Mary Chesnut's Civil War by Mary Boykin Chesnut
- 1. Mary Chesnut's Civil War, written by Mary Boykin Chesnut, is a poignant and deeply personal account that offers an intimate glimpse into the life of the American South during the Civil War era. This remarkable work is based on the extensive diaries kept by Chesnut, a Southern woman of privilege, who provided a unique perspective on the social, political, and cultural upheavals of the time. Her writings capture the complexity of her feelings towards the war and its implications, revealing her struggles as a wife of a Confederate official and her reflections on the broader consequences of conflict. Chesnut's observations encompass the experiences of soldiers, the hardships faced by families, and the unraveling of societal norms, all while highlighting her keen insight into the characters and events that shaped the nation. The diary entries are rich with detail and emotion, allowing readers to understand the war not only as a historical event but as a deeply personal and transformative experience for those who lived through it. Through her eloquent and often poignant prose, Chesnut immortalizes the voices of a tumultuous time, making her work an invaluable resource for historians and a touching narrative for contemporary readers seeking to grasp the human experience during one of America's most challenging periods.
What literary form is 'Mary Chesnut's Civil War' primarily known as?
A) Biography
B) Novel
C) Poetry collection
D) Diary
- 2. During which major American conflict was the diary written?
A) The American Revolution
B) World War I
C) The American Civil War
D) The War of 1812
- 3. Mary Chesnut was the wife of a prominent figure. What was his role?
A) The President of the Confederacy
B) A Union army colonel
C) A Supreme Court Justice
D) A Confederate general and senator
- 4. Which state was Mary Chesnut's home and a primary setting for her diary?
A) Virginia
B) Alabama
C) South Carolina
D) Georgia
- 5. Chesnut's diary provides a unique perspective because it is written from the viewpoint of...
A) A common soldier
B) A enslaved person
C) An elite Southern woman
D) A Northern abolitionist
- 6. Who edited and published the definitive version of the diary in 1981?
A) C. Vann Woodward
B) Doris Kearns Goodwin
C) Shelby Foote
D) David McCullough
- 7. For what major literary award was the 1981 edition a finalist?
A) The Pulitzer Prize
B) The National Book Award
C) The Nobel Prize for Literature
D) The Bancroft Prize
- 8. In what city does much of the diary's early action take place?
A) Montgomery
B) Atlanta
C) Charleston
D) Richmond
- 9. What personal tragedy affected Chesnut during the war?
A) The loss of her home to fire
B) Being captured by Union forces
C) The death of her mother
D) Her husband's death in battle
- 10. Besides her diary, what other form of writing did Chesnut attempt?
A) Novels
B) Epic poetry
C) Newspaper editorials
D) Stage plays
- 11. After the war, what happened to the Chesnut family's wealth?
A) It was confiscated by the Union.
B) It remained unchanged.
C) It increased significantly.
D) It was largely lost.
- 12. Which prominent Confederate figure is a frequent subject in the diary?
A) J.E.B. Stuart
B) Jefferson Davis
C) Robert E. Lee
D) Stonewall Jackson
- 13. The diary entries were heavily revised and expanded...
A) By her husband after her death
B) During the war's first year
C) By a newspaper editor in 1870
D) After the war ended
- 14. Why is the diary considered a literary achievement as well as a historical document?
A) For its narrative power and character portraits
B) For its innovative use of blank verse
C) For inventing the genre of historical fiction
D) For being the first American novel
- 15. Chesnut's diary provides a candid view of the institution of what?
A) The prison system
B) The banking system
C) Public education
D) Slavery
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