Quotes from American Authors [3] Quiz

Answer: Harper Lee

The quote is from "To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee (1926- ). It was first published in 1960. It was an immediate success, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. Lee's first published novel dealt with themes such as rape and racial inequality.

Answer: J.D. Salinger

The quote is from "The Catcher in the Rye", by J.D. Salinger (1919-2010). It was first published in 1951. The novel is known for its portrayal of teenage angst and rebellion. Salinger also authored short stories, a collection of which were published in 1953, called "Nine Stories".

Answer: Emily Dickinson

The quote is a poem known as "I never lost as much but twice", by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). She didn't title any of her poems, so they are all known by their first lines. She wrote nearly 1800 works of poetry, most of which were found in her bedroom after her death. Common themes in her work include gardens, love, death and grief.

Other notable poems by Dickinson include "I heard a Fly buzz--when I died", "My life closed twice before it closed" and "Though the great Waters sleep".

Answer: Ralph Waldo Emerson

The quote is from the essay "Self-Reliance", by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882). It was first published with a collection of his essays in 1841. The major theme of the essay is the need to avoid conformity. The philosopher was a leader of the American Transcendentalism movement. Other noted essays by Emerson are "Nature", "The Over-soul" and "The Poet".

Answer: William Faulkner

The quote is from "As I Lay Dying", by William Faulkner (1897-1962). It was first published in 1930. He has won the Nobel Prize for Literature (1949), and two Pulitzer Prizes (1955, 1963). Other notable works by Faulkner include "The Sound and the Fury", "Absalom, Absalom!", "Go Down, Moses" and "The Reivers".

Answer: Walt Whitman

The quote is from the poem "O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman (1819-1892). It was first published in 1865. It is about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Whitman may be best known for his 1855 poetry collection titled "Leaves of Grass".

Answer: Washington Irving

The quote is from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", by Washington Irving (1783-1859). It was first published in 1820. He is mostly known for his short stories, another being "Rip Van Winkle". A collection of Irving's short stories was titled "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent."

Answer: Hunter S. Thompson

The quote is from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", by Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005). It was first published in 1971. He is known as the creator of Gonzo journalism. The book was turned into a film in 1998 starring Johnny Depp. Other notable works by Thompson include "The Rum Diary" and "The Gonzo Papers", the latter of which is a four volume book series.

Answer: Ken Kesey

The quote is from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", by Ken Kesey (1935-2001). It was first published in 1962. It was the basis for the 1975 Academy award winning film starring Jack Nicholson. The film actually won all five of the major award categories that year. Another notable work by Kesey is "Sometimes a Great Notion".

Answer: L. Frank Baum

The quote is from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919). It was first published in 1900. It was the inspiration for the highly popular 1939 film starring Judy Garland. Baum actually wrote thirteen sequels due to the high demand for more stories of "Oz". Those included titles such as "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz" and "The Emerald City of Oz".