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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. Why did Franny move out of her room at college?

2. Besides furniture, what is Buddy's room filled with?

3. What was the one idea that Jesus absolutely knew that often eludes people, according to Zooey?

4. Zooey says that people who use their egos to get ahead cannot possibly have what?

5. What is Franny doing while she has her conversation with Zooey in the living room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Salinger include Bloomberg in the scene between Franny and Zooey?

2. How does Zooey feel about Lane and why does he feel this way?

3. What does Zooey explain to Franny that he does to other people that drives Zooey crazy?

4. Zooey finally confronts Franny about the Jesus prayer. He points out she is being hypocritical. How so?

5. Zooey is conflicted over his brothers. When his mother continuously mentions Buddy and Seymour, Zooey finally loses his temper. How does Zooey show the darkest side of himself?

6. Explain in detail the significance of the Fat Lady.

7. Once Zooey arrives at Buddy's phone, he puts himself in "the ready position." What is he readying himself for?

8. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom according to Franny?

9. How is it ironic that Franny tells Zooey that he is the most unsympathetic person that she has ever known?

10. What is Zooey's opinion of psychoanalysts and Franny?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ego and phoniness are recurring themes in the novel. What is Salinger expressing about his feelings on each of these themes?

Essay Topic 2

Zooey is a character of contradictions. What are those contradictions and are they ever resolved in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Bessie is a complex character. In a well-organized essay explain how she is such a character and how her character influences the decisions that her children have made. Use quotes and examples. Avoid plot summary.

(see the answer keys)

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