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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Selena's brother offer for Ginnie to eat?

2. What needs $400 to be repaired?

3. What size shoe does Ginnie wear?

4. The poetry book that Seymour gives as a gift is written in what language?

5. Who is crying because she wants to be told she is a nice girl in the story, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes the reader think that perhaps Eric is not allowed into the military because he is homosexual?

2. What can the reader like about a character like Muriel?

3. What is wrong physically with Ramona?

4. What leads the reader to believe that tension is building throughout the story?

5. Why is the reader uncertain whether Seymour is going to shoot himself, Muriel or both when he grabs the pistol out of the suitcase?

6. Why does Ginnie think Selena's brother looks goofy?

7. Why are Mary Jane and Eloise good friends for each other?

8. Who speaks the most during the story, Just Before the War with the Eskimos, and from who's point of view is the story told?

9. Why is the Chief so important to the boys?

10. Who is the Laughing Man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

New York and Connecticut are widely used throughout the book. What generalizations can be made about each city after having read Nine Stories? Do you want to go to either place? Do you live in either place? Does the story collection make you want to visit either place? Use examples from the book to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Why is Nine Stories an important collection of short stories? What does it contribute to American literary history?

Essay Topic 3

Salinger says he writes about young people so much because he wants to not only speak to them, but for them. Do you think he accomplishes that goal throughout Nine Stories? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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