Literature Quiz Titles and Descriptions

A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (Bartolome de las Casas, 1542)
Work that offered critique of Spain’s policies in the New World.

Poor Richard’s Almanack (Benjamin Franklin, 1732)

A publication that contained many of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous sayings.

Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God (Jonathan Edwards, 1741)

This sermon, given in the midst of the “Great Awakening,” characterized the religious revivals of
the time.

Common Sense (Thomas Paine, 1776)

This pamphlet, which was published early in the Revolutionary War, called for colonial
separation from England. This acted as a catalyst for rebelling patriots to join the cause.

The Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith, 1776)

Advocated for a free market economic policy. It specifically called for a “laissez-faire” approach.

The Federalist Papers (James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay; 1787)
This series of essays was written by an influential group of individuals in an attempt to support
the ratification of the Constitution.

The Last of the Mohicans (James Fenimore Cooper, 1826)

This novel, set during the French and Indian War, was published less than a decade after its
conclusion.

The Liberator (William Lloyd Garrison, 1831)

This publication called for the immediate abolition of slavery. It was incredibly influential in the
abolitionist movement.

Democracy in America (Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835)

This book shared a French historian/writer’s observations on American society.

McGuffey Readers (William McGuffey, 1836)

This literature - which included moral messages - was standard in American school curriculum
prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

North Star (Frederick Douglas, 1847)

This publication, written by a former slave, acted as a major factor in the abolitionist movement.

Civil Disobedience (Henry David Thoreau, 1849)

This essay was written during the Mexican War. In it, the writer defended a citizen’s right to
disobey unjust laws.

The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850)

This novel deals with Puritanical views of morality and sin in New England. It is a classic
example of American Romanticism.
Moby Dick (Herman Melville, 1851)
This novel is a classic tale of the concept of man vs. nature. Many consider it to be the “Great
American Novel.”

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852)

This novel was extremely popular during the abolitionist era. It vastly accelerated the growth of
the abolitionist movement.

Walden (Henry David Thoreau, 1854)

Classic transcendentalist work that offered critiques of society during the Market Revolution.

Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman, 1855)

This novel compiled the author’s “free verse” poetry and was incredibly influential to other poets.
Many of the poems were inspired by the work of transcendentalists.

The Impending Crisis of the South (Hinton R. Helper, 1857)

This novel spoke of the detriment of poor southern whites caused by slavery.

Das Kapital (Karl Marx, 1867)

This novel discussed the concept of Marxist socialism.

Ragged Dick (Horatio Alger, 1868)

This novel was popular in the midst of the “Gilded Age.” It is a classic “rags to riches” story.

Progress and Poverty (Henry George, 1879)

Sociological examination of wealth and poverty in American society during the “Gilded Age.”

A Century of Dishonor (Helen Hunt Jackson, 1881)

This book heavily criticized America's policies regarding Native Americans.

Dynamic Sociology (Lester F. Ward, 1883)

This book argued that humans and/or the government have the power to change the laws of
nature.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain, 1884)

This novel is considered to be Mark Twain’s masterpiece. It is also seen as a classic example of
American Regionalism.

Looking Backward (Edward Bellamy, 1887)

This novel, set during the future, was popular during the “Gilded Age.” In it, the author imagines
the U.S. as a socialist utopia.

The Gospel of Wealth (Andrew Carnegie, 1889)

Essay on the meaning of wealth - from one of the richest men in American history.

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (Alfred T. Mahan, 1890)

Advocated for the United States to build a larger Navy to establish its global power.
How the Other Half Lives (Jacob Riis, 1890)
This essay featured photography that exposed the conditions of urban slums in the midst of the
“Gilded Age.”

History of the Standard Oil Company (Ida Tarbell, 1904)

This article was written by a “muckraker” journalist. In it, the author exposes John D.
Rockefeller’s predatory business practices.

The Jungle (Upton Sinclair, 1906)

This novel exposed the extremely poor working conditions in American meatpacking plants.
Though highly sensationalized, it led to the passage of significant consumer protection laws.

Principles of Scientific Management (Frederick Taylor, 1911)

This book articulated the concept of “Taylorism” - which refers to the efficiency model of
production.

The Great Gatsby (F. Scott [Zelda] Fitzgerald, 1925)

This novel was a product of the “Lost Generation” of the Roaring Twenties. In it, the author
criticizes the materialism of the time.

The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck, 1939)

This novel takes place during the Dust Bowl. It follows a family of “Okies” as they flee to
California.

Silent Spring (Rachel Carson, 1962)

This book criticized the use of pesticides in the environment. It played a major role in launching
the modern environmental movement.

The Feminine Mystique (Betty Freidan, 1963)

This book played a major role in launching and popularizing the modern women’s (feminist)
movement.