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'Leaves Of Grass' Trivia Quiz

Contained in this quiz are ten questions about Walt Whitman's 'Leaves Of Grass'. The questions can either be from the first or last published edition.

A multiple-choice quiz by pennie1478. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
pennie1478

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
237,716

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
221

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When did Walt Whitman first publish his book of poetry titled 'Leaves of Grass'? Hint

1901

1855

1854

1905

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Question 2 of 10

2. Walt Whitman wrote several poems about a president. What president was Walt Whitman's hero? Hint

Abraham Lincoln

George Washington

William McKinley

Thomas Jefferson

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which poet did Walt Whitman often read that inspired the book of poetry called 'Leaves of Grass'? Hint

Emily Dickinson

Robert Browning

William Shakespeare

Ralph Emerson

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Question 4 of 10

4. What poem in 'Leaves Of Grass' does this line come from, "Only themselves understand themselves, and the like of themselves,
as Souls only understand Souls"?
Hint

Voices

Faces

Perfections

Excelsior

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which one of the poems out of 'Leaves Of Grass' was Walt Whitman asked to drop from the book? Hint

To You

1861

Spontaneous Me

Old Ireland

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the missing word in the following title of a poem in 'Leaves Of Grass': "The Sobbing Of The _____"? Hint

Bells

Maids

Children

Clouds

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Question 7 of 10

7. In which section of 'Leaves Of Grass' can the poem titled, "On The Beach At Night" be found? Hint

Whispers of Heavenly Death

Autumn Rivulets

Sea-Drift

From Noon To Starry Night

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Question 8 of 10

8. In the poem, "Excelsior", what is the third question posted to the reader? Hint

"And who has lavished all?"

"Who has gone the farthest?"

"What is most cautious?"

"And who has been the happiest?"

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the poem, "On The Beach At Night", where were the father and daughter standing as they watched the autumn sky? Hint

To the South

To the West

To the East

To the North

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Question 10 of 10

10. What year was the final edition of 'Leaves of Grass' published? Hint

1894

1893

1891

1892

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When did Walt Whitman first publish his book of poetry titled 'Leaves of Grass'?

Answer: 1855

On July 4, 1855, Walt Whitman had a book of poetry titled 'Leaves Of Grass' published. The poetry was criticized because of his usage of sex and the human body.

2. Walt Whitman wrote several poems about a president. What president was Walt Whitman's hero?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Walt Whitman's most famous poem about former President Lincoln was "O Captain, My Captain". Walt wrote a section of poems titled 'Drum Taps' and 'President Lincoln's Burial Hymn' for President Lincoln.

3. Which poet did Walt Whitman often read that inspired the book of poetry called 'Leaves of Grass'?

Answer: Ralph Emerson

After Walt read Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem titled "The Poet", he started working on 'Leaves of Grass'. Mr. Emerson read the poems and called it 'the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom America has yet contributed'.

4. What poem in 'Leaves Of Grass' does this line come from, "Only themselves understand themselves, and the like of themselves, as Souls only understand Souls"?

Answer: Perfections

This poem comes out of the section of 'Leaves Of Grass' titled 'Children of Adam'. The poem is only two lines long.

5. Which one of the poems out of 'Leaves Of Grass' was Walt Whitman asked to drop from the book?

Answer: Spontaneous Me

After reading the selection of poems, Boston District Attorney Oliver Stevens requested that "Spontaneous Me" be taken out of the book because of what the poem meant. The poems "I Sing The Body Electric", "A Woman Waits for Me", and "To a Common Prostitute" were also requested of Whitman to be left out of the book.

After Whitman refused, his publishing company dropped him. Soon after, he found another publisher by the name of Rees Welsh.

6. What is the missing word in the following title of a poem in 'Leaves Of Grass': "The Sobbing Of The _____"?

Answer: Bells

"The Sobbing Of The Bells" was printed in 'Leaves Of Grass' in 1881.

7. In which section of 'Leaves Of Grass' can the poem titled, "On The Beach At Night" be found?

Answer: Sea-Drift

The poem "On The Beach At Night" is in the final published section of 'Leaves Of Grass", called 'Sea-Drift'.

8. In the poem, "Excelsior", what is the third question posted to the reader?

Answer: "What is most cautious?"

"Who has gone farthest? for I would go farther,
And who has been just? for I would be the most just person of the earth,
And who most cautious? for I would be more cautious,
And who has been happiest? O I think it is I - I think no one was ever happier than I,
And who has lavish'd all? for I lavish constantly the best I have... And who thinks the amplest thoughts? for I would surround those thoughts,
And who has made hymns fit for the earth? for I am mad with devouring ecstasy to make joyous hymns for the whole earth."

9. In the poem, "On The Beach At Night", where were the father and daughter standing as they watched the autumn sky?

Answer: To the East

"On The Beach At Midnight" had its final edition written in 1871. It is part of the 'Sea Drift' section in 'Leaves Of Grass'.

10. What year was the final edition of 'Leaves of Grass' published?

Answer: 1892

There were sixteen sections of 'Leaves of Grass' in the final edition published in 1892. The last poem in the book was titled "Goodbye, My Fancy".

Source: Author pennie1478

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