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Quiz about Hero of the Penny Dreadful Horatio Alger Jr

Hero of the Penny Dreadful: Horatio Alger, Jr. Quiz

At the beginning of the 20th century, Horatio Alger, Jr. was one of the most widely-read authors in America. Let's see how much you know of this prolific writer.

A multiple-choice quiz by LaLaLoopy. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
LaLaLoopy

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
319,748

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
155

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Born in Revere, Massachusetts, in 1832, Horatio Alger, Jr. was trained at the Harvard Divinity School to become a minister in the Unitarian Church. At his first parish in Brewster, MA, Alger was accused of something that almost caused him to leave the church. What was it? Hint

Preaching that African-Americans and whites were entitled to worship in the same church

Carrying on an affair with the church organist, Marcy Delacroix

Failing to use the Revised Standard version of the Bible in his sermons

Improper conduct with young boys

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Question 2 of 10

2. The boys in his novels often had onomatopoetic names that sounded like their jobs: "Phil, the Fiddler" and "Mark, the Match Boy" are examples. However, the hero of Alger's first novel, "Ragged Dick", had a job that had nothing to do with his name. What was it? Hint

Lamp lighter

Livery stable cleaner

Bootblack

Cabin boy

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Question 3 of 10

3. During his years at Harvard, Alger studied with what famous 'Gitche Gumee' poet? Hint

James Fenimore Cooper

Richard Henry Pratt

Henry David Thoreau

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Question 4 of 10

4. Two of Alger's books, "Ragged Dick" and "Silas Snobden, Office Boy", were the inspiration for which 1983 musical? Hint

'Tintypes'

'Shine'

'Uncle Jed's Barbershop'

'Back Home'

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Question 5 of 10

5. What do Horatio Alger, Jr. and "The Hardy Boys" have in common? Hint

Edward Stratemeyer finished many of Alger's unpublished manuscripts and also created the "Hardy Boys" series

Alger wrote the first five "Hardy Boys" mysteries, but died before they were published

All of the plots in Alger's books were used in "Hardy Boys" novels

Nothing. Alger died in 1899 and the first "Hardy Boys" book wasn't written until 1927

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Question 6 of 10

6. Although Alger wrote primarily fiction, the assassination of what president prompted him to attempt his first non-fiction book? Hint

Abraham Lincoln

James A. Garfield

William McKinley

Chester A. Arthur

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Question 7 of 10

7. Since 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans has presented an award to people who represent the ideals of Alger: that anyone can succeed with just a little hard work. Which of these people would be likely to receive this award? Hint

Richard, whose book on the Iraq War won the Pulitzer Prize in Literature

Cerise, an A+ student in Longfellow Charter High School who has plans of becoming a doctor

Don, a community leader who has worked hard to improve the conditions of his neighborhood

Sister Katherine Mary, who has been a teacher in St. Pius X school for 35 years

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Question 8 of 10

8. The story of Horatio Alger's love life was bizarre, to say the least. Which of these scenarios sounds so wild that it has to be true? Hint

On a steamship bound for London, Alger was forced to abandon ship when it began to sink. The crew member in charge of his lifeboat was a comely young lady named Felicity Chambliss and they fell in love during their time drifting at sea.

During a visit to P.T. Barnum's museum in New York, Alger took a ride on an elephant. He shared the howdah with Jenny Beckwith and was immediately smitten with her. After the ride, which lasted an hour, they became lovers.

While attending a s�ance, Alger felt the presence of a female spirit named 'Pamela.' Although he never saw her, he fell in love with her.

Alger was accused of murdering Jeremiah Hardy after Hardy's wife thought Alger looked like the 'suspicious looking character' she had seen lurking around her home. After Alger was cleared, he fell in love with Mrs. Hardy's sister.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Horatio always wanted to write 'The Great American Novel' and shortly before his death in 1899, he had actually started working on it. What happened? Hint

His editors demanded that he get back to the writing of boy stories and give up his highfalutin idea about writing for adults

Una Garth's husband took him to court, accusing him of canoodling with his wife. Alger died during the trial.

He was struck by an electric streetcar while crossing Times Square and was left an invalid

His manuscript was lost in a fire that destroyed his home and most of his belongings

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Question 10 of 10

10. "Horatio Alger's books conveyed a powerful message to me and to many of my young friends -- that if you worked hard at your trade, the big chance would eventually come. As a child, I didn't regard it as a myth, and as an old man, I think of it as the story of my life." What world famous comedian spoke these words? Hint

Charlie Chaplin

Soupy Sales

Bob Hope

Groucho Marx

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Improper conduct with young boys

Nothing was ever proven, but the rumors of possible impropriety with boys followed Alger throughout his life. He was known to spend a great deal of time with homeless boys and even took some into his home to be his 'ward' or 'guardian.'

