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American Folklore - Quiz
Contributed by: Howes
  • 1. What legendary frontiersman and folk hero is often associated with a coonskin cap?
A) Johnny Appleseed
B) Davy Crockett
C) Paul Bunyan
D) John Henry
  • 2. Which famous folklore figure is known for outwitting Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear in African American folklore?
A) John Henry
B) Pecos Bill
C) Casey Jones
D) Br'er Rabbit
  • 3. In American folklore, who is said to have led the African American slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad?
A) Betsy Ross
B) Anne Oakley
C) Harriet Tubman
D) Calamity Jane
  • 4. Which supernatural being in American folklore is known for granting wishes to those who free it from a lamp or bottle?
A) Leprechaun
B) Genie
C) Banshee
D) Kraken
  • 5. What mythical creature is said to inhabit the forests of the Pacific Northwest in Native American folklore?
A) Mothman
B) Wendigo
C) Chupacabra
D) Sasquatch
  • 6. Which famous folk song tells the story of a steel-drivin' man who raced against a steam drill?
A) John Henry
B) Home on the Range
C) Oh, Susanna
D) This Land Is Your Land
  • 7. What mythical bird is said to burst into flames and be reborn from its ashes in American folklore?
A) Phoenix
B) Dragon
C) Kraken
D) Griffin
  • 8. In Native American folklore, what powerful figure is often depicted as a trickster and transformer?
A) Wendigo
B) Coyote
C) Skin-walker
D) Thunderbird
  • 9. What is a common theme found in Native American creation myths?
A) Describing the invention of agriculture
B) Outlining the development of writing systems
C) Detailing the discovery of fire
D) Explaining how the earth was formed and where humans came from
  • 10. Which figure is often used symbolically in Native American myths?
A) Dragon
B) Bear
C) Unicorn
D) Phoenix
  • 11. What do many Plains tribes' flood myths usually end with?
A) The disappearance of all humans
B) The beginning of a new era
C) The creation of new animals
D) The restoration of the submerged earth
  • 12. What role do stories play in Native American cultures according to Barre Toelken?
A) They are used for historical records
B) They replace religious practices
C) They embody behavioral and ethical values
D) They serve as entertainment only
  • 13. Which of the following is NOT a common element in Native American myths?
A) Creation myths
B) Myths about the invention of technology
C) Hero stories
D) Animal tales
  • 14. What do feathers, beadwork, and dance steps represent in Native American cultures?
A) Items used in trade
B) Icons of cultural meaning
C) Tools for hunting
D) Symbols of wealth
  • 15. Which animal is NOT frequently referred to as a supernatural being in Native American myths?
A) Bear
B) Snake
C) Unicorn
D) Eagle
  • 16. What do hero stories in Native American folklore typically feature?
A) Animals teaching moral lessons
B) Historical figures recounting their lives
C) Ordinary people solving everyday problems
D) Heroes with supernatural powers who defeat evils
  • 17. What is a common purpose of animal tales in Native American folklore?
A) Describing the migration patterns of animals
B) Illustrating hunting techniques
C) Explaining how features of certain animals occurred
D) Providing recipes for traditional dishes
  • 18. What role did Christopher Columbus play in American myth?
A) He was primarily known for his writings on exploration.
B) He is credited with discovering the United States.
C) He is seen as a heroic figure representing America's self-perception.
D) His role was limited to being an explorer of the Atlantic.
  • 19. Who popularized Columbus' life as a romantic figure?
A) George Bancroft
B) Christopher Columbus himself
C) Jeremy Belknap
D) Washington Irving
  • 20. Did Christopher Columbus ever set foot in what is now the United States?
A) Only after establishing settlements in the Caribbean.
B) Yes, he founded several colonies.
C) No, he never did.
D) He visited briefly during his second voyage.
  • 21. How was Columbus portrayed by early American historians like Irving and Bancroft?
A) As someone who misunderstood his discoveries.
B) As a noble explorer guided by God to reach the New World.
C) As an ordinary navigator with no significant impact.
D) Primarily as a failed adventurer.
  • 22. How did the view of Columbus as a genius dependent on monarchical goodwill affect his image?
A) He became a lauded revolutionary figure.
B) Columbus was viewed as a failed leader.
C) His reputation was diminished among American settlers.
D) He was seen as irrelevant to America's founding myths.
  • 23. What was Jamestown's first winter known as?
A) The 'Harsh Winter of 1609-1610'
B) The 'Great Drought'
C) The 'Famine Winter'
D) The 'Starving Time'
  • 24. In what year did William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony?
A) 1619
B) 1620
C) 1630
D) 1607
  • 25. How many years after the Pilgrims' landing was the first written reference to Plymouth Rock?
A) 50 years
B) 200 years
C) 121 years
D) 75 years
  • 26. Who helped the Pilgrims survive through their first winter in America?
