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