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The Moon Is Down Trivia Quiz

John Steinbeck wrote "The Moon Is Down" as propaganda during World War II to encourage people to fight against the Nazis. Though not Steinbeck's most famous writing project, this novel introduces us to interesting characters who still speak to us today.

A multiple-choice quiz by mazeface. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
mazeface

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
168,076

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
441

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. The imaginary town of "The Moon Is Down" is set in what country? Hint

Poland

Austria

France

Norway

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Question 2 of 20

2. "They hurry toward their destiny as though it would not wait. They push the rolling world along with their shoulders." Who said this? Hint

Mayor Orden

Lieutenant Tonder

Colonel Lanser

Doctor Winter

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Question 3 of 20

3. What is the name of Mayor Orden's servingman (butler)? Hint

Joseph

Edward

Jarvis

William

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Question 4 of 20

4. How many soldiers from the town are killed when the Nazis invaded? Hint

five

three

six

four

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Question 5 of 20

5. Where does Colonel Lanser request he and his staff stay while they occupy the town? Hint

in the town library

in the mayor's mansion

in the schoolhouse

in the doctor's house

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Question 6 of 20

6. Who of Colonel Lanser's staff was an engineer? Hint

Major Hunter

Captain Loft

Captain Bentick

Lieutenant Prackle

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Question 7 of 20

7. Who is the traitor that gave the Nazis a list of townspeople who had guns? Hint

Dr. Winter

Mayor Orden

Alexander Morden

George Corell

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Question 8 of 20

8. In chapter 2, a man from the town kills one of the Nazi officers. Who was the officer? Hint

Lieutenant Tonder

Captain Bentick

Captain Loft

Major Hunter

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Question 9 of 20

9. "A light in the daytime is a lonely thing." Who said this? Hint

Walter Doggel

Mayor Orden

William Deal

George Corell

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Question 10 of 20

10. What is the name of the wife of the man who was executed for killing the Nazi officer? Hint

Annie

Molly

Mary

Suzanne

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Question 11 of 20

11. Why did the invaders need to occupy this town? Hint

They needed the coal from the mine.

They needed to build a major road through the town.

It was a strategic location for invading a larger city to the north.

They were simply following orders.

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Question 12 of 20

12. What did the traitor want as a reward for his work? Hint

He wanted to become mayor.

He wanted to avoid execution.

He wanted his money so he could move to the United States.

He wanted the Nazis to release his children who were hostages.

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Question 13 of 20

13. Which Nazi officer desires the wife of the man his firing squad executed? Hint

Major Hunter

Captain Loft

Lieutenant Tonder

Colonel Lanser

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Question 14 of 20

14. Planes from England flew over the town and dropped packages of dynamite and what other item? Hint

pamphlets

chocolate

toys for the children

canned food

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Question 15 of 20

15. In Chapter Five, what do the Nazi patrol hear one night as they walk the snow-covered streets? Hint

planes in the distance

people of the town yelling obscenities at them from down the street

the crunching of snow from an alley

a howling dog

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Question 16 of 20

16. What did Annie the cook do when she saw soldiers standing on the back porch staring in at her? Hint

She grudgingly served them a small meal.

She smiled and teasingly unbuttoned her blouse.

She threw boiling water on them.

She ignored them.

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Question 17 of 20

17. Who likes the "sweet, cool smell of the snow"? Hint

Madame

Mayor Orden

Molly

Lieutenant Tonder

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Question 18 of 20

18. Why did the Nazis arrest Mayor Orden and Doctor Winter and threaten to kill them? Hint

So the people will stop attacking the Nazis.

They discovered the mayor and the doctor trying to leave the town by boat.

To show the people they would be the new leaders of the town

The doctor shot Major Hunter.

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Question 19 of 20

19. What famous philosopher did Mayor Orden quote to the Nazis? Hint

Aristotle

Voltaire

Descartes

Socrates

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Question 20 of 20

20. Complete the quote the Doctor reiterates in the final chapter: "The flies have conquered the _____________ ."

Answer: (one word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The imaginary town of "The Moon Is Down" is set in what country?

Answer: Norway

As a reporter during World War II, Steinbeck wrote "The Moon Is Down" as a piece of propaganda to show people how to handle Nazi occupation. It was translated into many languages and distributed throughout Europe. The name of the town is not given, but it is generally agreed that the country is Norway.

2. "They hurry toward their destiny as though it would not wait. They push the rolling world along with their shoulders." Who said this?

Answer: Doctor Winter

Doctor Winter discusses the Nazi occupation with Joseph. The Doctor is not a town official, but he is the historian and a close friend of Mayor Orden.

3. What is the name of Mayor Orden's servingman (butler)?

Answer: Joseph

The first chapter gives a description of Joseph's position: "In a world where Mayor Orden was the leader of men, Joseph was the leader of furniture, silver, and dishes."

4. How many soldiers from the town are killed when the Nazis invaded?

Answer: six

The town's small army, which had not seen invasion in a long time, did not stand a chance against the Nazis. "The machine guns clattered for a moment and six of the soldiers became dead riddled bundles and three half-dead riddled bundles, and three of the soldiers escaped into the hills with their rifles."

