American Folklore - Quiz
  • 1. What legendary frontiersman and folk hero is often associated with a coonskin cap?
A) Paul Bunyan
B) Johnny Appleseed
C) John Henry
D) Davy Crockett
  • 2. Which famous folklore figure is known for outwitting Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear in African American folklore?
A) John Henry
B) Br'er Rabbit
C) Pecos Bill
D) Casey Jones
  • 3. In American folklore, who is said to have led the African American slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad?
A) Calamity Jane
B) Betsy Ross
C) Anne Oakley
D) Harriet Tubman
  • 4. Which supernatural being in American folklore is known for granting wishes to those who free it from a lamp or bottle?
A) Leprechaun
B) Genie
C) Banshee
D) Kraken
  • 5. What mythical creature is said to inhabit the forests of the Pacific Northwest in Native American folklore?
A) Wendigo
B) Sasquatch
C) Chupacabra
D) Mothman
  • 6. Which famous folk song tells the story of a steel-drivin' man who raced against a steam drill?
A) This Land Is Your Land
B) Home on the Range
C) John Henry
D) Oh, Susanna
  • 7. What mythical bird is said to burst into flames and be reborn from its ashes in American folklore?
A) Kraken
B) Phoenix
C) Griffin
D) Dragon
  • 8. In Native American folklore, what powerful figure is often depicted as a trickster and transformer?
A) Coyote
B) Thunderbird
C) Wendigo
D) Skin-walker
  • 9. What is a common theme found in Native American creation myths?
A) Outlining the development of writing systems
B) Detailing the discovery of fire
C) Explaining how the earth was formed and where humans came from
D) Describing the invention of agriculture
  • 10. Which figure is often used symbolically in Native American myths?
A) Dragon
B) Phoenix
C) Bear
D) Unicorn
  • 11. What do many Plains tribes' flood myths usually end with?
A) The disappearance of all humans
B) The creation of new animals
C) The restoration of the submerged earth
D) The beginning of a new era
  • 12. What role do stories play in Native American cultures according to Barre Toelken?
A) They are used for historical records
B) They replace religious practices
C) They embody behavioral and ethical values
D) They serve as entertainment only
  • 13. Which of the following is NOT a common element in Native American myths?
A) Hero stories
B) Myths about the invention of technology
C) Animal tales
D) Creation myths
  • 14. What do feathers, beadwork, and dance steps represent in Native American cultures?
A) Tools for hunting
B) Symbols of wealth
C) Items used in trade
D) Icons of cultural meaning
  • 15. Which animal is NOT frequently referred to as a supernatural being in Native American myths?
A) Eagle
B) Unicorn
C) Snake
D) Bear
  • 16. What do hero stories in Native American folklore typically feature?
A) Historical figures recounting their lives
B) Animals teaching moral lessons
C) Heroes with supernatural powers who defeat evils
D) Ordinary people solving everyday problems
  • 17. What is a common purpose of animal tales in Native American folklore?
A) Describing the migration patterns of animals
B) Providing recipes for traditional dishes
C) Explaining how features of certain animals occurred
D) Illustrating hunting techniques
  • 18. What role did Christopher Columbus play in American myth?
A) He is seen as a heroic figure representing America's self-perception.
B) He was primarily known for his writings on exploration.
C) His role was limited to being an explorer of the Atlantic.
D) He is credited with discovering the United States.
  • 19. Who popularized Columbus' life as a romantic figure?
A) Jeremy Belknap
B) Christopher Columbus himself
C) George Bancroft
D) Washington Irving
  • 20. Did Christopher Columbus ever set foot in what is now the United States?
A) Yes, he founded several colonies.
B) No, he never did.
C) He visited briefly during his second voyage.
D) Only after establishing settlements in the Caribbean.
  • 21. How was Columbus portrayed by early American historians like Irving and Bancroft?
A) As someone who misunderstood his discoveries.
B) As an ordinary navigator with no significant impact.
C) As a noble explorer guided by God to reach the New World.
D) Primarily as a failed adventurer.
  • 22. How did the view of Columbus as a genius dependent on monarchical goodwill affect his image?
A) His reputation was diminished among American settlers.
B) He was seen as irrelevant to America's founding myths.
C) He became a lauded revolutionary figure.
D) Columbus was viewed as a failed leader.
  • 23. What was Jamestown's first winter known as?
A) The 'Starving Time'
B) The 'Famine Winter'
C) The 'Great Drought'
D) The 'Harsh Winter of 1609-1610'
  • 24. In what year did William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony?
A) 1607
B) 1620
C) 1619
D) 1630
  • 25. How many years after the Pilgrims' landing was the first written reference to Plymouth Rock?
A) 50 years
B) 121 years
C) 75 years
D) 200 years
  • 26. Who helped the Pilgrims survive through their first winter in America?
A) Captain John Smith
B) The Powhatan tribe
C) Friendly Native Americans, including Squanto
D) Spanish explorers
  • 27. What is the holiday of Thanksgiving said to have begun with?
A) British settlers in Jamestown
B) The Pilgrims in 1621
C) Colonial governors' celebrations
D) Native American harvest festivals
  • 28. What is George Washington often referred to as in American folklore?
A) "Pater Patriae"
B) "The Father of Democracy"
C) "The First Patriot"
D) "The Great Liberator"
  • 29. Who is credited with spreading the cherry tree story in a personalized form?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) Benjamin Franklin
D) Mark Twain
  • 30. What famous phrase did Patrick Henry end his speech with?
A) "I have a dream."
B) "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
C) "Ask not what your country can do for you."
D) "We shall fight on the beaches."
  • 31. Who was responsible for reconstructing Patrick Henry's speech using oral histories?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) John Adams
C) William Wirt
D) James Madison
  • 32. Which other Revolutionary War figure is known for a famous ride to warn of British troops?
A) Benjamin Franklin
B) Nathan Hale
C) Paul Revere
D) John Hancock
  • 33. Which setting is commonly associated with American tall tales?
A) Ancient Greece
B) The American Old West
C) The Industrial Revolution
D) Medieval Europe
  • 34. Which U.S. House did Davy Crockett represent?
A) Tennessee
B) Texas
C) Kentucky
D) Mississippi
  • 35. Who did Calamity Jane claim to be an acquaintance of?
A) Buffalo Bill Cody
B) Wild Bill Hickok
C) Daniel Boone
D) Davy Crockett
  • 36. Who was the first child born in the Americas to English parents?
A) Ananias White Dare
B) Virginia Dare
C) Eleanor White Dare
D) Ann Lee
  • 37. In which film does King Kong climb to the top of the Empire State Building?
A) Sleepless in Seattle
B) Appalachian Spring
C) King Kong (1933)
D) An Affair to Remember
  • 38. What is the name of the area in Vermont where a number of people went missing between 1945 and 1950?
A) Hoover Dam
B) Monument Valley
C) Bridgewater Triangle
D) Bennington Triangle
  • 39. What was Calamity Jane's real name?
A) Elizabeth Brown
B) Martha Jane Canary
C) Sarah Johnson
D) Mary Ellen Smith
  • 40. What is the name of Paul Bunyan's younger brother?
A) Pecos Bill
B) Babe the Blue Ox
C) Johnny Kaw
D) Cordwood Pete
  • 41. What nickname was given to women who carried water to men on the battlefield?
A) Water Wagon Woman
B) Molly Pitcher
C) Frontline Florence
D) Battle Belle
  • 42. Who founded the Shaker religious sect?
A) Joseph Brackett
B) Loren Coleman
C) John White
D) Ann Lee
  • 43. What is the Nain Rouge associated with?
A) Southern New Jersey.
B) Detroit, Michigan folklore.
C) The Great Lakes region.
D) Northern Wisconsin.
  • 44. Which creature is described as having glowing red eyes and bird-like wings?
A) Mothman
B) Bigfoot
C) The Jersey Devil
D) Champ
  • 45. What did slaves develop from the hymns they learned?
A) Negro spirituals
B) Blues and jazz
C) Recreational songs
D) Work songs
  • 46. What is unique about the authors of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'?
A) The song was originally for a football match
B) Both were professional baseball players
C) Neither had attended a baseball game before writing it
D) It was written during a World Series
  • 47. Which creature is said to inhabit the forests of Northern Wisconsin?
A) Mothman
B) Champ
C) Bigfoot
D) The Hodag
  • 48. What did John Henry race against according to legend?
A) A horse-drawn carriage
B) A steam-powered hammer
C) Another steel-driver
D) A locomotive
  • 49. Which cultural icon is associated with the American workforce during World War II?
A) Columbia
B) Rosie the Riveter
C) Uncle Sam
D) The Statue of Liberty
  • 50. What is the name of the main character in 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) Katrina Van Tassel
B) Brom Bones
C) Rip Van Winkle
D) Ichabod Crane
  • 51. What is a popular song that was often sung as a sea chanty?
A) "The Star-Spangled Banner"
B) "Amazing Grace"
C) "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway"
D) "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
  • 52. When did the New York Times move to its new headquarters, prompting the renaming of Longacre Square?
A) 1933
B) April 1904
C) 1957
D) 1993
  • 53. Which legendary figure is known for predicting the arrival of spring?
A) Johnny Kaw
B) Paul Bunyan
C) Captain Stormalong
D) Punxsutawney Phil
  • 54. Which century did immigrants from the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and France begin arriving in large numbers?
A) 16th century
B) 17th century
C) 18th century
D) 19th century
  • 55. What was John Henry's job as a railroad worker?
A) Railroad engineer
B) Steel-driving man
C) Train conductor
D) Station master
  • 56. What is the Bridgewater Triangle known for?
