Chapter 21 Practice Quiz — The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 21
How does Holden get past the elevator operator in his apartment building?
He lies to the new elevator operator, Pete, telling him he is visiting the Dicksteins, another family in the building, rather than his own parents. He also tips Pete to keep quiet.
Why is Holden especially careful about noise when sneaking into the apartment?
His mother has suffered from insomnia since Allie's death and is an extremely light sleeper who can hear the smallest sound. The maid, Charlene, is partially deaf and not a concern.
Why is Phoebe's room empty when Holden goes there?
Phoebe likes to sleep in D.B.'s room whenever their older brother is away in Hollywood, because it is larger and she can spread out.
What does Holden observe about children sleeping versus adults?
He observes that children look peaceful and content when they sleep in a way that adults never do. This reflects his idealization of childhood innocence.
What does Holden find on D.B.'s desk before waking Phoebe?
He finds Phoebe's school notebooks, which contain notes to her friend Alice Holmborg, arithmetic, and other schoolwork. He reads through them with delight.
What fake middle name does Phoebe use in her notebooks?
She signs her name as 'Phoebe Weatherfield Caulfield,' using the invented middle name Weatherfield instead of her real middle name, Josephine.
Why does Holden find Phoebe's invented middle name so charming?
It represents the kind of creative, unselfconscious act he associates with childhood authenticity -- Phoebe simply likes the name better and adopted it for herself, without pretension or social calculation.
How does Phoebe react when Holden wakes her up?
She is immediately overjoyed. She throws her arms around him and begins chattering excitedly about everything that has happened since he left for school.
What does Phoebe tell Holden about a boy at school?
She tells him about a boy named Curtis Weintraub who follows her around the park.
What school play is Phoebe performing in?
A Christmas Pageant for Americans. She is playing the role of Benedict Arnold and insists it is practically the biggest part in the play.
What does Phoebe's role as Benedict Arnold involve?
Her part consists mostly of being sick in bed during the Revolutionary War, but Phoebe is very proud of it and wants Holden to come see the performance on Friday night.
What is ironic about Phoebe playing Benedict Arnold?
Benedict Arnold is America's most famous traitor. Holden could be seen as having betrayed his family's expectations by getting expelled again, making the casting an unconscious parallel between historical betrayal and personal failure.
Where are Holden's parents during his visit?
They are out at a party, which gives Holden time to visit with Phoebe without being discovered.
How does Phoebe figure out that Holden has been expelled?
She realizes he is home days before the semester ends. She puts the facts together quickly and understands that early arrival means expulsion.
What does Phoebe say when she realizes Holden has been expelled?
She repeatedly tells him 'Daddy's going to kill you,' then pulls the pillow over her head and refuses to talk to him or look at him.
How does Holden try to explain his expulsion to Phoebe?
He tries to describe the phoniness of Pencey Prep and the people there, but Phoebe will not listen or engage with his excuses.
Why is Phoebe's reaction so devastating to Holden?
Phoebe is the one person who genuinely loves and admires him. Her disappointment and refusal to speak represent a rejection from the only person whose opinion truly matters to Holden, making it far more painful than any adult criticism.
How does Chapter 21 contrast with the rest of the novel's social interactions?
The conversation between Holden and Phoebe is the warmest, most natural exchange in the novel. Holden is not performing, not evaluating for phoniness, and not deflecting -- he listens with genuine attention and affection.
What theme does Holden's mother's insomnia reinforce?
It reinforces the theme of Allie's death affecting the entire family. The mother's sleeplessness since Allie died shows that unresolved grief is not unique to Holden but pervades the Caulfield household.
How does the Caulfield apartment function symbolically in Chapter 21?
It represents both belonging and displacement. D.B. is in Hollywood, Allie is dead, and Holden is sneaking in like a fugitive. The apartment is home, but Holden cannot occupy it honestly -- he is an intruder in his own house.
What does Phoebe's pillow gesture symbolize?
By putting the pillow over her head, Phoebe physically shuts Holden out, enacting the rejection he has feared from everyone. It mirrors his own pattern of withdrawal but is directed back at him by the person he loves most.