5. Where does Colonel Lanser request he and his staff stay while they occupy the town?

Answer: in the mayor's mansion

In the Mayor's mansion, the Colonel meets with the the town's mayor and asks, "Would it be possible for me and my staff to stay here?" Though the Mayor offers larger accomdations, he is told that the town will be more peaceful if the invading army's staff stay with the local authority.

This, of course, proves false. The Colonel and his staff make headquarters in the upstairs rooms of the mansion.

6. Who of Colonel Lanser's staff was an engineer?

Answer: Major Hunter

Major Hunter is described as one who "set his men in rows like figures and he added and subtracted and multiplied them." He is not a leader of men as much as he is an "arithmetician."

7. Who is the traitor that gave the Nazis a list of townspeople who had guns?

Answer: George Corell

Corell held an innocent shooting-match with the people of the town with the true motive of making a list of those who had firearms. He gave the list to the Nazis before the invasion. To explain himself to the Mayor, Corell says, "I work for what I believe in! That is an hornorable thing."

8. In chapter 2, a man from the town kills one of the Nazi officers. Who was the officer?

Answer: Captain Bentick

One of the town's miners, Alexander Morden, attacked Captain Loft with his pick. Captain Bentick interfered and was killed.

9. "A light in the daytime is a lonely thing." Who said this?

Answer: Mayor Orden

Waiting for Alexander's trial to begin, a cloud darkens the sky. Mayor Orden turns on a lamp, switches it off, and then makes this statement. Throughout "The Moon Is Down" symbolism in light and darkness is used to gauge the decaying morale of the people of the town.

10. What is the name of the wife of the man who was executed for killing the Nazi officer?

Answer: Molly

Molly Morden is a character used to show that the people of this town will fight for their freedon. She kills one of the Nazi officials with cutting shears. Annie is the cook. The other names are made up.

11. Why did the invaders need to occupy this town?

Answer: They needed the coal from the mine.

Colonel Laner tells the Mayor, "We need the coal mine here and the fishing."

12. What did the traitor want as a reward for his work?

Answer: He wanted to become mayor.

Corell discusses his request with Colonel Lanser. "I thought perhaps that Mayor Orden might step down now and -well, if I were to take over his office." Lanser, who despises Corell, suggests he leave the town. He tries to explain to Corell that the people hate him and will probably try to kill him. Corell refuses to belive this.

The Colonel says he cannot spare men to be bodyguards for the traitor and suggests he wear a helmet.

13. Which Nazi officer desires the wife of the man his firing squad executed?

Answer: Lieutenant Tonder

"The Moon Is Down" was criticized for showing the human side of the Nazis. The Nazi invaders are portrayed as men who think the town will simply let them take over and that the people will grow to like them. Tonder even becomes enchanted with Molly Morden. He visits her hoping she will sleep with him. She pretends to be interested, but kills him as he walks into her trap.

14. Planes from England flew over the town and dropped packages of dynamite and what other item?

Answer: chocolate

Children would go out in the fields, find the packages, eat the chocolate and give the dynamite to their parents. The explosives were used to damage the mine and fight the Nazi army.

15. In Chapter Five, what do the Nazi patrol hear one night as they walk the snow-covered streets?

Answer: a howling dog

The howling dog is used as a symbol representing the misery of the townspeople as they desire their freedom.

16. What did Annie the cook do when she saw soldiers standing on the back porch staring in at her?

Answer: She threw boiling water on them.

In chapter one, when the invaders arrive at the Mayor's house, solders are standing on the back porch while the Colonel met with the Mayor. Annie's amusing action is a foreshadow of the rebellion the people will take upon themselves as they fight against the Nazis.

17. Who likes the "sweet, cool smell of the snow"?

Answer: Mayor Orden

A few times, Mayor Orden mentioned the "sweet, cool smell of the snow." This symbolizes his approval of the cold resolve the townspeople developed as they learned to fight back.

18. Why did the Nazis arrest Mayor Orden and Doctor Winter and threaten to kill them?

Answer: So the people will stop attacking the Nazis.

In the first chapter, Colonel Lanser made it clear that he and his men wanted to get along with the people of the town. He wanted cooperation from them or there would be harsh consequences. Throughout the book, the townspeople became more and more rebellious and the Colonel finally arrested the town's two most prominent citizens: the Mayor and the Doctor.

19. What famous philosopher did Mayor Orden quote to the Nazis?

Answer: Socrates

In a touching scene of the last chapter, the Mayor and the Doctor reminisce about the time forty years earlier when the Mayor recited "The Apology" by Socrates at school. The Mayor recites it again for the benefit of the Nazi officials. He was trying to tell them he and the people would be willing to die for what is good.

20. Complete the quote the Doctor reiterates in the final chapter: "The flies have conquered the _____________ ."

Answer: flypaper

The Doctor repeats "The flies have conquered the flypaper" throughout the last chapter. He tells the Nazis that the people have even made a song out of it. The "flies" represents the people of the town and the "flypaper" represents the invasion.

Source: Author mazeface

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