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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 Stradlater do while Holden talks to him about his date?

2. What does Marty call Buddy's clarinet?

3. What does Holden's cab smell like?

4. Who is the janitor's wife?

5. What game does Holden want to play with Ackley?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Holden ask Ackley about joining a monastery?

2. Why do the girls say they have to leave the Lavender Room so abruptly? Why do they really leave?

3. How is Allie's baseball mitt described?

4. Why does Holden like that Jane puts her hand on the back of his neck?

5. Why does Holden refer to D.B.'s writing in Hollywood as prostitution?

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

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

8. Why does Holden like writing about Allie's baseball mitt?

9. What does Holden think of his siblings?

10. Why does Holden say he was glad to meet the Navy guy even though he is not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the climax of the novel. How do you know this is the climax? Could any other scenes be considered the climax? If so, which ones, and why? How does the beginning of the novel lead up to the climax? How is the novel resolved after the climax?

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This section contains 579 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample