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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. How does Holden get to New York?

2. What does Holden see a man do when he looks out his hotel window?

3. Who is Ward Stradlater?

4. What favor does Stradlater ask of Holden?

5. What book did Holden mistakenly borrow from the library?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden decide not to have sex with Sunny? What does he tell her?

2. What two reasons does Holden give for not talking about his early childhood?

3. Why does Holden get nervous when he talks to Stradlater in the bathroom?

4. Why does Holden keep watching the “perverts” he sees out his hotel window?

5. Why does Holden feel bad about not telling Mrs. Morrow his real name?

6. Why does Stradlater criticize Holden's composition about Allie's baseball mitt?

7. Why does Holden stay at Ernie's even though “jerks and phonies” surround him?

8. How does Holden wish he had handled his missing gloves as opposed to how he would likely have handled it?

9. Why does Holden feel sad when he shakes Mr. Spencer's hand to say goodbye?

10. Why is Holden so upset when he discusses Stradlater's date?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and define the three different types of narration used in literature. What type of narrator is Holden? How can you tell? How does Holden's role as this type of narrator affect the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Holden's concern for the ducks in the lagoon. What is his concern? Why is he concerned? How does Holden address his concern? What does this concern reveal about his character?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Holden's view of women, particularly as they relate to intimate relationships and sex. How does Holden react when faced with the prospect of sex? How does Holden express genuine affection for women? What women in the novel does he care about? How can you tell?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 650 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample