CATCHER IN THE RYE
Homework: FINISH THE BOOK FOR GOODNESS SAKE ALREADY! Test tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. Example questions below. Essay question due next Wednesday.
CATCHER IN THE RYE TEST
The test consists of twelve questions of which you should answer at least ten. By that I mean that I will count only your best ten answers. It might be to your advantage to answer all of the questions and let me pick the best ten. I will use any points you receive on the bonus question to increase your score up to 100%
Please type your answers, or write them on a separate piece of paper. I will not be counting grammar and spelling AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT INTERFERE WITH COMPREHENTION.
BE SURE TO NUMBER YOUR ANSWERS!
You may use your notes for the test, on the computer or printed out, but not the book. Also, for those typing, any use of the internet will void your test.
Here is an example of the type of question you will see and the types of answers I expect:
Question: What is the significance of the Museum of Natural History to Holden?
Possible answer: Killing time before his date with Sally, Holden decides to walk from Central Park to the Museum of Natural History. Along the way, he remembers in detail his school trips to the museum. Holden has already demonstrated that he fears and does not know how to deal with conflict, confusion, and change. The museum presents him with a vision of life he can understand: it is frozen, silent, and always the same. Holden can think about and judge the Eskimo in the display case, but the Eskimo will never judge him back. It troubles him that he has changed each time he returns, while the museum’s displays remain completely the same. They represent the simple, idealistic, manageable vision of life that Holden wishes he could live.
Possible answer: Holden tells us the symbolic meaning of the museum’s displays: they appeal to him because they are frozen and unchanging. He also mentions that he is troubled by the fact that he has changed every time he returns to them. The museum represents the world Holden wishes he could live in: it’s the world of his “catcher in the rye” fantasy, a world where nothing ever changes, where everything is simple, understandable, and infinite. Holden is terrified by the unpredictable challenges of the world—he hates conflict, he is confused by Allie’s senseless death, and he fears interaction with other people.
ESSAY QUESTION (DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY):
What are the two most important parts of the end of the book? Why are they important? What do they mean to you?
