The Flowering of New England by Van Wyck Brooks - Test
  • 1. The Flowering of New England, a seminal work by Van Wyck Brooks, published in 1936, explores the rich tapestry of New England's literary heritage and cultural evolution during the early 19th century. In this insightful analysis, Brooks delves into the lives and works of significant literary figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry James, articulating how their contributions to literature mirrored the societal transformations of their time. He emphasizes the transcendentalist movement and its influence on American thought, highlighting how these writers grappled with the concepts of individuality, nature, and the human experience. Brooks' vivid prose not only captures the essence of the New England landscape, both physical and intellectual, but also serves as a critical examination of the relationships among these authors and the broader themes of America's identity. His narrative is rich with historical context, cultural critiques, and a deep appreciation for the arts, making The Flowering of New England a vital text for understanding the roots and development of American literature.

    What is the primary subject of 'The Flowering of New England'?
A) The intellectual and cultural life of New England from 1815 to 1865.
B) The political history of the American Revolution in New England.
C) The architectural styles of New England's historic homes.
D) The botanical discoveries of New England's early settlers.
  • 2. Who is the author of 'The Flowering of New England'?
A) Nathaniel Hawthorne
B) Henry David Thoreau
C) Ralph Waldo Emerson
D) Van Wyck Brooks
  • 3. Which literary movement is central to the book's narrative?
A) Naturalism
B) Modernism
C) The Beat Generation
D) Transcendentalism
  • 4. What prestigious award did 'The Flowering of New England' win?
A) Pulitzer Prize for History
B) National Book Award
C) Nobel Prize in Literature
D) Bancroft Prize
  • 5. In what year was 'The Flowering of New England' first published?
A) 1920
B) 1936
C) 1815
D) 1865
  • 6. What New England city serves as the primary cultural hub in the book?
A) New York City
B) Concord
C) Boston
D) Philadelphia
  • 7. Which transcendentalist community is discussed in the book?
A) Fruitlands
B) Oneida Community
C) Shaker Village
D) Brook Farm
  • 8. What was Van Wyck Brooks' approach to writing this history?
A) Biographical dictionary
B) Literary and cultural history
C) Economic analysis
D) Strict chronological political history
  • 9. Which Harvard professor influenced many thinkers discussed in the book?
A) George Ticknor
B) Charles Eliot Norton
C) John Dewey
D) William James
  • 10. Which poet wrote 'The Vision of Sir Launfal' discussed in the book?
A) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
B) Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
C) John Greenleaf Whittier
D) James Russell Lowell
  • 11. What was the 'Saturday Club' mentioned in the book?
A) An abolitionist secret society
B) A women's suffrage organization
C) A political action committee
D) A literary dining club in Boston
  • 12. Which historian contemporary to this period is discussed in the book?
A) William Hickling Prescott
B) Frederick Jackson Turner
C) Charles Beard
D) Henry Adams
  • 13. What natural location became important to transcendentalist thought?
A) Niagara Falls
B) Walden Pond
C) Cape Cod
D) The White Mountains
  • 14. Which educational institution features prominently in the book?
A) Harvard University
B) Dartmouth College
C) Brown University
D) Yale University
  • 15. What philosophical concept did transcendentalists emphasize?
A) Existentialism
B) Pragmatism
C) Self-reliance
D) Utilitarianism
  • 16. What was Margaret Fuller's role in this cultural flowering?
A) Composer of patriotic songs
B) Novelist of domestic fiction
C) Editor of The Dial and women's rights advocate
D) Painter of the Hudson River School
  • 17. Which book by Thoreau is extensively discussed?
A) Civil Disobedience
B) The Maine Woods
C) Walden
D) Cape Cod
  • 18. Which poet served as professor at Harvard?
A) John Greenleaf Whittier
B) Walt Whitman
C) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
D) Emily Dickinson
  • 19. What European influence is noted in the book's cultural development?
A) Russian formalism
B) French surrealism
C) Italian futurism
D) German romanticism and idealism
  • 20. Which book by Emerson is highlighted as influential?
A) Self-Reliance
B) Representative Men
C) The American Scholar
D) Nature
  • 21. What was the role of lyceums in this period?
A) Public lectures and adult education
B) Political campaign headquarters
C) Scientific laboratories
D) Art museums
  • 22. Which writer was known for his humorous poetry and essays?
A) Henry David Thoreau
B) Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
C) Nathaniel Hawthorne
D) Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • 23. What historical event marks the end of the period covered?
A) The Civil War
B) The American Revolution
C) World War I
D) The Industrial Revolution
  • 24. How does Brooks characterize this period overall?
A) As a cultural golden age
B) As a period of religious revival
C) As a time of economic decline
D) As an era of political corruption
  • 25. Who is considered the central figure in Brooks' narrative?
A) Nathaniel Hawthorne
B) Henry David Thoreau
C) Ralph Waldo Emerson
D) Emily Dickinson
  • 26. Who wrote 'The Scarlet Letter,' featured in Brooks' study?
A) Edgar Allan Poe
B) Herman Melville
C) Nathaniel Hawthorne
D) Washington Irving
  • 27. Which female intellectual is prominently featured?
A) Louisa May Alcott
B) Emily Dickinson
C) Harriet Beecher Stowe
D) Margaret Fuller
  • 28. Which educational reformer is featured?
A) Booker T. Washington
B) Horace Mann
C) William McGuffey
D) John Dewey
  • 29. Who wrote 'Moby-Dick,' mentioned in Brooks' study?
A) Nathaniel Hawthorne
B) Herman Melville
C) James Fenimore Cooper
D) Mark Twain
  • 30. Which religious movement preceded transcendentalism?
A) Quakerism
B) Puritanism
C) Methodism
D) Unitarianism
  • 31. Which poet wrote 'Leaves of Grass' during this period but was not from New England?
A) Walt Whitman
B) John Greenleaf Whittier
C) James Russell Lowell
D) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • 32. Which Hawthorne novel is set in Puritan New England?
A) Moby-Dick
B) The Scarlet Letter
C) Little Women
D) Walden
  • 33. Which philosopher heavily influenced the Transcendentalists?
A) John Stuart Mill
B) John Locke
C) Immanuel Kant
D) David Hume
  • 34. What was Ralph Waldo Emerson's profession before becoming a full-time writer and lecturer?
A) Physician
B) Lawyer
C) College professor
D) Unitarian minister
  • 35. Which Hawthorne novel is set in a utopian community?
A) The Blithedale Romance
B) The Marble Faun
C) The House of the Seven Gables
D) The Scarlet Letter
  • 36. Which poet wrote 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'?
A) Lydia Maria Child
B) Louisa May Alcott
C) Julia Ward Howe
D) Emily Dickinson
  • 37. Which writer was a prominent abolitionist and wrote anti-slavery poetry?
A) John Greenleaf Whittier
B) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
C) Nathaniel Hawthorne
D) Washington Irving
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