FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Lonesome Traveler  The Life of Jack Kerouac
Quiz about Lonesome Traveler  The Life of Jack Kerouac

Lonesome Traveler - The Life of Jack Kerouac Quiz


When the Beat Generation swept across the United States in post-World War II, Jack Kerouac became the embodiment of this movement. How well do you know the father of this entire generation?

A multiple-choice quiz by SGTShaw. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. People Trivia
  6. »
  7. People K-L

Author
SGTShaw
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
376,451
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
152
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. As a young boy, Jack Kerouac (born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac) idolized his older brother Gérard. However, Gérard died at the age of nine...from what? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Jack had his first Sacrament of Confession at the age of six in 1928. As he said a rosary, he reported that God spoke to him, telling him what? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Jack Kerouac's best known novel, "On the Road" was originally poorly received.


Question 4 of 10
4. What was unusual about Jack's writing style? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Let's go back to Jack's youth. What language did he speak while growing up? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which of these is not a Kerouac novel? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 2008, a novel written by Jack and his friend Willian S. Burroughs was published 63 years after it was written in 1945. Can you complete the title?

"And the ______ Were Boiled in Their Tanks"

Answer: (Animal known for being large and round (plural))
Question 8 of 10
8. In 1964, tragedy hit the Kerouac family. What happened? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. On the morning of October 20th, 1969, Jack Kerouac he felt sick and threw up blood in his bathroom. Jack then died the next morning during surgery. What was the official cause of death? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Gabrielle Kerouac, Jack's mother, died several years after him. Her will was granted Stella Kerouac, Jack's wife, the rights to his works. However, a study in 2009 proved what? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. As a young boy, Jack Kerouac (born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac) idolized his older brother Gérard. However, Gérard died at the age of nine...from what?

Answer: Rheumatic Fever

Jack was heavily impacted by his brother's premature death. It is reported that Gérard, while on his death bed, had visions of the Virgin Mary, and was considered a saint by local nuns. Jack later mentioned his brother in the novel "Visions of Gerard".
2. Jack had his first Sacrament of Confession at the age of six in 1928. As he said a rosary, he reported that God spoke to him, telling him what?

Answer: He would die in pain and horror

In addition, Jack stated that God said he had a good soul and would reach salvation. This experience helped mold his writing style, combined with his love for Christ. A long study of Buddhism was also a contributing factor.
3. Jack Kerouac's best known novel, "On the Road" was originally poorly received.

Answer: False

"On the Road", which took him three weeks to write (but years to publish) was an instant success, and propelled him to stardom. From then on he became a major literary figure, and the voice of the Beat Generation.
4. What was unusual about Jack's writing style?

Answer: He used long rolls of paper

While it's true he wrote some of his work in pencil, Jack used ten-foot long rolls of teletype paper while typing. He stated in an interview that this helped him write, as he wrote very fast (finishing "On the Road" in three weeks). After this, he would tape multiple rolls together.

The so-called "original scroll" of "On the Road" reached 120 feet long, and was put on display in Lowell, Massachusetts for the 50th anniversary of its publication.
5. Let's go back to Jack's youth. What language did he speak while growing up?

Answer: French

Jack's parents were French-Canadian, so Jack grew up speaking the language in Lowell, Massachusetts. He learned English as a grew older, carefully grasping the language. However, he wasn't comfortable speaking it until he was in his later teen years. Prior to this, he only spoke it when he needed to.
6. Which of these is not a Kerouac novel?

Answer: The Grapes of Wrath

"The Grapes of Wrath" is a novel by John Steinbeck, also a literary icon. The three other novels were published in the order; "The Dharma Bums"(1958), "Big Sur" (1962), and "Desolation Angels"(1965).
7. In 2008, a novel written by Jack and his friend Willian S. Burroughs was published 63 years after it was written in 1945. Can you complete the title? "And the ______ Were Boiled in Their Tanks"

Answer: Hippos

"And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks" remains the last posthumously published work by Jack Kerouac. Due to this, some consider it the last novel. However, since it was written in 1945, this is not the case. His last novel was "Vanity of Duluoz", published in 1968.
8. In 1964, tragedy hit the Kerouac family. What happened?

Answer: Jack's sister Caroline died

Caroline Kerouac died of a heart attack in September of 1964, leaving the family in tears. The exact cause of the heart attack is unknown, but Jack stated that the attack was probably the result of "a broken heart".
9. On the morning of October 20th, 1969, Jack Kerouac he felt sick and threw up blood in his bathroom. Jack then died the next morning during surgery. What was the official cause of death?

Answer: Cirrhosis of the liver

Jack had been a heavy drinker all his life, which severely damaged his liver. His wife Stella persuaded him to go to the hospital, where he went under immediate surgery. His drinking habit harmed his liver so much that his blood would not clot, resulting in continuous bleeding in his stomach.

He died on October 21st, 1969, at 5:15 in the morning, from cirrhosis of the liver, as well as complications from a recent bar fight, and an untreated hernia.
10. Gabrielle Kerouac, Jack's mother, died several years after him. Her will was granted Stella Kerouac, Jack's wife, the rights to his works. However, a study in 2009 proved what?

Answer: Gabrielle's signature was forged

In 2009, a study proved that Gabrielle Kerouac would have been physically unable to sign her name on the will, as she had suffered a paralyzing stroke years before. However, no action could be taken against Stella Kerouac, as she had died more than ten years prior.
Source: Author SGTShaw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
12/11/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us