A) Spanish explorers
B) Friendly Native Americans, including Squanto
C) Captain John Smith
D) The Powhatan tribe
  • 27. What is the holiday of Thanksgiving said to have begun with?
A) Colonial governors' celebrations
B) Native American harvest festivals
C) British settlers in Jamestown
D) The Pilgrims in 1621
  • 28. What is George Washington often referred to as in American folklore?
A) "The First Patriot"
B) "The Father of Democracy"
C) "Pater Patriae"
D) "The Great Liberator"
  • 29. Who is credited with spreading the cherry tree story in a personalized form?
A) Benjamin Franklin
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) Mark Twain
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 30. What famous phrase did Patrick Henry end his speech with?
A) "I have a dream."
B) "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
C) "Ask not what your country can do for you."
D) "We shall fight on the beaches."
  • 31. Who was responsible for reconstructing Patrick Henry's speech using oral histories?
A) William Wirt
B) James Madison
C) John Adams
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 32. Which other Revolutionary War figure is known for a famous ride to warn of British troops?
A) John Hancock
B) Nathan Hale
C) Benjamin Franklin
D) Paul Revere
  • 33. Which setting is commonly associated with American tall tales?
A) The Industrial Revolution
B) The American Old West
C) Ancient Greece
D) Medieval Europe
  • 34. Which U.S. House did Davy Crockett represent?
A) Tennessee
B) Texas
C) Kentucky
D) Mississippi
  • 35. Who did Calamity Jane claim to be an acquaintance of?
A) Daniel Boone
B) Davy Crockett
C) Buffalo Bill Cody
D) Wild Bill Hickok
  • 36. Who was the first child born in the Americas to English parents?
A) Eleanor White Dare
B) Ananias White Dare
C) Ann Lee
D) Virginia Dare
  • 37. In which film does King Kong climb to the top of the Empire State Building?
A) Appalachian Spring
B) King Kong (1933)
C) Sleepless in Seattle
D) An Affair to Remember
  • 38. What is the name of the area in Vermont where a number of people went missing between 1945 and 1950?
A) Monument Valley
B) Bridgewater Triangle
C) Hoover Dam
D) Bennington Triangle
  • 39. What was Calamity Jane's real name?
A) Martha Jane Canary
B) Mary Ellen Smith
C) Elizabeth Brown
D) Sarah Johnson
  • 40. What is the name of Paul Bunyan's younger brother?
A) Pecos Bill
B) Johnny Kaw
C) Cordwood Pete
D) Babe the Blue Ox
  • 41. What nickname was given to women who carried water to men on the battlefield?
A) Water Wagon Woman
B) Battle Belle
C) Frontline Florence
D) Molly Pitcher
  • 42. Who founded the Shaker religious sect?
A) Joseph Brackett
B) Loren Coleman
C) Ann Lee
D) John White
  • 43. What is the Nain Rouge associated with?
A) The Great Lakes region.
B) Southern New Jersey.
C) Detroit, Michigan folklore.
D) Northern Wisconsin.
  • 44. Which creature is described as having glowing red eyes and bird-like wings?
A) Champ
B) The Jersey Devil
C) Bigfoot
D) Mothman
  • 45. What did slaves develop from the hymns they learned?
A) Negro spirituals
B) Blues and jazz
C) Recreational songs
D) Work songs
  • 46. What is unique about the authors of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'?
A) The song was originally for a football match
B) Neither had attended a baseball game before writing it
C) It was written during a World Series
D) Both were professional baseball players
  • 47. Which creature is said to inhabit the forests of Northern Wisconsin?
A) The Hodag
B) Champ
C) Mothman
D) Bigfoot
  • 48. What did John Henry race against according to legend?
A) A locomotive
B) A steam-powered hammer
C) A horse-drawn carriage
D) Another steel-driver
  • 49. Which cultural icon is associated with the American workforce during World War II?
A) Rosie the Riveter
B) Uncle Sam
C) Columbia
D) The Statue of Liberty
  • 50. What is the name of the main character in 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) Ichabod Crane
B) Rip Van Winkle
C) Katrina Van Tassel
D) Brom Bones
  • 51. What is a popular song that was often sung as a sea chanty?
A) "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
B) "Amazing Grace"
C) "The Star-Spangled Banner"
D) "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway"
  • 52. When did the New York Times move to its new headquarters, prompting the renaming of Longacre Square?
A) 1993
B) April 1904
C) 1933
D) 1957
  • 53. Which legendary figure is known for predicting the arrival of spring?
A) Paul Bunyan
B) Captain Stormalong
C) Johnny Kaw
D) Punxsutawney Phil
  • 54. Which century did immigrants from the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and France begin arriving in large numbers?
A) 16th century
B) 18th century
C) 19th century
D) 17th century
  • 55. What was John Henry's job as a railroad worker?
A) Train conductor
B) Steel-driving man
C) Railroad engineer
D) Station master
  • 56. What is the Bridgewater Triangle known for?
