- 1. "Lanterns on the Levee" is a poignant and deeply reflective memoir by William Alexander Percy, enveloping the reader in the rich tapestry of Southern life during the early 20th century. Written with a lyrical elegance, the book transcends mere autobiography to explore themes of loss, love, and the complexities of identity within the cultural context of the Mississippi Delta. Percy, a poet and aristocrat, navigates his family's history and the social dynamics of his time, offering insight into the challenges faced by individuals in a society grappling with change. The narrative is infused with Percy’s personal experiences and observations, from his childhood in a decaying plantation to the profound impacts of both the natural landscape and the tumultuous social changes that defined the region. Through evocative imagery and rich storytelling, Percy captures the essence of a bygone era, reflecting on the enduring legacy of tradition while grappling with the inevitability of transformation. His reflections on family, friendship, and the haunting beauty of the Delta create a vivid portrait of a man caught between nostalgia for the past and the realities of the present, making "Lanterns on the Levee" not just a memoir, but a lasting testament to the spirit of the South.
What is the primary genre of 'Lanterns on the Levee'?
A) Novel
B) Poetry Collection
C) Historical Fiction
D) Memoir
- 2. William Alexander Percy was a native of which U.S. state?
A) Alabama
B) Mississippi
C) Georgia
D) Louisiana
- 3. The 'Levee' in the title primarily refers to what?
A) The Mississippi River levee
B) A political movement
C) A formal party
D) A type of lantern
- 4. Percy's memoir is a defense of what way of life?
A) Northern industrialism
B) Westward expansion
C) The Populist movement
D) The Southern agrarian aristocracy
- 5. Which major American river is central to the memoir's setting?
A) Mississippi River
B) Tennessee River
C) Ohio River
D) Missouri River
- 6. A significant portion of the memoir deals with Percy's experiences during what event?
A) World War I
B) The Great Depression
C) The Civil War
D) The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
- 7. Besides a writer, Percy was also known as what?
A) A ship captain
B) A university professor
C) A military general
D) A planter and lawyer
- 8. Percy was the legal guardian and adoptive father of what famous author?
A) Walker Percy
B) William Faulkner
C) Tennessee Williams
D) Robert Penn Warren
- 9. Percy served in which war?
A) World War II
B) The Civil War
C) World War I
D) The Spanish-American War
- 10. The memoir was first published in what year?
A) 1954
B) 1941
C) 1932
D) 1927
- 11. How does Percy view the rise of populism and demagoguery?
A) With humorous detachment
B) As a threat to civilized order
C) As a welcome democratic change
D) As an inevitable economic shift
- 12. Percy helped organize relief efforts during what disaster?
A) The Galveston Hurricane
B) The 1927 Mississippi Flood
C) The Dust Bowl
D) The San Francisco Earthquake
- 13. William Alexander Percy's father, LeRoy Percy, was a prominent U.S. what?
A) Governor
B) Senator
C) Supreme Court Justice
D) General
- 14. Percy's worldview is heavily influenced by what ancient philosophy?
A) Epicureanism
B) Cynicism
C) Platonism
D) Stoicism
- 15. Percy expresses a particular love and talent for what art form?
A) Painting
B) Music composition
C) Poetry
D) Sculpture
- 16. Percy describes his father's successful fight against the Klan in what county?
A) Delta County
B) Yazoo County
C) Washington County
D) Hinds County
- 17. What was the primary crop on the Percy plantation?
A) Cotton
B) Sugar cane
C) Rice
D) Tobacco
- 18. The book is dedicated to whom?
A) His mother
B) The people of the Delta
C) His adopted sons
D) His father
- 19. What was the profession of William Alexander Percy's more famous adopted son?
A) Senator
B) Journalist
C) General
D) Novelist
- 20. The Percy family was based in which Mississippi town?
A) Vicksburg
B) Jackson
C) Natchez
D) Greenville
- 21. The book is a reflection on the culture and history of which American region?
A) New England
B) The Pacific Northwest
C) The American South
D) The American Midwest
- 22. How does Percy often characterize the relationship between races in his writing?
A) Antagonistic
B) Indifferent
C) Paternalistic
D) Egalitarian
- 23. Percy describes his role during the 1927 flood as what?
A) A journalist reporting on it
B) A government critic
C) A leader in relief efforts
D) A helpless victim
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