Answer: Bootblack

In 1867, Alger published the first of his 'rags-to-riches' novels, 'Ragged Dick, or Streetlife In New York With the Boot-Blacks.' Originally serialized in the magazine 'Student And Schoolmate', Alger was encouraged to collect his stories into a novel.

Although Alger's books were believed to be about how poor children could use hard work to improve their lot in life, most of his plots involved a rich older man helping the boy to achieve nothing more than a modest, middle-class life. One of his fictional millionaires exclaimed that his fortune was the result of "hard work... and the fact that my father left me $1,000.000."

3. During his years at Harvard, Alger studied with what famous 'Gitche Gumee' poet?

Answer: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Alger loved the four years he was a student of Longfellow's and, for a while, pondered becoming a poet instead of a minister. His poetry evoked the Longfellow style as evidenced in his 1875 poem "Last Words":

"'Dear Charlie', breathed a soldier
Oh, comrade, true and tried.
Who in the heat of battle
Pressed closely to my side."

4. Two of Alger's books, "Ragged Dick" and "Silas Snobden, Office Boy", were the inspiration for which 1983 musical?

Answer: 'Shine'

'Shine' has become a mid-level success in musical theater history and is frequently performed in off-off-off-off Broadway productions. One critic called it "one of the most pleasant surprises of the current year." If you would like to know the plot of 'Shine' check its website: www.shinethemusical.com

5. What do Horatio Alger, Jr. and "The Hardy Boys" have in common?

Answer: Edward Stratemeyer finished many of Alger's unpublished manuscripts and also created the "Hardy Boys" series

Stratemeyer was a true literary entrepreneur and after creating an eponymous Syndicate, hired 'ghostwriters' to churn out "Hardy Boys" books, starting in 1927. Although he and his two daughters, Edna and Harriet, came up with most of the plots, the majority of the books were written by Leslie McFarlane and John Button under the pseudonym 'Franklin W. Dixon.' Stratemeyer was encouraged to give the public a girl detective and he introduced Nancy Drew in 1930's 'The Secret of the Old Clock.' In 1982, Simon and Schuster purchased the Syndicate and continued the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series.

6. Although Alger wrote primarily fiction, the assassination of what president prompted him to attempt his first non-fiction book?

Answer: James A. Garfield

A devastated Alger, who deeply admired the slain president, wrote "From Canal Boy to President, or, The Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield" in 1881. His book was written in his usual turgid style as witnessed by this sentence from Chapter 34: "On the second of July in the present year, a startling rumor was borne on the wings of the lightning to the remotest parts of the realm -- President Garfield has been assassinated." In 1882, Alger did write a book about Lincoln.

Answer: Don, a community leader who has worked hard to improve the conditions of his neighborhood

Don would probably have met the conditions of the prize. It is for "dedicated community leaders who demonstrate individual initiative and a commitment to excellence... All potential members much have a strong commitment to assisting those less fortunate than themselves." Past winners included Wally Amos of cookie fame, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, and J.C. Penny. Cerise, by the way, would have been eligible for the Horatio Alger Scholarship.

8. The story of Horatio Alger's love life was bizarre, to say the least. Which of these scenarios sounds so wild that it has to be true?

Answer: Alger was accused of murdering Jeremiah Hardy after Hardy's wife thought Alger looked like the 'suspicious looking character' she had seen lurking around her home. After Alger was cleared, he fell in love with Mrs. Hardy's sister.

Jeremiah Hardy was murdered in Peekskill, New York, and Mrs. Hardy swore Horatio Alger was the killer. At first, no one believed him when he identified himself as the popular writer of books for children, but later on, Mrs. Hardy said she was mistaken in her initial identification.

She sent Alger a note, asking him to come to her home so that she could apologize to him in person. Mrs. Hardy's sister, Una Garth, was present and it was truly love at first sight. It was unfortunate that Una was married and that her husband did not take kindly to Alger's fumbling attempts at romance.

9. Horatio always wanted to write 'The Great American Novel' and shortly before his death in 1899, he had actually started working on it. What happened?

Answer: His editors demanded that he get back to the writing of boy stories and give up his highfalutin idea about writing for adults

"Tomorrow" was the title of Alger's magnum opus and he tried to work on it during his problems with Mr. and Mrs. Garth. On a trip to Paris, he became violently ill, and after an extensive recovering, he returned to the United States, only to find impatient editors and an anxious public waiting for him to get back to his 'rags-to-riches' stories. "Tomorrow" never came.

Answer: Groucho Marx

Seldom did Groucho keep sarcasm out of his statements, but he truly admired Alger. Many others were inspired by the 'work hard and succeed' stories of boys who overcame poverty. Ernest Hemingway and Walter Brennan, among others, cited Alger's principles as being important in shaping their own lives.

Source: Author LaLaLoopy

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