A) Historical landmarks
B) Cultural festivals
C) Alleged paranormal phenomena
D) Folk dances
  • 57. What did African slaves bring with them to the United States?
A) Native American artifacts
B) Religious texts
C) European instruments
D) Musical traditions
  • 58. What are some of the names Santa Claus is known by?
A) Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost
B) Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas
C) Babbo Natale, Joulupukki
D) Krampus, Père Noël
  • 59. Where is the Liberty Bell located?
A) Boston, Massachusetts
B) Washington D.C.
C) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
D) New York City, New York
  • 60. Where was Washington Irving living when he wrote 'Rip Van Winkle'?
A) Birmingham, England
B) Philadelphia
C) New York City
D) Boston
  • 61. 'Oh My Darling, Clementine' is about a tragedy during which historical event?
A) American Revolutionary War
B) World War II
C) 1849 California Gold Rush
D) Civil War
  • 62. Who was Casey Jones?
A) An engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad
B) A gold miner
C) A famous inventor
D) A Civil War general
  • 63. Which of these is not a subject matter classification for American folk songs?
A) War songs
B) Classical compositions
C) Train songs
D) Drinking songs
  • 64. Which group of workers was prominently involved in the construction of the Empire State Building?
A) Shakers
B) Bridgewater Triangle residents
C) Roanoke colonists
D) Mohawk ironworkers
  • 65. What is the name of the fictional character in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'?
A) Katrina Van Tassel
B) The Headless Horseman
C) Ichabod Crane
D) Brom Bones
  • 66. What type of dance is the square dance descended from?
A) Waltz
B) Quadrille
C) Tango
D) Foxtrot
  • 67. What is the most famous account of Bigfoot known as?
A) The Rhinelander Report.
B) The Silver Bridge Incident.
C) The Patterson-Gimlin film.
D) The Champlain Chronicle.
  • 68. Who is generally believed to have been Molly Pitcher?
A) Mary Hays
B) Phyllis Wheatley
C) Sybil Ludington
D) Margaret Corbin
  • 69. Which song shares melodic material with the Irish anti-war song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye'?
A) 'Oh My Darling, Clementine'
B) 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'
C) 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'
D) 'The Star-Spangled Banner'
  • 70. Which ballet score features the Shaker tune 'Simple Gifts' in its finale?
A) Appalachian Spring
B) Sleepless in Seattle
C) An Affair to Remember
D) King Kong
  • 71. What did masters disapprove of in industrious slaves?
A) Singing and dancing
B) Crafting items
C) Attending church services
D) Learning European music
  • 72. Which mythical creature is said to inhabit Lake Champlain and has over 300 reported sightings?
A) Mothman
B) Bigfoot
C) Champ
D) The Jersey Devil
  • 73. Which type of hymns became a feature at camp meetings in the South?
A) Recreational songs
B) Work songs
C) Protestant hymns
D) Negro spirituals
  • 74. How many stories does the Empire State Building have?
A) 102
B) 40
C) 34
D) 200
  • 75. What kind of creature is Old Black Eyes according to legend?
A) A mischievous forest sprite.
B) A giant bird with fiery eyes.
C) A spectral hound that frequents the Baker Rocks.
D) A water spirit haunting lakes and rivers.
  • 76. What did Negro spirituals primarily express?
A) Work coordination
B) Religious faith
C) Joyful celebrations
D) European music styles
  • 77. Which original Thirteen Colony's culture heavily influenced American folk music?
A) English
B) Spanish
C) French
D) Dutch
  • 78. In which year was 'Simple Gifts' composed by Elder Joseph Brackett?
A) 1933
B) 1944
C) 1848
D) 1587
  • 79. What is the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress known for?
A) A fighter aircraft used in World War II
B) An experimental spacecraft
C) A passenger airliner developed in the 1950s
D) Being a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber
  • 80. Who was the first prominent scholar to study distinctly American folk music?
A) Robert Winslow Gordon
B) Alan Lomax
C) Burl Ives
D) Woody Guthrie
  • 81. When did the American folk music revival begin?
A) 1930s
B) 1960s
C) 1940s
D) 1950s
  • 82. What is the Colt Single Action Army known as?
A) The 'Peacemaker'
B) The 'Smokey Bear'
C) The 'Flying Tiger'
D) The 'Liberty Bell'
  • 83. Which event is associated with the Boston Tea Party?
A) Paul Revere's Ride
B) A protest against British taxation without representation
C) The Battle of Bunker Hill
D) The signing of the Declaration of Independence
  • 84. What was Times Square formerly known as?
A) Pearl Harbor
B) Empire State Building
C) Hoover Dam
D) Longacre Square
  • 85. Who is generally attributed with writing "A Visit from St. Nicholas"?
A) Mark Twain
B) Clement Clarke Moore
C) Washington Irving
D) Charles Dickens
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