- 1. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, written by Gertrude Stein and first published in 1933, is a groundbreaking literary work that presents a unique blend of autobiography and biography through the lens of Stein's life partner, Alice B. Toklas. In this compelling narrative, Stein recounts her life in Paris during the early 20th century, immersing readers in the vibrant artistic and literary movements of the time, particularly the avant-garde scene that included notable figures such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book offers an intimate glimpse into Stein's relationship with Toklas, describing their daily lives, friendships, and the creative energies that filled their home. Stein's distinctive prose, characterized by its rhythm, repetition, and innovative use of language, challenges conventional storytelling and invites readers to experience the world as she perceives it. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas not only serves as a personal memoir but also as a significant commentary on gender, identity, and the cultural landscape of the early 20th century, making it a pivotal text in both feminist literature and modernist art history.
In what city did Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas host their famous salon?
A) Berlin
B) London
C) Paris
D) New York
- 2. What was the primary function of Alice B. Toklas in the Stein household?
A) Cook
B) Secretary and companion
C) Biographer
D) Artist's model
- 3. What was the name of Gertrude Stein's brother, who was also an art collector?
A) Leo Stein
B) Michael Stein
C) Allan Stein
D) Theo Stein
- 4. Gertrude Stein is credited with coining the term 'Lost Generation' to describe which group?
A) Weimar Republic politicians
B) Surrealist poets
C) Post-WWI European painters
D) American expatriate writers
- 5. What was Gertrude Stein's famous poodle named?
A) Basket
B) Pierre
C) Max
D) Fifi
- 6. What was the primary subject of Gertrude Stein's own writing?
A) Political satire
B) Nature poetry
C) Historical fiction
D) Language and perception
- 7. Which writer did Stein mentor and support in Paris?
A) Ernest Hemingway
B) T.S. Eliot
C) F. Scott Fitzgerald
D) James Joyce
- 8. What kind of car did Alice B. Toklas learn to drive during WWI?
A) A Ford
B) A Citroën
C) A Renault
D) A Rolls-Royce
- 9. The phrase 'A rose is a rose is a rose' is associated with which author?
A) Emily Dickinson
B) Gertrude Stein
C) William Shakespeare
D) T.S. Eliot
- 10. What was the famous address of Stein and Toklas in Paris?
A) 5 Boulevard Saint-Germain
B) 14 Place des Vosges
C) 27 rue de Fleurus
D) 22 rue de Rivoli
- 11. What was the title of Gertrude Stein's first published book?
A) Three Lives
B) Tender Buttons
C) Geography and Plays
D) The Making of Americans
- 12. The book describes the couple's life as central to the Parisian...
A) Political scene
B) Avant-garde
C) Aristocracy
D) Theater community
- 13. Which composer is mentioned as part of their circle?
A) Claude Debussy
B) Maurice Ravel
C) Igor Stravinsky
D) Erik Satie
- 14. How does the book portray the relationship between Stein and Toklas?
A) As a competitive rivalry
B) As a devoted partnership
C) As a turbulent romance
D) As a professional arrangement
- 15. The book is considered a key text of what literary genre?
A) Gothic novel
B) Naturalist fiction
C) Modernist autobiography
D) Victorian memoir
- 16. What is the ironic twist of the book's title and premise?
A) Stein wrote Toklas's autobiography for her
B) Toklas was a fictional character
C) It was published after both women died
D) The book was actually written by Hemingway
- 17. The book is written from the perspective of which character?
A) Gertrude Stein
B) Leo Stein
C) Alice B. Toklas
D) Henri Matisse
- 18. What famous phrase is Gertrude Stein known for, regarding her childhood home?
A) There is no there there.
B) A rose is a rose is a rose.
C) To each his own.
D) Home is where the heart is.
- 19. Which artist is NOT mentioned as a frequent visitor to the Stein salon?
A) Pablo Picasso
B) Henri Matisse
C) Juan Gris
D) Salvador Dalí
- 20. The book is largely a memoir of life in which artistic movement?
A) Modernism
B) Romanticism
C) Renaissance
D) Impressionism
- 21. During which major historical event did Stein and Toklas drive supplies to hospitals?
A) The Franco-Prussian War
B) World War II
C) The Spanish Civil War
D) World War I
- 22. What was the original profession Gertrude Stein trained for?
A) Medicine
B) Law
C) Painting
D) Teaching
- 23. Which famous painter is a central figure in the book?
A) Vincent van Gogh
B) Pablo Picasso
C) Claude Monet
D) Michelangelo
- 24. What was Gertrude Stein's famous car named?
A) Goddard
B) Auntie
C) Betsy
D) Model T
- 25. What was the primary language of the Parisian avant-garde circle described?
A) German
B) French
C) English
D) Spanish
- 26. What famous composer is mentioned as a visitor to the salon?
A) Ludwig van Beethoven
B) Igor Stravinsky
C) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
D) Johann Sebastian Bach
- 27. Which art movement did Stein's writing style help influence?
A) Dadaism
B) Cubism
C) Surrealism
D) Futurism
- 28. During WWI, Stein and Toklas were involved in relief efforts for which country?
A) England
B) Italy
C) Belgium
D) France
- 29. What was the original profession Alice B. Toklas was trained in before meeting Stein?
A) Pianist
B) Painter
C) Dancer
D) Teacher
- 30. The book is structured as a memoir of life in what century?
A) 21st
B) 20th
C) 18th
D) 19th
- 31. The book describes the couple's work during WWI distributing supplies to French...
A) Factories
B) Farms
C) Hospitals
D) Schools
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