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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 talks to Dr. Sivetski about Seymour's condition?

2. How long is Mary Jane married?

3. Why is Mr. Weyinburg at home from work?

4. Why does Ginnie like playing tennis with Selena?

5. Who is Franklin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Eloise so fondly remember Walt?

2. What leads the reader to believe that tension is building throughout the story?

3. What can the reader like about a character like Muriel?

4. What is wrong physically with Ramona?

5. Why doesn't the narrator list all of the Chief's attributes?

6. What do Walt and Jimmy Jimmereeno have in common in the story Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut?

7. Why is Mary Jane part of the story, Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut?

8. Why are Mary Jane and Eloise good friends for each other?

9. Why can the reader sympathize with Eloise more than envy her?

10. Why is the setting appropriate for the story, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mental illness because of WWII trauma is an issue brought up in more than one story in the Nine Stories collection. Why do you think this is such a prevalent topic Salinger uses? Talk about the importance of this topic in the collection. Pay special attention to the time in which the book is released. Why does this have been a controversial collection of stories because of the mental illness component?

Essay Topic 2

Lies and deception are used by several characters, including Arthur in Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes and the narrator in De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period. Why does each character rely on lies and deceit? What do they hope to gain? What do they hope to avoid? What does it tell us about each character? What does each character have in common? What makes them different?

Essay Topic 3

Why is Nine Stories an important collection of short stories? What does it contribute to American literary history?

(see the answer keys)

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