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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. Who is Boo Boo Tannenbaum?

2. What is the narrator's most traumatic move in the story, De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period?

3. Why does Arthur call Lee at the beginning of the story, Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

4. How old is Lionel when he first disappears?

5. Why does Bobby move the family to Paris?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lionel cry when he throws the key chain overboard?

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

3. Why does Lionel run away so often?

4. 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?

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

6. Why does Sister Irma withdraw from classes at the art school?

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

8. Why is the narrator so taken by Esme?

9. Why does Bobby move the family to Paris in 1929?

10. Why does the narrator like the bulletin board outside the church so much in For Esme -- with Love and Squalor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The wealthy and bored housewife character is written about in a couple of the short stories in Salinger's collection. Explore this character by comparing and contrasting the women. What do they have in common? Why is this a returning type of character in the collection?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast your favorite and least favorite characters in the book. Use specific examples from the book to explain what you do and do not like about each character.

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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