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The Flowering of New England by Van Wyck Brooks
Contributed by: Salmon
  • 1. The Flowering of New England, a seminal work by Van Wyck Brooks, published in 1936, explores the rich tapestry of New England's literary heritage and cultural evolution during the early 19th century. In this insightful analysis, Brooks delves into the lives and works of significant literary figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry James, articulating how their contributions to literature mirrored the societal transformations of their time. He emphasizes the transcendentalist movement and its influence on American thought, highlighting how these writers grappled with the concepts of individuality, nature, and the human experience. Brooks' vivid prose not only captures the essence of the New England landscape, both physical and intellectual, but also serves as a critical examination of the relationships among these authors and the broader themes of America's identity. His narrative is rich with historical context, cultural critiques, and a deep appreciation for the arts, making The Flowering of New England a vital text for understanding the roots and development of American literature.

    What is the primary subject of 'The Flowering of New England'?
A) The intellectual and cultural life of New England from 1815 to 1865.
B) The political history of the American Revolution in New England.
C) The botanical discoveries of New England's early settlers.
D) The architectural styles of New England's historic homes.
  • 2. Who is the author of 'The Flowering of New England'?
A) Henry David Thoreau
B) Ralph Waldo Emerson
C) Van Wyck Brooks
D) Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • 3. Which literary movement is central to the book's narrative?
A) Transcendentalism
B) Naturalism
C) The Beat Generation
D) Modernism
  • 4. What prestigious award did 'The Flowering of New England' win?
A) National Book Award
B) Pulitzer Prize for History
C) Bancroft Prize
D) Nobel Prize in Literature
  • 5. In what year was 'The Flowering of New England' first published?
A) 1920
B) 1936
C) 1865
D) 1815
  • 6. What New England city serves as the primary cultural hub in the book?
A) New York City
B) Philadelphia
C) Boston
D) Concord
  • 7. Which transcendentalist community is discussed in the book?
A) Shaker Village
B) Fruitlands
C) Oneida Community
D) Brook Farm
  • 8. What was Van Wyck Brooks' approach to writing this history?
A) Biographical dictionary
B) Economic analysis
C) Strict chronological political history
D) Literary and cultural history
  • 9. Which Harvard professor influenced many thinkers discussed in the book?
A) William James
B) George Ticknor
C) Charles Eliot Norton
D) John Dewey
  • 10. Which poet wrote 'The Vision of Sir Launfal' discussed in the book?
A) John Greenleaf Whittier
B) James Russell Lowell
C) Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
D) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • 11. What was the 'Saturday Club' mentioned in the book?
A) A literary dining club in Boston
B) A women's suffrage organization
C) A political action committee
D) An abolitionist secret society
  • 12. Which historian contemporary to this period is discussed in the book?
A) Charles Beard
B) William Hickling Prescott
C) Henry Adams
D) Frederick Jackson Turner
  • 13. What natural location became important to transcendentalist thought?
A) Walden Pond
B) The White Mountains
C) Niagara Falls
D) Cape Cod
  • 14. Which educational institution features prominently in the book?
A) Yale University
B) Brown University
C) Harvard University
D) Dartmouth College
  • 15. What philosophical concept did transcendentalists emphasize?
A) Pragmatism
B) Self-reliance
C) Existentialism
D) Utilitarianism
  • 16. What was Margaret Fuller's role in this cultural flowering?
A) Composer of patriotic songs
B) Editor of The Dial and women's rights advocate
C) Novelist of domestic fiction
D) Painter of the Hudson River School
  • 17. Which book by Thoreau is extensively discussed?
A) Cape Cod
B) The Maine Woods
C) Civil Disobedience
D) Walden
  • 18. Which poet served as professor at Harvard?
A) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
B) Walt Whitman
C) John Greenleaf Whittier
D) Emily Dickinson
  • 19. What European influence is noted in the book's cultural development?
A) Russian formalism
B) French surrealism
C) German romanticism and idealism
D) Italian futurism
  • 20. Which book by Emerson is highlighted as influential?
A) Representative Men
B) Self-Reliance
C) Nature
D) The American Scholar
  • 21. What was the role of lyceums in this period?
A) Public lectures and adult education
B) Scientific laboratories
C) Political campaign headquarters
D) Art museums
  • 22. Which writer was known for his humorous poetry and essays?
A) Ralph Waldo Emerson
B) Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
C) Henry David Thoreau
D) Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • 23. What historical event marks the end of the period covered?
A) The American Revolution
B) World War I
C) The Industrial Revolution
D) The Civil War
  • 24. How does Brooks characterize this period overall?
A) As a period of religious revival
B) As an era of political corruption
C) As a time of economic decline
D) As a cultural golden age
  • 25. Who is considered the central figure in Brooks' narrative?
A) Emily Dickinson
B) Ralph Waldo Emerson
C) Nathaniel Hawthorne
D) Henry David Thoreau
  • 26. Who wrote 'The Scarlet Letter,' featured in Brooks' study?
A) Herman Melville
B) Edgar Allan Poe
C) Washington Irving
D) Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • 27. Which female intellectual is prominently featured?
A) Harriet Beecher Stowe
B) Emily Dickinson
C) Louisa May Alcott
D) Margaret Fuller
  • 28. Which educational reformer is featured?
A) John Dewey
B) William McGuffey
C) Horace Mann
D) Booker T. Washington
  • 29. Who wrote 'Moby-Dick,' mentioned in Brooks' study?
A) Nathaniel Hawthorne
B) James Fenimore Cooper
C) Mark Twain
D) Herman Melville
  • 30. Which religious movement preceded transcendentalism?
A) Puritanism
B) Methodism
C) Unitarianism
D) Quakerism
  • 31. Which poet wrote 'Leaves of Grass' during this period but was not from New England?
A) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
B) John Greenleaf Whittier
C) James Russell Lowell
D) Walt Whitman
  • 32. Which Hawthorne novel is set in Puritan New England?
A) Walden
B) The Scarlet Letter
C) Little Women
D) Moby-Dick
  • 33. Which philosopher heavily influenced the Transcendentalists?
A) John Locke
B) Immanuel Kant
C) John Stuart Mill
D) David Hume
  • 34. What was Ralph Waldo Emerson's profession before becoming a full-time writer and lecturer?
A) Physician
B) Lawyer
C) Unitarian minister
D) College professor
  • 35. Which Hawthorne novel is set in a utopian community?
A) The Scarlet Letter
B) The Marble Faun
C) The Blithedale Romance
D) The House of the Seven Gables
  • 36. Which poet wrote 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'?
A) Emily Dickinson
B) Louisa May Alcott
C) Julia Ward Howe
D) Lydia Maria Child
  • 37. Which writer was a prominent abolitionist and wrote anti-slavery poetry?
A) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
B) John Greenleaf Whittier
C) Nathaniel Hawthorne
D) Washington Irving
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