conflicts are there between what Holden says about himself, and his words and actions? Why do these conflicts exist? What do these conflicts reveal about Holden?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the importance of perception in literature. How does the author use perception to affect the reader's interpretation of events in the novel? Give one example from The Catcher in the Rye that shows the importance of perception. Is this an effective use of perception? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 627 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample