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Quiz about Hemingways Death in the Afternoon

Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon" Quiz

"Death in the Afternoon" is a little philosophy, a little psychology and a lot of classic Ernest Hemingway. It is also the definitive English language treatise on bullfighting.

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

Author
safemann

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
215,058

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
244

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What did Hemingway expect to feel when he experienced his first bullfight? Hint

He wasn't really sure

Flashbacks to the war

Horrified and sickened

Excited and elated

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Question 2 of 10

2. Hemingway said he was trying to write "commencing with the simplest things". What was the simplest thing? Hint

Violent death

Personal interactions

Punctuation and grammar

Descriptive writing and word use

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Question 3 of 10

3. What conclusion(s) did Hemingway draw from his first experience with bullfighting in Spain? Hint

He didn't, at the time, have the writing skills to deal with it

He liked it very much

Bullfighting was far from simple

All of these

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Question 4 of 10

4. In "Death in the Afternoon" Hemingway provides a clear-cut definition of what is moral. What is it? Hint

Something you feel good about after it is over

It's relative based on the situation

An absolute good provided by God

He's not sure, but he knows morality when he sees it

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Question 5 of 10

5. Based on his moral values, which he says he will not defend, does Hemingway find bullfighting to be moral?

Yes

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Question 6 of 10

6. What does Hemingway believe bullfighting should be understood to be? Hint

A tragedy

A gladiatorial contest

A sporting event

An equal contest between a bull and a man

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Question 7 of 10

7. In "Death in the Afternoon", Hemingway says that bulls that are not killed in the ring are killed immediately thereafter. Why is that? Hint

They have been shown defective and will not put on a good show

If allowed to fight again they would kill all the bullfighters

They are badly injured by the picadors

They refuse to fight again

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Question 8 of 10

8. According to Hemingway, bullfighting in Spain was subject to government regulation.

Yes

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Question 9 of 10

9. In a bullfight, who rides a horse? Hint

The toreador

The matador

The banderillero

The picador

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Question 10 of 10

10. According to Hemingway, what is a characteristic of a bad bull? Hint

Unresponsive to color and movement

Not too big

Courageous

Willing to charge

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What did Hemingway expect to feel when he experienced his first bullfight?

Answer: Horrified and sickened

In a bullfight, there is danger for the man and certain death for the bull. While the bull's fate is certain, the man can increase or decrease the danger to himself at will by working closer or farther from the horns.

2. Hemingway said he was trying to write "commencing with the simplest things". What was the simplest thing?

Answer: Violent death

"People seeing their first bullfight say, 'But the bulls are so stupid. They always go for the cape and not the man.'" (Chapter 2)

3. What conclusion(s) did Hemingway draw from his first experience with bullfighting in Spain?

Answer: All of these

"The bull only goes for the...cape or for the...muleta if the man makes him and so handles the cloth that the bull sees it rather than the man." (Chapter 2)

4. In "Death in the Afternoon" Hemingway provides a clear-cut definition of what is moral. What is it?

Answer: Something you feel good about after it is over

To really understand bullfighting one should first go to the novillada fights. There, the bull does not always go for the cloth because the men are still learning the techniques and sometimes do not remember how to keep the bull after the cape and away from the man.

5. Based on his moral values, which he says he will not defend, does Hemingway find bullfighting to be moral?

Answer: Yes

In bullfighting it is one thing to have learned the moves and techniques and another to remember them while standing in front of an animal that is trying to kill you.

6. What does Hemingway believe bullfighting should be understood to be?

Answer: A tragedy

"The matador must dominate the bulls by knowledge and science. In the measure in which this domination is accomplished with grace will it be beautiful to watch." (Chapter 2)

7. In "Death in the Afternoon", Hemingway says that bulls that are not killed in the ring are killed immediately thereafter. Why is that?

Answer: If allowed to fight again they would kill all the bullfighters

To complete the tragedy the bull must die!

8. According to Hemingway, bullfighting in Spain was subject to government regulation.

Answer: Yes

"There are only two proper ways to kill bulls with the sword and muleta and both of them deliberately invoke a moment in which there is unavoidable goring for the man if the bull does not follow the cloth properly..." (Chapter 19)

9. In a bullfight, who rides a horse?

Answer: The picador

"...matadors have steadily tricked this finest part of the fight until ninety of one hundred bulls that you will see killed will be put to death in a manner that is only a parody of the true way to kill." (Chapter 19)

10. According to Hemingway, what is a characteristic of a bad bull?

Answer: Unresponsive to color and movement

These quotes on killing are classic Hemingway and a fitting way to end this quiz: "One reason for this is that rarely will a great artist with the cape and muleta be a killer," and "Killing cleanly and in a way which gives you aesthetic pleasure and pride has always been one of the greatest enjoyments of a part of the human race".

Source: Author safemann

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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