- 1. The Forty Days of Musa Dagh is a poignant and powerful novel written by Austrian-Jewish author Franz Werfel, first published in 1933. Set against the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide during World War I, the narrative unfolds in a remote mountainous region of Musa Dagh in Eastern Turkey, where Armenian villagers, facing imminent deportation and extermination by the Ottoman Empire, bravely resist their fate. The novel intricately weaves together themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the struggle for survival, as the villagers unite under the courageous leadership of Gabriel Bagradian, who embodies both the resilience and desperation of his people. Werfel's masterful prose paints a vivid picture of the natural beauty of Musa Dagh, juxtaposed with the stark horrors of war, while exploring the deep bonds of community and the moral complexities of resistance. Through its rich character development and emotional depth, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh serves as a somber reminder of the atrocities committed against the Armenian people, and stands as a testament to the enduring human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Who is the main protagonist of the novel?
A) Juliette Bagradian
B) Johannes Lepsius
C) Enver Pasha
D) Gabriel Bagradian
- 2. Musa Dagh is a mountain located in which modern-day country?
A) Syria
B) Turkey
C) Lebanon
D) Armenia
- 3. What is the villagers' decisive plan to survive?
A) To fortify themselves on Musa Dagh
B) To bribe Ottoman officials
C) To surrender to the authorities
D) To flee to Russia
- 4. How long do the defenders hold out on Musa Dagh?
A) Forty days
B) Two weeks
C) Three months
D) One hundred days
- 5. Which foreign power eventually rescues the survivors?
A) The British Army
B) The American Red Cross
C) The Russian Navy
D) The French Navy
- 6. Who is Juliette in the novel?
A) Gabriel's French wife
B) An Armenian nurse
C) A Turkish spy
D) Gabriel's sister
- 7. What is the name of Gabriel Bagradian's son?
A) Hagop
B) Aram
C) Kevork
D) Stephan
- 8. Which real-life German missionary and activist appears as a character?
A) Henry Morgenthau
B) Fridtjof Nansen
C) Talaat Pasha
D) Johannes Lepsius
- 9. Which major world war provides the backdrop for the novel?
A) World War II
B) The Crimean War
C) World War I
D) The Balkan Wars
- 10. What motivates Gabriel Bagradian to lead the defense?
A) A promise made to his father
B) Instructions from a foreign government
C) A sense of duty to his people and heritage
D) A desire for personal glory
- 11. Which character represents the conflict of cultural identity?
A) The Turkish commander
B) Juliette Bagradian
C) A priest
D) Johannes Lepsius
- 12. What was Franz Werfel's source of inspiration for the novel?
A) Witnessing Armenian refugees and learning their stories
B) A documentary film he saw
C) It is a completely fictional story.
D) His own military service in the Ottoman Empire
- 13. Which empire ruled over the Armenian population at the time of the events?
A) The Ottoman Empire
B) The Persian Empire
C) The Russian Empire
D) The Austro-Hungarian Empire
- 14. What is the novel's stance on the Armenian Genocide?
A) It remains neutral on the issue.
B) It argues the events were exaggerated.
C) It is a clear and powerful condemnation.
D) It presents the Ottoman perspective as valid.
- 15. In what year was 'The Forty Days of Musa Dagh' first published?
A) 1940
B) 1915
C) 1933
D) 1925
- 16. What is the primary language Franz Werfel wrote in?
A) Armenian
B) German
C) Turkish
D) French
- 17. From which city does Gabriel Bagradian return to his ancestral village?
A) Constantinople
B) Paris
C) Marseille
D) Vienna
- 18. Who is the spiritual leader of the Armenian community on Musa Dagh?
A) Krikor
B) Ter Haigasun
C) Bedros Hekim
D) Pastor Nokhudian
- 19. What is the name of the Bagradian family's ancestral village?
A) Antioch
B) Yoghonoluk
C) Van
D) Bitlis
- 20. What resource becomes critically scarce during the siege?
A) Food
B) Water
C) Weapons
D) Building materials
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