American Folklore - Quiz
  • 1. What legendary frontiersman and folk hero is often associated with a coonskin cap?
A) Johnny Appleseed
B) John Henry
C) Paul Bunyan
D) Davy Crockett
  • 2. Which famous folklore figure is known for outwitting Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear in African American folklore?
A) John Henry
B) Casey Jones
C) Pecos Bill
D) Br'er Rabbit
  • 3. In American folklore, who is said to have led the African American slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad?
A) Betsy Ross
B) Calamity Jane
C) Harriet Tubman
D) Anne Oakley
  • 4. Which supernatural being in American folklore is known for granting wishes to those who free it from a lamp or bottle?
A) Banshee
B) Kraken
C) Genie
D) Leprechaun
  • 5. What mythical creature is said to inhabit the forests of the Pacific Northwest in Native American folklore?
A) Wendigo
B) Chupacabra
C) Mothman
D) Sasquatch
  • 6. Which famous folk song tells the story of a steel-drivin' man who raced against a steam drill?
A) Oh, Susanna
B) John Henry
C) Home on the Range
D) This Land Is Your Land
  • 7. What mythical bird is said to burst into flames and be reborn from its ashes in American folklore?
A) Kraken
B) Phoenix
C) Dragon
D) Griffin
  • 8. In Native American folklore, what powerful figure is often depicted as a trickster and transformer?
A) Wendigo
B) Thunderbird
C) Skin-walker
D) Coyote
  • 9. What is a common theme found in Native American creation myths?
A) Outlining the development of writing systems
B) Describing the invention of agriculture
C) Explaining how the earth was formed and where humans came from
D) Detailing the discovery of fire
  • 10. Which figure is often used symbolically in Native American myths?
A) Phoenix
B) Dragon
C) Bear
D) Unicorn
  • 11. What do many Plains tribes' flood myths usually end with?
A) The disappearance of all humans
B) The creation of new animals
C) The restoration of the submerged earth
D) The beginning of a new era
  • 12. What role do stories play in Native American cultures according to Barre Toelken?
A) They embody behavioral and ethical values
B) They are used for historical records
C) They serve as entertainment only
D) They replace religious practices
  • 13. Which of the following is NOT a common element in Native American myths?
A) Myths about the invention of technology
B) Hero stories
C) Creation myths
D) Animal tales
  • 14. What do feathers, beadwork, and dance steps represent in Native American cultures?
A) Items used in trade
B) Icons of cultural meaning
C) Symbols of wealth
D) Tools for hunting
  • 15. Which animal is NOT frequently referred to as a supernatural being in Native American myths?
A) Bear
B) Unicorn
C) Snake
D) Eagle
  • 16. What do hero stories in Native American folklore typically feature?
A) Historical figures recounting their lives
B) Heroes with supernatural powers who defeat evils
C) Animals teaching moral lessons
D) Ordinary people solving everyday problems
  • 17. What is a common purpose of animal tales in Native American folklore?
A) Describing the migration patterns of animals
B) Illustrating hunting techniques
C) Explaining how features of certain animals occurred
D) Providing recipes for traditional dishes
  • 18. What role did Christopher Columbus play in American myth?
A) His role was limited to being an explorer of the Atlantic.
B) He was primarily known for his writings on exploration.
C) He is seen as a heroic figure representing America's self-perception.
D) He is credited with discovering the United States.
  • 19. Who popularized Columbus' life as a romantic figure?
A) Washington Irving
B) George Bancroft
C) Christopher Columbus himself
D) Jeremy Belknap
  • 20. Did Christopher Columbus ever set foot in what is now the United States?
A) Only after establishing settlements in the Caribbean.
B) He visited briefly during his second voyage.
C) No, he never did.
D) Yes, he founded several colonies.
  • 21. How was Columbus portrayed by early American historians like Irving and Bancroft?
A) Primarily as a failed adventurer.
B) As an ordinary navigator with no significant impact.
C) As a noble explorer guided by God to reach the New World.
D) As someone who misunderstood his discoveries.
  • 22. How did the view of Columbus as a genius dependent on monarchical goodwill affect his image?
A) He became a lauded revolutionary figure.
B) Columbus was viewed as a failed leader.
C) His reputation was diminished among American settlers.
D) He was seen as irrelevant to America's founding myths.
  • 23. What was Jamestown's first winter known as?
A) The 'Harsh Winter of 1609-1610'
B) The 'Famine Winter'
C) The 'Great Drought'
D) The 'Starving Time'
  • 24. In what year did William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony?
A) 1619
B) 1620
C) 1630
D) 1607
  • 25. How many years after the Pilgrims' landing was the first written reference to Plymouth Rock?
A) 121 years
B) 50 years
C) 200 years
D) 75 years
  • 26. Who helped the Pilgrims survive through their first winter in America?
