- 1. The Armies of the Night, published in 1968, is a groundbreaking work by Norman Mailer that masterfully blends elements of historical narrative, autobiography, and fiction, offering a vivid and introspective exploration of the anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States. The book chronicles the events surrounding the 1967 March on the Pentagon, weaving together Mailer's own experiences as a participant with the broader cultural and political landscape of the era. Mailer adopts a unique narrative style, referring to himself in the third person and employing a rich, poetic prose that captures the existential anxiety and fervent idealism of the time. Through his engaging storytelling and keen observations, Mailer delves into themes of power, responsibility, and the complexities of activism, while also examining the nature of American identity in a tumultuous period. The Armies of the Night is not only a historical account but also a profound meditation on the conflict between the individual and society, making it a seminal work that continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike.
What genre did Norman Mailer invent to describe 'The Armies of the Night'?
A) Creative non-fiction
B) New Journalism
C) History as a novel, the novel as history
D) Fictional memoir
- 2. The central event of the book is the protest march on what building?
A) The Pentagon
B) The Lincoln Memorial
C) The Capitol Building
D) The White House
- 3. In what year did the march on the Pentagon, described in the book, take place?
A) 1967
B) 1965
C) 1969
D) 1968
- 4. What war was the primary subject of the protests in the book?
A) World War II
B) The Cold War
C) The Vietnam War
D) The Korean War
- 5. The book is divided into two main parts. What are they called?
A) The Protest & The Aftermath
B) The Event & The Reflection
C) The March & The Arrest
D) History as a Novel & The Novel as History
- 6. How does the book's perspective shift between its two parts?
A) From pro-war to anti-war
B) From a journalist's to a poet's view
C) From past to present tense
D) From a personal to a historical account
- 7. What was the name of the youth activist group that was a key organizer of the march?
A) The National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam
B) Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
C) The Weather Underground
D) The Yippies
- 8. What does Mailer's portrayal of his own vanity and posturing accomplish?
A) It minimizes his role in events.
B) It creates a complex, unreliable narrator.
C) It shows he was a flawless leader.
D) It proves his objectivity.
- 9. The book is considered a defining work of what larger literary movement?
A) Modernism
B) New Journalism
C) Postmodernism
D) The Beat Generation
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