- 1. "Lanterns on the Levee" is a poignant and deeply reflective memoir by William Alexander Percy, enveloping the reader in the rich tapestry of Southern life during the early 20th century. Written with a lyrical elegance, the book transcends mere autobiography to explore themes of loss, love, and the complexities of identity within the cultural context of the Mississippi Delta. Percy, a poet and aristocrat, navigates his family's history and the social dynamics of his time, offering insight into the challenges faced by individuals in a society grappling with change. The narrative is infused with Percy’s personal experiences and observations, from his childhood in a decaying plantation to the profound impacts of both the natural landscape and the tumultuous social changes that defined the region. Through evocative imagery and rich storytelling, Percy captures the essence of a bygone era, reflecting on the enduring legacy of tradition while grappling with the inevitability of transformation. His reflections on family, friendship, and the haunting beauty of the Delta create a vivid portrait of a man caught between nostalgia for the past and the realities of the present, making "Lanterns on the Levee" not just a memoir, but a lasting testament to the spirit of the South.
What is the primary genre of 'Lanterns on the Levee'?
A) Memoir
B) Historical Fiction
C) Poetry Collection
D) Novel
- 2. William Alexander Percy was a native of which U.S. state?
A) Alabama
B) Louisiana
C) Mississippi
D) Georgia
- 3. The 'Levee' in the title primarily refers to what?
A) A political movement
B) The Mississippi River levee
C) A formal party
D) A type of lantern
- 4. Percy's memoir is a defense of what way of life?
A) The Southern agrarian aristocracy
B) The Populist movement
C) Westward expansion
D) Northern industrialism
- 5. Which major American river is central to the memoir's setting?
A) Mississippi River
B) Missouri River
C) Tennessee River
D) Ohio River
- 6. A significant portion of the memoir deals with Percy's experiences during what event?
A) World War I
B) The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
C) The Great Depression
D) The Civil War
- 7. Besides a writer, Percy was also known as what?
A) A planter and lawyer
B) A military general
C) A university professor
D) A ship captain
- 8. Percy was the legal guardian and adoptive father of what famous author?
A) William Faulkner
B) Tennessee Williams
C) Walker Percy
D) Robert Penn Warren
- 9. Percy served in which war?
A) World War II
B) The Spanish-American War
C) The Civil War
D) World War I
- 10. The memoir was first published in what year?
A) 1954
B) 1941
C) 1932
D) 1927
- 11. How does Percy view the rise of populism and demagoguery?
A) With humorous detachment
B) As a welcome democratic change
C) As an inevitable economic shift
D) As a threat to civilized order
- 12. Percy helped organize relief efforts during what disaster?
A) The Dust Bowl
B) The San Francisco Earthquake
C) The 1927 Mississippi Flood
D) The Galveston Hurricane
- 13. William Alexander Percy's father, LeRoy Percy, was a prominent U.S. what?
A) Governor
B) Supreme Court Justice
C) General
D) Senator
- 14. Percy's worldview is heavily influenced by what ancient philosophy?
A) Platonism
B) Stoicism
C) Cynicism
D) Epicureanism
- 15. Percy expresses a particular love and talent for what art form?
A) Poetry
B) Painting
C) Sculpture
D) Music composition
- 16. Percy describes his father's successful fight against the Klan in what county?
A) Washington County
B) Delta County
C) Hinds County
D) Yazoo County
- 17. What was the primary crop on the Percy plantation?
A) Tobacco
B) Sugar cane
C) Rice
D) Cotton
- 18. The book is dedicated to whom?
A) The people of the Delta
B) His adopted sons
C) His father
D) His mother
- 19. What was the profession of William Alexander Percy's more famous adopted son?
A) Journalist
B) Novelist
C) General
D) Senator
- 20. The Percy family was based in which Mississippi town?
A) Greenville
B) Jackson
C) Natchez
D) Vicksburg
- 21. The book is a reflection on the culture and history of which American region?
A) New England
B) The American South
C) The American Midwest
D) The Pacific Northwest
- 22. How does Percy often characterize the relationship between races in his writing?
A) Paternalistic
B) Egalitarian
C) Antagonistic
D) Indifferent
- 23. Percy describes his role during the 1927 flood as what?
A) A government critic
B) A journalist reporting on it
C) A helpless victim
D) A leader in relief efforts
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