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Quiz: How Well Do You Know American Literary Classics?

Luca von Burkersroda

Luca von Burkersroda

October 18, 2026 · 5 min read

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Quiz: How Well Do You Know American Literary Classics?
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Who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird”?

Who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird”? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • B) Harper Lee
  • C) Mark Twain
  • D) Ernest Hemingway

Correct Answer: Harper Lee

Correct Answer: Harper Lee (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Harper Lee (image credits: flickr)

“To Kill a Mockingbird” was written by Harper Lee. Published in 1960, this unforgettable novel explores racial injustice and moral growth in the Deep South. The story, told through the eyes of young Scout Finch, has become a touchstone of American literature and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961.

What is the name of the river in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”?

What is the name of the river in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) Colorado River
  • B) Mississippi River
  • C) Missouri River
  • D) Ohio River

Correct Answer: Mississippi River

Correct Answer: Mississippi River (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Mississippi River (image credits: flickr)

The Mississippi River is central to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. The river serves as a symbol of freedom and adventure for Huck and Jim as they journey through the heart of America, grappling with big questions about society and friendship.

Which novel features the character Jay Gatsby?

Which novel features the character Jay Gatsby? (image credits: stocksnap)
Which novel features the character Jay Gatsby? (image credits: stocksnap)
  • A) The Great Gatsby
  • B) Moby-Dick
  • C) The Catcher in the Rye
  • D) Little Women

Correct Answer: The Great Gatsby

Correct Answer: The Great Gatsby (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: The Great Gatsby (image credits: flickr)

Jay Gatsby is the mysterious millionaire at the center of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Set in the roaring 1920s, this novel is a dazzling tale of love, ambition, wealth, and the American Dream gone awry.

Who is the narrator of “The Catcher in the Rye”?

Who is the narrator of “The Catcher in the Rye”? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) Holden Caulfield
  • B) Atticus Finch
  • C) Tom Sawyer
  • D) Daisy Buchanan

Correct Answer: Holden Caulfield

Correct Answer: Holden Caulfield (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Holden Caulfield (image credits: flickr)

Holden Caulfield is the iconic narrator of J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” His raw, honest voice and deeply personal story of teenage alienation have resonated with readers for generations since the novel’s release in 1951.

Which book begins with the line, “Call me Ishmael”?

Which book begins with the line, “Call me Ishmael”? (image credits: stocksnap)
Which book begins with the line, “Call me Ishmael”? (image credits: stocksnap)
  • A) The Old Man and the Sea
  • B) The Grapes of Wrath
  • C) Moby-Dick
  • D) East of Eden

Correct Answer: Moby-Dick

Correct Answer: Moby-Dick (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Moby-Dick (image credits: flickr)

The famous opening line “Call me Ishmael” comes from Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick.” This epic novel dives deep into obsession, fate, and revenge as Captain Ahab hunts the legendary white whale.

Who wrote “The Grapes of Wrath”?

Who wrote “The Grapes of Wrath”? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) John Steinbeck
  • B) Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • C) Louisa May Alcott
  • D) Emily Dickinson

Correct Answer: John Steinbeck

Correct Answer: John Steinbeck (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: John Steinbeck (image credits: flickr)

John Steinbeck penned “The Grapes of Wrath” in 1939. This powerful novel follows the Joad family as they journey from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression, capturing the struggles and hopes of disenfranchised Americans.

Which American novel is set during the Civil War and follows four sisters?

Which American novel is set during the Civil War and follows four sisters? (image credits: stocksnap)
Which American novel is set during the Civil War and follows four sisters? (image credits: stocksnap)
  • A) Little Women
  • B) Their Eyes Were Watching God
  • C) The Scarlet Letter
  • D) Slaughterhouse-Five

Correct Answer: Little Women

Correct Answer: Little Women (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Little Women (image credits: flickr)

“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott tells the story of the four March sisters as they come of age during the Civil War. The novel’s warmth, humor, and timeless family themes have made it a beloved classic for over 150 years.

Who is the main character in “The Scarlet Letter”?

Who is the main character in “The Scarlet Letter”? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) Hester Prynne
  • B) Scout Finch
  • C) Jay Gatsby
  • D) Jo March

Correct Answer: Hester Prynne

Correct Answer: Hester Prynne (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Hester Prynne (image credits: flickr)

Hester Prynne is the strong-willed protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.” Set in Puritan Massachusetts, the novel explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption as Hester faces public shame with courage and dignity.

Related Stories From Festivaltopia

  • 20 Forgotten Literary Awards That Once Shaped American Culture
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  • 15 Books That Inspired Generations of American Writers

Which classic American novel deals with a whaling voyage?

Which classic American novel deals with a whaling voyage? (image credits: flickr)
Which classic American novel deals with a whaling voyage? (image credits: flickr)
  • A) The Great Gatsby
  • B) Moby-Dick
  • C) The Catcher in the Rye
  • D) Walden

Correct Answer: Moby-Dick

Correct Answer: Moby-Dick (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Moby-Dick (image credits: flickr)

“Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville chronicles the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab as he pursues the elusive white whale. The whaling voyage is a dramatic backdrop for exploring ambition, madness, and the struggle against nature.

Who is the author of “Beloved”?

Who is the author of “Beloved”? (image credits: rawpixel)
  • A) Toni Morrison
  • B) Maya Angelou
  • C) Zora Neale Hurston
  • D) Alice Walker

Correct Answer: Toni Morrison

Correct Answer: Toni Morrison (image credits: flickr)
Correct Answer: Toni Morrison (image credits: flickr)

Toni Morrison wrote “Beloved,” a haunting novel about slavery, memory, and motherhood. Published in 1987, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and is considered one of the most important works in American literature.

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Luca von Burkersroda

Luca von Burkersroda

Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.

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