A) Captain John Smith
B) Friendly Native Americans, including Squanto
C) Spanish explorers
D) The Powhatan tribe
  • 27. What is the holiday of Thanksgiving said to have begun with?
A) The Pilgrims in 1621
B) Native American harvest festivals
C) Colonial governors' celebrations
D) British settlers in Jamestown
  • 28. What is George Washington often referred to as in American folklore?
A) "The First Patriot"
B) "The Father of Democracy"
C) "The Great Liberator"
D) "Pater Patriae"
  • 29. Who is credited with spreading the cherry tree story in a personalized form?
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) Mark Twain
C) Benjamin Franklin
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 30. What famous phrase did Patrick Henry end his speech with?
A) "I have a dream."
B) "Ask not what your country can do for you."
C) "We shall fight on the beaches."
D) "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
  • 31. Who was responsible for reconstructing Patrick Henry's speech using oral histories?
A) William Wirt
B) James Madison
C) John Adams
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 32. Which other Revolutionary War figure is known for a famous ride to warn of British troops?
A) Nathan Hale
B) Paul Revere
C) Benjamin Franklin
D) John Hancock
  • 33. Which setting is commonly associated with American tall tales?
A) Medieval Europe
B) The Industrial Revolution
C) Ancient Greece
D) The American Old West
  • 34. Which U.S. House did Davy Crockett represent?
A) Texas
B) Kentucky
C) Mississippi
D) Tennessee
  • 35. Who did Calamity Jane claim to be an acquaintance of?
A) Davy Crockett
B) Buffalo Bill Cody
C) Wild Bill Hickok
D) Daniel Boone
  • 36. Who was the first child born in the Americas to English parents?
A) Virginia Dare
B) Ananias White Dare
C) Eleanor White Dare
D) Ann Lee
  • 37. In which film does King Kong climb to the top of the Empire State Building?
A) Appalachian Spring
B) Sleepless in Seattle
C) An Affair to Remember
D) King Kong (1933)
  • 38. What is the name of the area in Vermont where a number of people went missing between 1945 and 1950?
A) Hoover Dam
B) Bridgewater Triangle
C) Bennington Triangle
D) Monument Valley
  • 39. What was Calamity Jane's real name?
A) Martha Jane Canary
B) Sarah Johnson
C) Mary Ellen Smith
D) Elizabeth Brown
  • 40. What is the name of Paul Bunyan's younger brother?
A) Johnny Kaw
B) Pecos Bill
C) Babe the Blue Ox
D) Cordwood Pete
  • 41. What nickname was given to women who carried water to men on the battlefield?
A) Water Wagon Woman
B) Battle Belle
C) Molly Pitcher
D) Frontline Florence
  • 42. Who founded the Shaker religious sect?
A) John White
B) Ann Lee
C) Joseph Brackett
D) Loren Coleman
  • 43. What is the Nain Rouge associated with?
A) Southern New Jersey.
B) The Great Lakes region.
C) Northern Wisconsin.
D) Detroit, Michigan folklore.
  • 44. Which creature is described as having glowing red eyes and bird-like wings?
A) The Jersey Devil
B) Mothman
C) Bigfoot
D) Champ
  • 45. What did slaves develop from the hymns they learned?
A) Blues and jazz
B) Work songs
C) Recreational songs
D) Negro spirituals
  • 46. What is unique about the authors of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'?
A) Both were professional baseball players
B) The song was originally for a football match
C) Neither had attended a baseball game before writing it
D) It was written during a World Series
  • 47. Which creature is said to inhabit the forests of Northern Wisconsin?
A) Champ
B) Mothman
C) The Hodag
D) Bigfoot
  • 48. What did John Henry race against according to legend?
A) A steam-powered hammer
B) Another steel-driver
C) A horse-drawn carriage
D) A locomotive
  • 49. Which cultural icon is associated with the American workforce during World War II?
A) Columbia
B) Rosie the Riveter
C) The Statue of Liberty
D) Uncle Sam
  • 50. What is the name of the main character in 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) Katrina Van Tassel
B) Brom Bones
C) Rip Van Winkle
D) Ichabod Crane
  • 51. What is a popular song that was often sung as a sea chanty?
A) "The Star-Spangled Banner"
B) "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway"
C) "Amazing Grace"
D) "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
  • 52. When did the New York Times move to its new headquarters, prompting the renaming of Longacre Square?
A) 1993
B) 1957
C) April 1904
D) 1933
  • 53. Which legendary figure is known for predicting the arrival of spring?
A) Johnny Kaw
B) Punxsutawney Phil
C) Paul Bunyan
D) Captain Stormalong
  • 54. Which century did immigrants from the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and France begin arriving in large numbers?
A) 19th century
B) 16th century
C) 17th century
D) 18th century
  • 55. What was John Henry's job as a railroad worker?
A) Railroad engineer
B) Station master
C) Steel-driving man
D) Train conductor
  • 56. What is the Bridgewater Triangle known for?
