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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 does Holden want to invite to go with Mal and him?

2. How is Holden involved with the school's fencing team?

3. What game did Holden used to play with Stradlater's date?

4. Why does Holden think Ernie is a phony?

5. Who is the janitor's wife?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What five people does Holden think of calling when he arrives at Penn Station?

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

4. What does Holden think of his siblings?

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

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

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

8. Why does Mr. Spencer read Holden's essay on the Egyptians to him?

9. Why does Ackley grunt a response when Stradlater says hello to him?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Holden's relationship with Phoebe. Why does he have such a close relationship with his sister? How are the two alike? How are they different? What does this relationship reveal about Holden's character? How does it affect his actions in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Holden's relationships with adults in The Catcher of the Rye. What adults does he respect? Why does he respect them? What adults does he not respect? Why does he not respect them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 611 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample