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Ah Bartleby,! Ah Humanity! Trivia Quiz

Long before passive resistance became a familiar technique for protesting perceived inequities, there was Bartleby!

A multiple-choice quiz by braunda. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
braunda

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
205,452

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
370

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what year was Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" published? Hint

1853

1833

1843

1823

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Question 2 of 10

2. After his death, Bartleby's employer learns that Bartleby had previously held another job for several years. Where did he work? Hint

Accounting Firm

Dead Letter Office

Dry Goods Store

Stockbroker's Office

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Question 3 of 10

3. What famous New York street is mentioned in the subtitle of the story? Hint

Broadway

Wall Street

Fifth Avenue

42nd Street

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Who works with Bartleby? Hint

Turkey

Ginger Nut

All Of These

Nippers

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the occupation of Bartleby's employer, the narrator of the tale? Hint

Accountant

Lawyer

Merchant

Stockbroker

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The employer is a bit of a name dropper. What famous man has used his services? Hint

John Brown

John Jacob Astor

John Barrymore

John Wilkes Booth

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Question 7 of 10

7. Bartleby utters one statement which recurs throughout the story. What is his response to nearly everything that is asked of him? Hint

I am not your slave

I do not understand

I would prefer not to

I cannot do that

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Question 8 of 10

8. Bartleby refuses to leave his place of employment after he has been discharged. What does his employer turn to as a last resort? Hint

He kills Bartleby

He retires and moves away

He has Bartleby removed bodily

He moves his entire office to another location

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is the name of the prison where Bartleby spends his final days? Hint

The Tombs

The Bastille

The Crypts

The Tower

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 2000, a film was made of the story entitled "Bartleby." Who plays the hapless clerk? Hint

Johnny Depp

Crispin Glover

David Paymer

Joe Piscopo

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" published?

Answer: 1853

"Bartleby" was published shortly after the critical rejection of Melville's masterpiece "Moby Dick." It is entirely possible to read the story as a condemnation of those readers who wanted him only to duplicate the successes of his earlier adventure stories, "Omoo" and "Typee."

2. After his death, Bartleby's employer learns that Bartleby had previously held another job for several years. Where did he work?

Answer: Dead Letter Office

"On errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah Bartleby! Ah Humanity!"

3. What famous New York street is mentioned in the subtitle of the story?

Answer: Wall Street

Imagery of walls is prevalant throughout the story. Also, "Wall Street" has a mercantile connotation which fits with the narrator's acquisitive and parsimonious nature.

4. Who works with Bartleby?

Answer: All Of These

Ginger Nut is the office boy, so called because he enjoys that particular sweet. Nippers is a dyspeptic young man who is productive only in the afternoon because of his condition. Turkey is an older fellow who is at his best in the morning because he gets drunk at lunch. Put them together, and they make one good employee!

5. What is the occupation of Bartleby's employer, the narrator of the tale?

Answer: Lawyer

The never-named employer is, indeed, a lawyer, but he lives on contract work and carefully informs us that he does not do anything that would require him to actually go to court!

6. The employer is a bit of a name dropper. What famous man has used his services?

Answer: John Jacob Astor

In fact, he is so (falsely) modest that his exact statement is: "I was not unemployed in my profession by the late John Jacob Astor."

7. Bartleby utters one statement which recurs throughout the story. What is his response to nearly everything that is asked of him?

Answer: I would prefer not to

A funny scene in the story (yes, Melville can be funny!) occurs when everyone has picked up the word "prefer" and aren't aware of it.

8. Bartleby refuses to leave his place of employment after he has been discharged. What does his employer turn to as a last resort?

Answer: He moves his entire office to another location

Even moving didn't help. When Bartleby still refused to leave the old building the narrator was called to remove him. At last, the police took him to jail.

9. What is the name of the prison where Bartleby spends his final days?

Answer: The Tombs

Certainly an appropriate appellation.

10. In 2000, a film was made of the story entitled "Bartleby." Who plays the hapless clerk?

Answer: Crispin Glover

One critic remarked that Crispin Glover was too weird, even for Bartleby! David Paymer plays the boss and Joe Piscopo is an updated version of Nippers called "Rocky." Glenne Headley and Maury Chaykin are also in the cult classic. Check it out, if you haven't seen it. Oh, and Johnny Depp has nothing to do with it at all, but since he's everywhere else these days, it just seems right to include him!

Source: Author braunda

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