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An American Tragedy Trivia Quiz

"An American Tragedy" is considered by most critics to be Theodore Dreiser's greatest novel. Published in 1925, it tells the story of Clyde Griffiths. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of this classic book. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by mrgrouchy. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mrgrouchy

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
299,281

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
249

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. On which 1906 murder and subsequent trial did Theodore Dreiser base his novel "An American Tragedy"? Hint

the A.A. Brill case

the Chester Gillette case

the Horace Liveright case

the William Brown case

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. The protagonist of "An American Tragedy" is Clyde Griffiths. What do his parents do for a living? Hint

They are evangelists.

They work in a bank.

They own a hotel.

They are factory workers.

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Question 3 of 15

3. Esta Griffiths is Clyde's older sister. What does she do early in the story of "An American Tragedy"? Hint

She marries a banker.

She elopes with an actor.

She becomes a nightclub singer.

She establishes her own church.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. In which Kansas City hotel does Clyde Griffiths find employment? Hint

the West End

the Green-Davidson

the Independence

the Plaza

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Question 5 of 15

5. While living in Kansas City, Clyde Griffiths is attracted by which woman? Hint

Tina Kogel

Louise Ratterer

Hortense Briggs

Greta Miller

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who is driving the car which strikes and kills a young girl on Kansas City's Washington Street? Hint

Willard Sparser

Clyde Griffiths

Thomas Ratterer

Oscar Hegglund

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Question 7 of 15

7. After escaping from Kansas City, Clyde Griffiths eventually ends up in Chicago. Which alias does he use while living in the Windy City? Hint

Grant Cranston

Carl Graham

Clifford Golden

Harry Tenet

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Question 8 of 15

8. Samuel Griffiths is Clyde's wealthy uncle. What does Samuel do for a living in Lycurgus, New York? Hint

He is the owner of a large hotel.

He owns a shirt and collar company.

He works as a corporate lawyer

He is a surgeon in a major hospital.

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which one of Clyde's cousins resents him from the first moment that they meet? Hint

Gilbert Griffiths

Bella Griffiths

Myra Griffiths

Joseph Griffiths

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. Who is Roberta Alden? Hint

Samuel Griffith's executive secretary

Clyde's landlady

Clyde's secret girlfriend.

a maid in the Griffiths mansion

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which of these wealthy young women from Lycurgus becomes interested in dating Clyde Griffiths? Hint

Jill Cranston

Vanda Steele

Gertrude Trumbull

Sondra Finchley

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Question 12 of 15

12. What does Clyde do when he discovers that Roberta Alden is pregnant? Hint

He consults a Griffiths family lawyer for advice.

He marries Roberta.

He flees back to Chicago.

He tries to arrange for an abortion.

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. Where does Roberta Alden meet her death? Hint

on Big Bittern Lake

at the Biltz train station

in Utica, New York

in Lycurgus, New York

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Which legal team defends Clyde at the Alden murder trial? Hint

Belknap and Jephson

Brookhart and Catchuman

Mason and Heit

Atterbury and Smillie

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. After his nephew is convicted of murder, Samuel Griffiths decides to move his family business. To which city does he relocate? Hint

Buffalo

Philadelphia

Rochester

Boston

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On which 1906 murder and subsequent trial did Theodore Dreiser base his novel "An American Tragedy"?

Answer: the Chester Gillette case

The trial of Chester Gillette was sensational for its day. Gillette seduced and later murdered a co-worker named Grace (Billy) Brown. The murder took place on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State.

2. The protagonist of "An American Tragedy" is Clyde Griffiths. What do his parents do for a living?

Answer: They are evangelists.

Clyde's parents, Asa and Elvira, are street preachers who also run the Bethel Independent Mission in Kansas City. It is evident early in the novel that Clyde is ashamed of his family's poverty and has no desire to do missionary work.

3. Esta Griffiths is Clyde's older sister. What does she do early in the story of "An American Tragedy"?

Answer: She elopes with an actor.

Dreiser describes the young actor as a "masher." This man seduces Esta with his good looks and charm. Later, he abandons her after she becomes pregnant.

