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