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Quiz about An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

"An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser Quiz

Reaching almost 900 pages, this novel took a while to finish. This quiz, however, will finish quickly if you read the book. If you liked this novel, I strongly suggest "Sister Carrie", also by Dreiser.

A multiple-choice quiz by itsfun4u2c. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
itsfun4u2c

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
288,400

Updated
May 31 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
203

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Clyde Griffiths, the main character in this particular novel, first appears as which of these? Hint

Part of an evangelistic family singing hymns on the street.

A sick baby who almost dies.

A crook, stealing pocket watches.

Part of a socialist movement.

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Question 2 of 15

2. Clyde's sister Esta leaves the family to elope and never returns.

True

False

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Question 3 of 15

3. What is the name of the first hotel that employs Clyde? Hint

Ritz Carlton

Green-Davidson

The Brown Palace

Hyatt Grand

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Question 4 of 15

4. Who is the first young man Clyde befriends at the hotel? Hint

Barnaby

McClure

Foster

Hegglund

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Question 5 of 15

5. Eventually, Clyde's friends lead him to a brothel. Rather than enter, Clyde thinks of his mother and does not enter the premises.

True

False

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Question 6 of 15

6. Clyde's first love constantly leads Clyde on. At one point in the novel, she seduces him so that Clyde might purchase a hat for her. What is her name? Hint

Hortense

Barbara

Francine

Carrie

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Question 7 of 15

7. What led Clyde to run away from Kansas City? Hint

Loan sharks were closing in on him.

He was caught cheating at the card table.

He impregnated his lover.

A car accident.

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Question 8 of 15

8. Clyde meets his rich uncle at a hotel where he is invited to work for what business? Hint

An oil refining company

The Chicago Tribune

Barnaby's

The Griffiths Collar Company

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Question 9 of 15

9. It's Clyde's first day working at the factory when Mr Griffiths introduces Clyde to his cousin. What is his cousin's name? Hint

Gilbert

Matthew

Verne

John

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Question 10 of 15

10. Clyde is told not to become involved with any of the women at the factory, but does so anyway. What is the name of the young lady he courts? Hint

Paulina

Roberta

Tessa

Erin

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Question 11 of 15

11. What happens to the woman Clyde seduces from the factory? Hint

Clyde cheats on her.

Clyde impregnates her.

All these occur.

Clyde kills her.

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Question 12 of 15

12. Who is the high society lass whom Clyde falls for? Hint

Sondra Finchley

Chelsea Ladd

Barbara Gregg

Laura Donelly

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who is arrested for the murder of Clyde? Hint

Nobody

Ms. Gretchen

Elva

Mrs Griffiths

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Question 14 of 15

14. Which is true, toward the end of the novel? Hint

Roberta spends the rest of her life in jail.

Clyde is on death row.

Clyde's mother is accused of killing Clyde's girlfriend.

Clyde becomes manager of a hotel.

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Question 15 of 15

15. Can you name Dreiser's first novel? Hint

A Farewell to Arms

The Magic Mountain

Sister Carrie

The Sound and the Fury

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Clyde Griffiths, the main character in this particular novel, first appears as which of these?

Answer: Part of an evangelistic family singing hymns on the street.

Clyde is embarrassed about his situation. He is unpopular at school and is poor.

2. Clyde's sister Esta leaves the family to elope and never returns.

Answer: False

She returns, pregnant, without the man with whom she ran off.

3. What is the name of the first hotel that employs Clyde?

Answer: Green-Davidson

He finds the guests very interesting as he is exposed to their offbeat antics. This while hiding the amount he makes from his family.

4. Who is the first young man Clyde befriends at the hotel?

Answer: Hegglund

Hegglund is very nice to Clyde and comforts him on his first day on the job.

5. Eventually, Clyde's friends lead him to a brothel. Rather than enter, Clyde thinks of his mother and does not enter the premises.

Answer: False

Not only does he enter, he loses his virginity.

6. Clyde's first love constantly leads Clyde on. At one point in the novel, she seduces him so that Clyde might purchase a hat for her. What is her name?

Answer: Hortense

Hortense is conniving not only with Clyde, but with all her male admirers.

7. What led Clyde to run away from Kansas City?

Answer: A car accident.

In a hurry so that the young men could reach the Brown-Davidson on time, they ran over and killed a little girl. Even though Clyde wasn't the driver, he ran away in fear.

8. Clyde meets his rich uncle at a hotel where he is invited to work for what business?

Answer: The Griffiths Collar Company

It was his uncle, Mr Samuel Griffiths, who ran the company. Clyde imagined a prosperous lifestyle and high-class friends in his near future.

9. It's Clyde's first day working at the factory when Mr Griffiths introduces Clyde to his cousin. What is his cousin's name?

Answer: Gilbert

Gilbert is upset about having Clyde around, thinking his cousin is a free-loader.

10. Clyde is told not to become involved with any of the women at the factory, but does so anyway. What is the name of the young lady he courts?

Answer: Roberta

He should have listened!

11. What happens to the woman Clyde seduces from the factory?

Answer: All these occur.

All these are hard cold facts but Dreiser has a way of making you feel for Clyde and that he can be, perhaps, even considered the victim.

12. Who is the high society lass whom Clyde falls for?

Answer: Sondra Finchley

Because of his new love for Sondra, he wants nothing to do with Roberta and actually makes plans to murder her.

13. Who is arrested for the murder of Clyde?

Answer: Nobody

It is Clyde who's arrested for the murder of Roberta.

14. Which is true, toward the end of the novel?

Answer: Clyde is on death row.

The very end of the novel spells the very end of Clyde, with his execution.

15. Can you name Dreiser's first novel?

Answer: Sister Carrie

"Magic Mountain" was written by Thomas Mann, "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner, and "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway.

"Sister Carrie" was banned and came to be known as a Dreiser success only years later, when it was republished.

Source: Author itsfun4u2c

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