How Well You Know Edgar Allan Poe? Quiz

1.

Select the word grouping that best describes Poe's writing.

A.

Cheery, light, comedic
B.

Murder, bizarre, mysterious
C.

Nature, rural, realistic

Correct Answer
B. Murder, bizarre, mysterious

Explanation
Poe's writing is best described as "Murder, bizarre, mysterious" because his stories often revolve around dark themes, strange occurrences, and mysterious events. His works, such as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher," are known for their eerie and macabre elements, making this word grouping the most fitting description for his writing style.

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2.

'And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you'- here I opened wide the door;- Darkness there, and nothing more."

A.

"The Masque of the Red Death"
B.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
C.

"The Raven"

Correct Answer
C. "The Raven"

Explanation
"The Raven" is the correct answer because the given excerpt is a famous quote from the poem. It describes the narrator hearing a tapping at their chamber door and opening it to find darkness. This quote is a key moment in the poem and is often associated with "The Raven."

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3.

Poe is known for being the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre.

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
Poe is indeed known for being the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre. His famous detective character, C. Auguste Dupin, laid the foundation for future detective stories, and his works like "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter" are considered pioneering examples of the genre. Additionally, Poe's imaginative and macabre tales, such as "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Tell-Tale Heart," are often regarded as early examples of science fiction. Therefore, the statement "Poe is known for being the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre" is true.

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4.

Most of Poe's well-known biography is fiction because his arch enemy wrote it in an attempt to defame the author.

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
The given statement suggests that most of Poe's well-known biography is fiction because it was written by his arch enemy with the intention of defaming him. This implies that the information about Poe's life that is widely known and accepted may not be accurate or reliable. Therefore, the correct answer is True, indicating that the statement is accurate and Poe's biography is largely fictionalized.

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5.

What year was Poe born?

Correct Answer
1809

Explanation
Poe was born in the year 1809.

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6.

"The Raven" is Poe's most famous publication.

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
"The Raven" is indeed Poe's most famous publication. This poem, first published in 1845, showcases Poe's mastery of language and his ability to create a haunting and melancholic atmosphere. It has become one of the most well-known and widely studied works of American literature, cementing Poe's reputation as a master of the macabre. The poem's themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural, combined with its memorable and evocative imagery, have made it a lasting and influential piece of literature.

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7.

Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" features a raven that repeatedly utters the word "_______."

Correct Answer
Nevermore, nevermore

Explanation
In Poe's iconic poem, the raven's constant repetition of "Nevermore" serves as a haunting reminder of lost love and the inevitability of despair. The word's melancholic tone and finality contribute to the poem's overall atmosphere of gloom and hopelessness.

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8.

Who was Poe's arch enemy?

Correct Answer
Rufus Griswold

Explanation
Rufus Griswold was Poe's arch enemy. Rufus Griswold was a literary critic and editor who had a personal vendetta against Poe. He published a scathing obituary of Poe after his death, portraying him in a negative light and tarnishing his reputation. Griswold also edited a posthumous collection of Poe's works, but he included false information and unfavorable interpretations of Poe's writings. This antagonistic relationship between Poe and Griswold has been well-documented, making Griswold widely recognized as Poe's arch enemy.

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9.

Because of Poe's rival, after Poe died his publication sales decreased.

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
The given statement suggests that after Poe died, his publication sales decreased because of his rival. However, the correct answer is False, indicating that the statement is incorrect. Therefore, it can be inferred that Poe's rival did not have an impact on the decrease in his publication sales after his death.

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10.

"Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me."

A.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"
B.

"The Cask of Amontillado"
C.

"The Fall of the House of Usher"

Correct Answer
A. "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Explanation
The given excerpt describes a feeling of mortal terror and the sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overwhelmed with awe. This description aligns with the theme of psychological horror and the inner turmoil experienced by the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart." The story revolves around the narrator's obsession and guilt over a murder he has committed, which eventually leads to his own downfall. The mention of the sound coming from the narrator's own bosom also connects to the first-person perspective and the intense psychological state of the protagonist in "The Tell-Tale Heart."

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