Oklahoma Literature Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ralph Ellison

H.G. Wells' 1897 novel "The Invisible Man", often considered a large short story, is about a scientist who successfully changes his "refractive index" to that of air and becomes invisible. The 1952 novel "Invisible Man," which Oklahoma City's Ralph Ellison based on an original short story, is about an unnamed African-American man who is considered to be socially invisible.

This 1953 novel was honored by the National Book Foundation, and had major social influence. Carolyn Hart, also of Oklahoma City, is the award-winning author of the "Death on Demand" series. Harold Keith, whose "Rifles for Watie" won the Newberry Medal in 1958, was born in Lambert, Oklahoma Territory, in 1903. Pulitzer Prize winning Momaday, from Lawton, Oklahoma, is perhaps best known for his "House Made of Dawn" and "The Way to Rainy Mountain", both of 1969.

Answer: Billie Letts

As a professor of creative writing at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Billy Letts has written many highly praised short stories and screenplays. Her 1998 novel "Where the Heart Is" won the Walker Percy Award and was made into a feature film by the same name in 2000. Oklahoma City's Ross Thomas wrote 25 books, primarily suspense thrillers, of which "St Ives" (1976) and "Bound by Honor" (1993) were made into movies. Bill Moyers, of Hugo, Oklahoma, is most readily recognized as a political commentator.

He is also known as a TV producer, and has authored four bestsellers. Chickasaw storyteller Te Ata, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma has appeared on the international stage and her book "Baby Rattlesnake" is a schoolyard favorite nationwide. She has been honored with the title of Oklahoma's first State Treasure, and Lake Te Ata in New York is named after her.

Answer: The Rest of the Story

Paul Harvey began "The Rest of the Story" on May 10, 1976. Today, his "News and Comment" and "The Rest of the Story" can be heard every Monday through Saturday on over 1200 radio stations, and 400 Armed Forces stations. Additionally, "News and Comment" is streamed over the internet twice a day. "This is Paul Harvey," "Page Two," and "Good Day" are all phrases used on his radio show, which his many impersonators make a point of using, while imitating his distinctive voice.

Answer: Host of "Rogers Review:" ABC Television

Will Rogers (1879-1935) was known world-wide as a political commentator, a stage performer, a radio personality, a movie star, a columnist, an author, and a consort to presidents and world leaders. However, as television was still in the early stages of development, he was not well known to this medium.

Answer: Cherokee

At one time he was Deer Clan Chief of a band of Cherokee. Collectively, the Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations make up the Five Civilized Tribes. All five tribes originated in the south-eastern US, prior to relocation in what is now Oklahoma.

Answer: "Family Matters, Tribal Affairs" (1999)

He won the Oklahoma Book Award in the Poetry category for "Eagle Nation." "Talking Leaves" and "New Worlds of Literature" are anthologies, published respectively by Dell and Norton, in which Revard's works can be found. In 2005 he was named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

Answer: Cowboy poetry is bound more by subject matter than by structure.

Haikus have seventeen syllables divided into three lines. The first and last lines have five syllables each. Sonnets contain fourteen lines, usually written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme may vary depending largely on the type of sonnet. Limericks have two long lines of poetry, followed by two shorter ones, ending in a final long line.

The rhyme scheme is A, A, B, B, A. Cowboy poetry can come in any of these forms as the loose structure of this genre allows rhyme schemes and rhythmic meter to vary widely from poet to poet, or from poem to poem. Made popular by such poets as Baxter Black and Curt Brummet, cowboy poetry has themes heavily influenced by nature, history, and work, and often centers on family and friends.

Answer: William Bernhardt

No doubt, it was his history as a trial attorney that led William Bernhardt to write his series of bestsellers about attorney Ben Kincaid. It was this series that inspired "Library Journal" to give the title. Jean Hager is a mystery suspense author from Pawnee Oklahoma.

She is known for two award-winning series. The first features Mitch Bushyhead, the half-Cherokee police chief of Buckskin, Oklahoma. Cherokee investigator Molly Bearpaw solves crime in the latter. Mystery writer Tony Hillerman, from Sacred Heart, near Oklahoma City, is known for the cultural details he includes about the Hopi, Navajo, and other societies he writes about.

His Jim Chee series is classic mystery about Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo tribal police. Jack Bickman of Norman Oklahoma has written some 75 books, including the Brad Smith series about a championship tennis player and part-time CIA agent.

Answer: Vingie E. Roe

Vingie E. Roe (1879-1958) was the woman responsible for "Wild Honey" (1918), "The Primal Lure" (1916), "Her Idol" (1915), and "The Heart of the Night Wind" (1914). Her novel "Tharon of Lost Valley" and "The Alchemy of Love" also became films entitled, respectively, "The Crimson Challenge" (1922), and "Twilight" (1919). Tulsa, Oklahoma's Martin Keating, the author of "The Final Jihad," is a brother to Governor Frank Keating. Michael Wallis, also from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the author of "Route 66: The Mother Road," and has co-authored several other books. John Hope Franklin was a historian and author from Rentiesville, Oklahoma.

Answer: The Grifters

Of her eight novels, Tulsan S.E. Hinton saw half transformed onto the silver screen. These teen novels were "Tex" (1979) (filmed 1982). "The 'Outsiders'" (1967) (filmed 1983), "Rumble Fish" (1975) (filmed 1983). and "That Was Then, This Is Now" (1971) (filmed 1985).

Her other novels include teen novel "Taming the Star Runner" (1988), two children's stories "Big David, Little David" (1995) and "The Puppy Sister" (1995), and "Hawkes Harbor" (2004), her first adult novel. "The Grifters" (1990) represents the work of mystery writer Jim Thompson, from Anadarko Oklahoma.

Another of his works "The Getaway" was produced in 1972 with a remake in 1994.