Chapter 13 Practice Quiz — The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 13
What does Holden think about while walking back to the Edmont Hotel?
He thinks about his fur-lined gloves that were stolen at Pencey Prep and reflects on his own cowardice, admitting he would never confront the thief.
What does Holden conclude about himself during the gloves reflection?
He admits he is 'yellow' -- a coward who avoids confrontation. He acknowledges he would never stand up to the person who stole his gloves.
Who is Maurice?
The elevator operator at the Edmont Hotel who doubles as a pimp, offering to send a prostitute to Holden's room.
How much does Maurice tell Holden the prostitute will cost?
Five dollars 'a throw' (for one session) or fifteen dollars until noon.
What is Holden's room number at the Edmont Hotel?
Room 1222.
What is the prostitute's name?
Sunny.
What fake name does Holden give Sunny?
Jim Steele.
What surprises Holden about Sunny's appearance?
She looks very young -- about his own age -- and seems more nervous than seductive.
Why can't Holden go through with the encounter with Sunny?
He feels depressed rather than aroused. He sees Sunny as a young, vulnerable person and wants genuine human connection rather than a sexual transaction.
What does Holden tell Sunny he wants to do instead of having sex?
He says he just wants to talk.
What excuse does Holden invent for not having sex with Sunny?
He claims he recently had an operation on his 'clavichord' (a malapropism for clavicle), saying it is located in the spinal canal.
How does Sunny react to Holden's refusal?
She is annoyed and impatient, viewing Holden as wasting her time.
How much does Holden pay Sunny?
Five dollars, which is what Maurice originally quoted him.
How much does Sunny claim the price actually is?
Ten dollars. She insists Maurice told her the price was ten, not five.
What does Sunny call Holden before she leaves?
A 'crumb-bum.'
Who does Holden talk to after Sunny leaves?
He talks aloud to his dead brother Allie, a habit he has when he is at his most depressed and isolated.
What do the stolen gloves symbolize in Chapter 13?
They symbolize Holden's powerlessness and inability to confront injustice -- both the petty theft at school and the larger disappointments in his life.
How does Chapter 13 develop the theme of innocence versus sexuality?
Holden is curious about sex but emotionally unprepared for it. His instinct to protect innocence -- both his own and Sunny's -- prevents him from going through with a purely physical encounter.
What is ironic about Holden giving Sunny a fake name?
Holden constantly condemns phoniness in others, yet he gives a prostitute a false, tough-sounding name (Jim Steele) to hide his real identity -- making himself the very kind of phony he despises.
How does Chapter 13 connect to the novel's central 'catcher in the rye' metaphor?
Holden's instinct to see Sunny as a vulnerable young person rather than a sexual partner reflects his desire to protect innocence -- the same impulse behind his fantasy of catching children before they fall off a cliff.
What literary device does Salinger use when Holden says 'clavichord' instead of 'clavicle'?
Malapropism -- the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, which adds humor and underscores Holden's youth.