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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 the narrator's mother-in-law want him to send her?

2. In De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period, what is the narrator's most unrealistic wish for New York?

3. What artist does the narrator most resemble?

4. What job does the narrator accept under the name, Jean de Daumier-Smith?

5. What does Esme include with a letter in the package to the narrator?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Arthur call Lee in the first place of Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

2. Why is the narrator so taken by Esme?

3. What do the pickles, key chain and goggles tell us about Lionel?

4. Who does Lee think Joanie goes with after the party?

5. How does Boo Boo handle Lionel's habit of running away?

6. Why does the tea room likely suit the narrator as a place to spend his last few hours in the town rather than the Red Cross recreation room?

7. Describe the narrator in For Esme -- with Love and Squalor.

8. Why does Lionel run away so often?

9. Why is it ironic that the school closes down for not having a business license?

10. Why does Arthur want to move to Connecticut?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Coming of Age is a theme seen in a few of the stories, including The Laughing Man. Explore and discuss the theme and why it is used is more than one story. How is it used? Why does Salinger use a Coming of Age theme in several stories? How can any reader relate to this theme, especially your age group?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Salinger's use of sudden and tragic endings to some of his short stories. What do you like about them? What do you dislike about them? How do they contribute or take away from the collection as a whole and each story specifically? Do you think it is a powerful way to end the stories? Why or why not? Use examples from the book to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast your favorite story from Nine Stories to your least favorite story. Explain what you like and dislike from each story. Use specific examples from the book.

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