4. In which Kansas City hotel does Clyde Griffiths find employment?

Answer: the Green-Davidson

Dreiser sarcastically describes the Green-Davidson as a building full of "gauche luxury which gave exclusiveness to the masses." Clyde, however, gazes at the hotel lobby with awe and amazement. He is later hired as a bell-hop.

5. While living in Kansas City, Clyde Griffiths is attracted by which woman?

Answer: Hortense Briggs

Hortense is a pretty but manipulative young woman. A store clerk, she uses her cute face and beguiling eyes to hypnotize the gullible Clyde into buying her whatever items she wants.

6. Who is driving the car which strikes and kills a young girl on Kansas City's Washington Street?

Answer: Willard Sparser

Sparser, a young man who is friendly with one of the hotel bell-hops, "borrows" an expensive Packard car from his boss. Driving home from an outing at high speed during a snowstorm, he loses control of the vehicle and hits a girl. Although Clyde is merely Sparser's passenger, he panics and flees the accident scene.

7. After escaping from Kansas City, Clyde Griffiths eventually ends up in Chicago. Which alias does he use while living in the Windy City?

Answer: Harry Tenet

Fearing arrest by the police, Clyde uses the alias "Harry Tenet" in the letters which he sends to his mother. While in Chicago, Clyde finds a job in a hotel and accidentally meets his uncle Samuel.

8. Samuel Griffiths is Clyde's wealthy uncle. What does Samuel do for a living in Lycurgus, New York?

Answer: He owns a shirt and collar company.

Unlike Clyde's father, Samuel is a savvy businessman. He senses ambition and desire in young Clyde, so he decides to invite his nephew to Lycurgus to learn about the business world.

9. Which one of Clyde's cousins resents him from the first moment that they meet?

Answer: Gilbert Griffiths

Gilbert is conceited and feels superior to Clyde. Nevertheless, Gilbert is also jealous of his cousin because several women in Lycurgus believe that Clyde is more handsome than he.

10. Who is Roberta Alden?

Answer: Clyde's secret girlfriend.

Clyde is Roberta's supervisor at the Griffiths shirt factory. Despite company regulations prohibiting employer/employee relationships, Clyde and Roberta engage in a torrid romantic affair.

11. Which of these wealthy young women from Lycurgus becomes interested in dating Clyde Griffiths?

Answer: Sondra Finchley

At first, Sondra pays attention to Clyde merely to make Gilbert Griffiths feel jealous. Gradually, however, she falls in love with Clyde's good looks and innocent charm. Sadly, as Clyde becomes involved with Sondra, he increasingly neglects Roberta Alden.

12. What does Clyde do when he discovers that Roberta Alden is pregnant?

Answer: He tries to arrange for an abortion.

Clyde's attempts to contact a doctor willing to perform an abortion are unsuccessful, and he becomes increasingly desperate. He has finally been accepted into Lycurgus high society, but Roberta is now pressuring him to get married. Clyde wishes that Roberta would "disappear."

13. Where does Roberta Alden meet her death?

Answer: on Big Bittern Lake

Roberta drowns after the boat she's riding in with Clyde tips over. Clyde has certainly plotted to murder her, but is her death accidental? Theodore Dreiser seems deliberately vague in his description of Roberta's final moments of life. It is certain, though, that Clyde makes no effort to rescue his former girlfriend.

14. Which legal team defends Clyde at the Alden murder trial?

Answer: Belknap and Jephson

Alvin Belknap is a long-time political rival of Orville Mason, the District Attorney of Cataraqui County and chief prosecuting attorney in the Alden trial. Belknap and his assistant, Reuben Jephson, concoct a "moral cowardice" defense to explain Clyde's actions. However, the jury convicts Clyde of murder.

15. After his nephew is convicted of murder, Samuel Griffiths decides to move his family business. To which city does he relocate?

Answer: Boston

Samuel feels ashamed of his nephew's criminal actions, and he wants to protect his three children's reputations. Gilbert, his son, convinces Samuel to leave New York State.

Source: Author mrgrouchy

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