A) Cultural festivals
B) Historical landmarks
C) Alleged paranormal phenomena
D) Folk dances
  • 57. What did African slaves bring with them to the United States?
A) Native American artifacts
B) Religious texts
C) Musical traditions
D) European instruments
  • 58. What are some of the names Santa Claus is known by?
A) Krampus, Père Noël
B) Babbo Natale, Joulupukki
C) Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas
D) Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost
  • 59. Where is the Liberty Bell located?
A) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
B) Boston, Massachusetts
C) Washington D.C.
D) New York City, New York
  • 60. Where was Washington Irving living when he wrote 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) Birmingham, England
B) Philadelphia
C) New York City
D) Boston
  • 61. 'Oh My Darling, Clementine' is about a tragedy during which historical event?
A) Civil War
B) 1849 California Gold Rush
C) American Revolutionary War
D) World War II
  • 62. Who was Casey Jones?
A) A gold miner
B) An engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad
C) A famous inventor
D) A Civil War general
  • 63. Which of these is not a subject matter classification for American folk songs?
A) War songs
B) Classical compositions
C) Train songs
D) Drinking songs
  • 64. Which group of workers was prominently involved in the construction of the Empire State Building?
A) Mohawk ironworkers
B) Shakers
C) Bridgewater Triangle residents
D) Roanoke colonists
  • 65. What is the name of the fictional character in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'?
A) Ichabod Crane
B) Brom Bones
C) The Headless Horseman
D) Katrina Van Tassel
  • 66. What type of dance is the square dance descended from?
A) Quadrille
B) Waltz
C) Foxtrot
D) Tango
  • 67. What is the most famous account of Bigfoot known as?
A) The Rhinelander Report.
B) The Silver Bridge Incident.
C) The Patterson-Gimlin film.
D) The Champlain Chronicle.
  • 68. Who is generally believed to have been Molly Pitcher?
A) Margaret Corbin
B) Sybil Ludington
C) Mary Hays
D) Phyllis Wheatley
  • 69. Which song shares melodic material with the Irish anti-war song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye'?
A) 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'
B) 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'
C) 'The Star-Spangled Banner'
D) 'Oh My Darling, Clementine'
  • 70. Which ballet score features the Shaker tune 'Simple Gifts' in its finale?
A) An Affair to Remember
B) King Kong
C) Appalachian Spring
D) Sleepless in Seattle
  • 71. What did masters disapprove of in industrious slaves?
A) Crafting items
B) Singing and dancing
C) Learning European music
D) Attending church services
  • 72. Which mythical creature is said to inhabit Lake Champlain and has over 300 reported sightings?
A) Mothman
B) The Jersey Devil
C) Champ
D) Bigfoot
  • 73. Which type of hymns became a feature at camp meetings in the South?
A) Work songs
B) Negro spirituals
C) Recreational songs
D) Protestant hymns
  • 74. How many stories does the Empire State Building have?
A) 102
B) 40
C) 34
D) 200
  • 75. What kind of creature is Old Black Eyes according to legend?
A) A giant bird with fiery eyes.
B) A mischievous forest sprite.
C) A spectral hound that frequents the Baker Rocks.
D) A water spirit haunting lakes and rivers.
  • 76. What did Negro spirituals primarily express?
A) Work coordination
B) European music styles
C) Joyful celebrations
D) Religious faith
  • 77. Which original Thirteen Colony's culture heavily influenced American folk music?
A) Dutch
B) Spanish
C) English
D) French
  • 78. In which year was 'Simple Gifts' composed by Elder Joseph Brackett?
A) 1587
B) 1944
C) 1933
D) 1848
  • 79. What is the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress known for?
A) A passenger airliner developed in the 1950s
B) A fighter aircraft used in World War II
C) An experimental spacecraft
D) Being a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber
  • 80. Who was the first prominent scholar to study distinctly American folk music?
A) Woody Guthrie
B) Robert Winslow Gordon
C) Burl Ives
D) Alan Lomax
  • 81. When did the American folk music revival begin?
A) 1960s
B) 1950s
C) 1930s
D) 1940s
  • 82. What is the Colt Single Action Army known as?
A) The 'Smokey Bear'
B) The 'Liberty Bell'
C) The 'Peacemaker'
D) The 'Flying Tiger'
  • 83. Which event is associated with the Boston Tea Party?
A) The signing of the Declaration of Independence
B) Paul Revere's Ride
C) A protest against British taxation without representation
D) The Battle of Bunker Hill
  • 84. What was Times Square formerly known as?
A) Pearl Harbor
B) Longacre Square
C) Empire State Building
D) Hoover Dam
  • 85. Who is generally attributed with writing "A Visit from St. Nicholas"?
A) Clement Clarke Moore
B) Charles Dickens
C) Washington Irving
D) Mark Twain
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