Thornton Wilder Trivia

1. Which disaster occurs in Act Two of the play?

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: A flood

There is a disaster in each of the three acts. The first is an ice age, the second is a flood and the third is a war. There's no fire, other than in the Antrobus house while they're trying to keep warm during the ice age.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: 1899-1913

While the play begins on May 7, 1901, in Act III the Stage Manager takes Emily back to February 11, 1899. Act III takes place in summer, 1913.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: 1938

Wilder finished the play in 1938. He showed it to several close friends, all of whom told him it was the best play they had ever read.

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Cain

Apparently, Henry/Cain killed his brother with a slingshot.

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: two

Stage Manager: "Back in those days, our newspaper came out twice a week." Mr. Webb is the editor of the Sentinel.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: Secretary and Treasurer

Although Grover's Corners is a small town (2,642 as of May 7, 1901), we never know why Emily is elected to two positions.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: The Stage Manager as narrator, and no props or set decoration

Wilder used the devices of the Stage Manager as narrator, and eliminated all but a very few set pieces and props, in order to get audiences to use their imaginations and participate fully in the life of "Our Town."

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: A wheel

Henry becomes immediately interested in this new invention, suggesting that "You could put a chair on this!"

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: We are never told

Wally died sometime between July 7, 1904 and the summer of 1913, but we are never told exactly when.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: Joe and Si

Joe Crowell died in France during "a war" (presumably World War I).

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: May 7, 1901

In his opening monologue, the Stage Manager tells us the date is May 7, 1901, just before dawn.

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Moses

Also in the group are a doctor, a professor, some Muses, and the blind poet Homer.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: Square yards of wallpaper

George and Emily talk to each other out their bedroom windows. Emily gives George two small hints before giving him the "square yards of wallpaper" hint.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: Grover's Corners, New Hampshire

The Stage Manager tells us that Grover's Corners, New Hampshire is "just over the line from Massachusetts."

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Atlantic City

The Antrobus family is there for a convention of The Ancient and Honorable Order of Mammals...Subdivision Humans.

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: 5:10 A.M.

In Act I, the Boston train arrives at 5:45 A.M. But in Act II, the Stage Manager mentions the 5:10 train to Boston.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: doctor

Frank Gibbs is the town's only doctor. We learn later in the play that the new hospital is named after him.

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Sabina

Sabina has apparently been away from the Antrobus family for some time, although she was previously their maid. Mrs. Antrobus is very unhappy that Mr. Antrobus chose her. For reference, Gladys is the Antrobus daughter, and Dolly was their pet mammoth. She froze to death in the first act when Mrs. Antrobus kicked her out of the house.

From Quiz The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Answer: Uncle Pio begged La Perichole to let Jaime live with him.

Apart from the Marquesa, Uncle Pio is probably the most fascinating of the five victims (he is not actually anyone's uncle; the nickname derives from his rather avuncular personality). A hugely gifted and learned man, he seems actually to shun both fame and success, pouring all of his energy into developing the talent and persona of the actress La Perichole. He discovers the former Micaela Villegas as an impoverished street singer, and gradually nurtures, bullies, and provokes her into developing her acting and singing abilities until she becomes the most celebrated actress in Peru. Despite the fact that she owes much of her success to Pio, la Perichole is extremely cavalier about their friendship. When she is stricken with smallpox, which scars her face and damages the beauty on which she places so much importance, she refuses to let him see her, and vents her anger and frustration on him by subjecting him to vicious verbal abuse. Nonetheless, he contrives to enter her room, just as she is desperately attempting to disguise her ravaged face with powder. Infuriated, she drives him away, and bars him from her house. Despite all this, the indefatigable (and enamored) Uncle Pio lures her into her garden, where he plays upon her emotions, reminding her that she can never repay what she owes him. He begs her to allow Jaime to stay with him, vowing that he will educate the boy and see that he is raised as a gentleman. La Perichole originally refuses, but promises to ask the child's opinion and abide by his decision. We are told that Jaime arrived by himself at Uncle Pio's rooms at the Inn the following morning; presumably he chose to live with Pio (or did the self-absorbed actress realize that he was an encumbrance to her?). Tragically, Pio's plans for the boy (along with his own future) are destined never to be realized.

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: Highboy

Mrs. Gibbs wanted to use the money to take Doc Gibbs away for a vacation. She ended up giving it to George and Emily as a "legacy."

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: Rebecca

Rebecca moved to Ohio and married an insurance man, according to the Stage Manager in his first monologue.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: newspaper editor

Charles Webb is the editor of the "Grover's Corners Sentinel", the town's only newspaper, which came out twice a week in those days.

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Noah

The Antrobus family appear to represent different people throughout the play. In the first act, Mr. Antrobus seems to be Adam, Mrs. Antrobus Eve, and their son Henry, Cain. In the second act, everyone except the Antrobus family and Sabina drown because Mr. Antrobus loads his family and two of each animal onto a boat.

From Quiz The Bridge of San Luis Rey

Answer: Llamas

The Marquesa undertakes this pilgrimage after receiving the news of her daughter's pregnancy. Although she is actually an agnostic, the Marquesa's overweening concern for her daughter's condition brings about a veritable orgy of the most primitive superstitious religiosity. Since this particular shrine was considered holy ground by at least three different religions (Christianity being the most recent), she clings to the hope that there is some merit to these long-held beliefs. While resting by a fountain after the long journey to the shrine, the Marquesa is approached by a llama, which the author describes as "...a lady with a long neck and sweet shallow eyes, burdened down by a fur cape too heavy for her and picking her way delicately down an interminable staircase." While the Marquesa strokes the llama's nose, she is soon surrounded by a group of the animals (which are native to Peru); the author comments with amusement on the distinctly human way in which these mammals interest themselves in human conversations and problems. He describes them in much the same terms as one would describe a group of solicitous and curious village women.

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: Postcard album

After Emily dies, she decides to relive her 12th birthday. Mrs. Webb finds the postcard album at the front door while she's getting her milk from Howie Newsome.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: Mr. Morgan

Mr. Stimson is the organist at the Congregational Church, Mr. Newsome delivers milk, and Mr. Webb is Emily's father and runs the newspaper.

From Quiz A Journey to "Our Town"

Answer: George Gibbs and Emily Webb

Throughout the play, we witness a blossoming romance between George Gibbs and Emily Webb. Their relationship starts off with them as young teenagers talking about schoolwork.

From Quiz The Skin of Our Teeth

Answer: Sabina

Mr. Antrobus is still away when the third act commences. Henry doesn't appear until later. The Fortune-teller, who made her appearance in Act Two, drowns along with everyone else.

From Quiz Even Tougher "Our Town" Trivia

Answer: 10 below

Howie mentions this to Mrs. Webb, who later mentions it to her husband upon his return from his trip to Clinton.

From Quiz Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" Quiz

Answer: 6

They are: Catholic, Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Unitarian, and Baptist.

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