A) Historical landmarks
B) Folk dances
C) Alleged paranormal phenomena
D) Cultural festivals
  • 57. What did African slaves bring with them to the United States?
A) Religious texts
B) Native American artifacts
C) European instruments
D) Musical traditions
  • 58. What are some of the names Santa Claus is known by?
A) Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost
B) Babbo Natale, Joulupukki
C) Krampus, Père Noël
D) Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas
  • 59. Where is the Liberty Bell located?
A) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
B) Boston, Massachusetts
C) New York City, New York
D) Washington D.C.
  • 60. Where was Washington Irving living when he wrote 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) New York City
B) Boston
C) Birmingham, England
D) Philadelphia
  • 61. 'Oh My Darling, Clementine' is about a tragedy during which historical event?
A) 1849 California Gold Rush
B) Civil War
C) World War II
D) American Revolutionary War
  • 62. Who was Casey Jones?
A) An engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad
B) A famous inventor
C) A gold miner
D) A Civil War general
  • 63. Which of these is not a subject matter classification for American folk songs?
A) War songs
B) Classical compositions
C) Train songs
D) Drinking songs
  • 64. Which group of workers was prominently involved in the construction of the Empire State Building?
A) Roanoke colonists
B) Bridgewater Triangle residents
C) Mohawk ironworkers
D) Shakers
  • 65. What is the name of the fictional character in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'?
A) Katrina Van Tassel
B) The Headless Horseman
C) Brom Bones
D) Ichabod Crane
  • 66. What type of dance is the square dance descended from?
A) Waltz
B) Quadrille
C) Tango
D) Foxtrot
  • 67. What is the most famous account of Bigfoot known as?
A) The Silver Bridge Incident.
B) The Rhinelander Report.
C) The Champlain Chronicle.
D) The Patterson-Gimlin film.
  • 68. Who is generally believed to have been Molly Pitcher?
A) Mary Hays
B) Sybil Ludington
C) Phyllis Wheatley
D) Margaret Corbin
  • 69. Which song shares melodic material with the Irish anti-war song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye'?
A) 'Oh My Darling, Clementine'
B) 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'
C) 'The Star-Spangled Banner'
D) 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'
  • 70. Which ballet score features the Shaker tune 'Simple Gifts' in its finale?
A) Sleepless in Seattle
B) An Affair to Remember
C) King Kong
D) Appalachian Spring
  • 71. What did masters disapprove of in industrious slaves?
A) Learning European music
B) Singing and dancing
C) Attending church services
D) Crafting items
  • 72. Which mythical creature is said to inhabit Lake Champlain and has over 300 reported sightings?
A) The Jersey Devil
B) Mothman
C) Bigfoot
D) Champ
  • 73. Which type of hymns became a feature at camp meetings in the South?
A) Negro spirituals
B) Work songs
C) Protestant hymns
D) Recreational songs
  • 74. How many stories does the Empire State Building have?
A) 40
B) 102
C) 200
D) 34
  • 75. What kind of creature is Old Black Eyes according to legend?
A) A mischievous forest sprite.
B) A spectral hound that frequents the Baker Rocks.
C) A water spirit haunting lakes and rivers.
D) A giant bird with fiery eyes.
  • 76. What did Negro spirituals primarily express?
A) European music styles
B) Joyful celebrations
C) Religious faith
D) Work coordination
  • 77. Which original Thirteen Colony's culture heavily influenced American folk music?
A) Spanish
B) English
C) Dutch
D) French
  • 78. In which year was 'Simple Gifts' composed by Elder Joseph Brackett?
A) 1944
B) 1848
C) 1587
D) 1933
  • 79. What is the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress known for?
A) An experimental spacecraft
B) Being a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber
C) A fighter aircraft used in World War II
D) A passenger airliner developed in the 1950s
  • 80. Who was the first prominent scholar to study distinctly American folk music?
A) Woody Guthrie
B) Alan Lomax
C) Robert Winslow Gordon
D) Burl Ives
  • 81. When did the American folk music revival begin?
A) 1960s
B) 1940s
C) 1930s
D) 1950s
  • 82. What is the Colt Single Action Army known as?
A) The 'Smokey Bear'
B) The 'Liberty Bell'
C) The 'Flying Tiger'
D) The 'Peacemaker'
  • 83. Which event is associated with the Boston Tea Party?
A) The signing of the Declaration of Independence
B) A protest against British taxation without representation
C) Paul Revere's Ride
D) The Battle of Bunker Hill
  • 84. What was Times Square formerly known as?
A) Longacre Square
B) Empire State Building
C) Pearl Harbor
D) Hoover Dam
  • 85. Who is generally attributed with writing "A Visit from St. Nicholas"?
A) Washington Irving
B) Charles Dickens
C) Mark Twain
D) Clement Clarke Moore
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