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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. Where does Holden tell Phoebe to meet him?

2. What does Holden see outside at the beginning of Chapter 14?

3. What does Holden imagine while he was at the bar?

4. Where does Holden go after the ice skating rink?

5. Where is the girl Carl is dating from?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does it make Holden sad when Phoebe asks why he got kicked out of Pencey?

2. Why does Holden want to be the “catcher in the rye?”

3. Why does Carl suggest Holden see a psychoanalyst?

4. Why does Holden feel better when he is looking around D.B.'s room?

5. Why does Holden react the way he does when he wakes up to Mr. Antolini patting his head?

6. How has Carl changed when Holden meets him at the Wicker Bar?

7. Why does Holden think it does not seem like Christmas is coming soon?

8. Why does Holden end the novel where he does?

9. Why does Holden say he would volunteer to sit on an atomic bomb if there is another war?

10. Why did it bother Holden that the boys in his Oral Expression class yelled “Digression!” during speeches?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the final chapter of The Catcher in the Rye. Is this a satisfying ending? Why or why not? What, if any, unanswered questions does the author leave the reader with? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of Holden's creativity on his character. What does he say about film, music, and literature? What does he think of each? Why? How does Holden's creativity affect his character?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the importance of the red hunting hat. What does the red hunting had symbolize? Why is the hat important to Holden? Why does he give it to Phoebe?

(see the answer keys)

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