Literary Naturalism Quiz

DO NOT WRITE ON THIS QUIZ!

MARK ALL ANSWERS ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER!

Answer the following questions after reviewing the basic concepts

associated with American literary naturalism:

1. Which of the following IS NOT a key theme of American

literary naturalism?
a. taboo
b. survival
c. determinism
d. romance

2. TRUE or FALSE: Nature is seen as romantic in most stories of

American literary naturalism.
T ____
F ____

3. Free will for the characters in naturalist stories:

a. is an illusion
b. is a necessity
c. is central to their beliefs
d. doesn’t matter at all

4. Often, literary naturalism contains:

a. a flat plot
b. no plot at all
c. a plot of decline
d. a plot of success

5. Characters in naturalistic stories are usually:

a. Wealthy, upper-class citizens
b. Uneducated, lower-class citizens
c. Citizens whose lives are controlled by passion
d. Both A and C
e. Both B and C

6. Naturalist authors:
a. Believed in writing about real events
b. Believed that people could control their lives and their futures
c. Believed that nature was being destroyed by humans
d. Believed that people are controlled by heredity and environment

7. Identify at least ONE naturalistic QUOTE from “The Open Boat” and
write the quote below. You may use your literature book.
8. Identify at least ONE Naturalistic THEME from “The Open Boat.”
Write what theme can apply to the story and why:

9. Identify at least ONE naturalistic QUOTE from “To Build a Fire” and
write the quote below. You may use your literature book.

10. Identify at least ONE Naturalistic THEME from “To Build a Fire.”
Write what theme can apply to the story and why:

11. Identify at least ONE naturalistic QUOTE from “The Blue Hotel” and
write the quote below. You may use the story handout.

12. Identify at least ONE Naturalistic THEME from “The Blue Hotel.”
Write what theme can apply to the story and why:

13. Identify at least ONE naturalistic THEME from “The Grapes of

Wrath.” Write the theme and the example that displays the theme
below:

14. What is the one thing you found most interesting about Naturalism
and Naturalist authors? (“Nothing” is not an answer)