Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Chicago and he lived in Illinois for many years. He wrote about places very far from the Midwest. Which of the following places did he not write about?
2. Susan Allen Toth wrote about growing up in Ames, Iowa, in her first memoir, "Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood". In the sequel, she describes her adjustment to life on the east coast, where she attends Smith College. What is the name of this second memoir?
3. This author was born in Wisconsin and died in Missouri. She wrote seven novels about her life with her pioneering family. Her first book, the one about living in Wisconsin, is "Little House in the Big Woods". Who is this author?
4. This author is a native St. Louisan and a graduate of the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop. He wrote a novel that has been made into a movie starring Susan Sarandon and James Spader. The movie was shot in St. Louis. What is this wonderful book?
5. The poem "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight" describes a Lincoln so disturbed by the troubles of the world that it stirs him from his eternal slumber. He walks the streets contemplating the amount of bloodshed in this world and wonders if peace will ever be achieved. Which Midwestern poet wrote this poem?
6. This Missouri author achieved fame in the late 19th century with a series of short stories and poems. Most notable among his works were the "Columbian Historical Novels". Who was this Show-Me writer?
7. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he followed the path of his uncle who went into politics and became Governor of California. Serving one term in the Indiana House of Representatives, he could have rested on those laurels. Instead, he took his more prominent career of writing, authoring books about his time at Princeton University, and winning two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his book "The Magnificent Ambersons", which was a fictional work about a family living in upper-class Indianapolis. Who is this author?
8. Folk literature about the character of Paul Bunyan has been passed around for nearly two centuries. But the first evidence of anyone putting it into print came from a local newspaper. What was the newspaper who took advantage of the folk popularity of Paul Bunyan?
9. Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri, and moved to Hannibal when he was four. He was an incredibly prolific writer, and his classics "Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" have become icons in American Literature. But from these lesser known stories, can you guess which one Mark Twain didn't write?
10. Earl Derr Biggers was born in Ohio, so he has Midwestern roots. Among his many works was a series of mystery novels featuring the Oriental detective, Charlie Chan. Which was the first book in the series?
Source: Author
JMElston
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agony before going online.
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