The Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer - Quiz
- 1. The Armies of the Night, published in 1968, is a groundbreaking work by Norman Mailer that masterfully blends elements of historical narrative, autobiography, and fiction, offering a vivid and introspective exploration of the anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States. The book chronicles the events surrounding the 1967 March on the Pentagon, weaving together Mailer's own experiences as a participant with the broader cultural and political landscape of the era. Mailer adopts a unique narrative style, referring to himself in the third person and employing a rich, poetic prose that captures the existential anxiety and fervent idealism of the time. Through his engaging storytelling and keen observations, Mailer delves into themes of power, responsibility, and the complexities of activism, while also examining the nature of American identity in a tumultuous period. The Armies of the Night is not only a historical account but also a profound meditation on the conflict between the individual and society, making it a seminal work that continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike.
What genre did Norman Mailer invent to describe 'The Armies of the Night'?
A) History as a novel, the novel as history
B) New Journalism
C) Fictional memoir
D) Creative non-fiction
- 2. The central event of the book is the protest march on what building?
A) The Lincoln Memorial
B) The Capitol Building
C) The White House
D) The Pentagon
- 3. In what year did the march on the Pentagon, described in the book, take place?
A) 1967
B) 1968
C) 1969
D) 1965
- 4. What war was the primary subject of the protests in the book?
A) World War II
B) The Korean War
C) The Cold War
D) The Vietnam War
- 5. The book is divided into two main parts. What are they called?
A) The Protest & The Aftermath
B) History as a Novel & The Novel as History
C) The March & The Arrest
D) The Event & The Reflection
- 6. How does the book's perspective shift between its two parts?
A) From past to present tense
B) From a personal to a historical account
C) From pro-war to anti-war
D) From a journalist's to a poet's view
- 7. What was the name of the youth activist group that was a key organizer of the march?
A) The Weather Underground
B) The Yippies
C) Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
D) The National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam
- 8. What does Mailer's portrayal of his own vanity and posturing accomplish?
A) It creates a complex, unreliable narrator.
B) It minimizes his role in events.
C) It proves his objectivity.
D) It shows he was a flawless leader.
- 9. The book is considered a defining work of what larger literary movement?
A) New Journalism
B) Modernism
C) The Beat Generation
D) Postmodernism
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