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Melville sans Moby Trivia Quiz

You probably know all about 'Moby Dick' trouble is, most people think Melville begins and ends with that classic. But Melville ranged far and wide in his work, and in almost every form. See how much Melville you really know!

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

Author
tjoebigham

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
22,766

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
429

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Name Melville's first two books to be published. Hint

'Typee' and 'Omoo'

'Nevada' and 'Texas'

'Rebecca' and 'Laura'

'Space' and 'Airport'

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2. Who is the companion of Wellington Redburn in 'Redburn'? Hint

Basil Hallward

Sancho Panza

Harry Bolton

Dr. Watson

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3. Which of Melville's novels takes place on a U.S. Navy ship? Hint

Run Silent, Run Deep

The Caine Mutiny

White Jacket

Mutiny on the Bounty

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4. Which novel of Melville's followed that whaling book? Hint

Malcolm

Huckleberry Finn

Studs Lonigan

Pierre, or the Ambiguities

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5. What is different about Melville's 'Confidence Man'? Hint

It takes place in the Middle Ages

It's about a moon journey

Its setting is a Mississippi steamboat

It takes place in Greece

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6. Did Melville base his Israel Potter on a real person?

Yes

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7. Name the three clerks who work with Bartleby in Melville's classic story 'Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street'. Hint

Huey, Dewey and Louie

Ginger-Nut, Nippers and Turkey

Tom, Dick and Harry

Moe, Larry and Curly

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8. Name the setting of Melville's 'The Tartarus of Maids'. Hint

a woman's prison

a secretarial class

a young girl's school

A New England paper mill

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9. Who is the malignant master-at-arms who slanders Billy Budd, and his stooge? Hint

Claggart, Squeak

Dr. Frankenstein,Igor

Simon Barsinister, Tod

Dracula, Renfield

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10. Melville was also a published poet.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Name Melville's first two books to be published.

Answer: 'Typee' and 'Omoo'

'Typee' and 'Omoo' came from Melville's own experiences whaling in the South Seas.

2. Who is the companion of Wellington Redburn in 'Redburn'?

Answer: Harry Bolton

Harry Bolton, shipmate to Melville's title character, leads the latter on some fantastic adventures in London.

3. Which of Melville's novels takes place on a U.S. Navy ship?

Answer: White Jacket

Melville also served on a Navy vessel.

4. Which novel of Melville's followed that whaling book?

Answer: Pierre, or the Ambiguities

'Pierre' was written on Melville's Pittsfield, MA farm, Arrowhead; it is also the basis for the 1999 French film, Pola X.

5. What is different about Melville's 'Confidence Man'?

Answer: Its setting is a Mississippi steamboat

For this one book, Melville places his story, a satire on the America of his time, in Mark Twain territory, i.e. the Southern steamship trade.

6. Did Melville base his Israel Potter on a real person?

Answer: Yes

Melville used the real Potter's autobiography as the basis for his satirical tale.

7. Name the three clerks who work with Bartleby in Melville's classic story 'Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street'.

Answer: Ginger-Nut, Nippers and Turkey

They are Dickensian minor characters in this classic of life in 19th-Century Wall Street.

8. Name the setting of Melville's 'The Tartarus of Maids'.

Answer: A New England paper mill

A companion to the much gayer 'Paradise of Bachelors', Melville's tale is a grim allegory of the female's reproductive process.

9. Who is the malignant master-at-arms who slanders Billy Budd, and his stooge?

Answer: Claggart, Squeak

Envious of Billy's good looks and innocence, the evil Claggart, with Squeak's help, frames Budd for mutiny.

10. Melville was also a published poet.

Answer: True

During his later life, Melville turned to poetry; almost all his last writings, except Billy Budd, are volumes of poetry.

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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