Test Your Knowledge of Southern US Literature

William Faulkner, the Nobel Prize winner in Literature for 1949, introduced complex narrative techniques in works like "Absalom, Absalom!" and "As I Lay Dying," revolutionizing storytelling in Southern literature.

"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain serves as a direct sequel to "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," narrated by Huckleberry Finn in Missouri, continuing the thrilling adventures in the South.

Mark Twain authored the influential "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," a quintessential 19th-century Southern novel. This book narrates Huckleberry Finn's escapades in Missouri and is a direct sequel to "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," revealing Twain's astute portrayal of Southern society and the Mississippi River.

"All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren drew inspiration from the life of U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, reflecting the political machinations and struggles during the Depression-era in the Deep South. The novel intricately explores the manipulation of power in Southern politics.

"A Streetcar Named Desire" vividly dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who encounters personal losses and relocates to a shabby New Orleans apartment, exploring themes of loss, relationships, and societal decline.

"Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell portrayed Scarlett O'Hara's challenges and resilience during the Civil War and Reconstruction in Georgia, highlighting her journey from privilege to poverty.

John Crowe Ransom emerged as the unofficial leader of the Southern Agrarians, a group advocating agrarian values and contributing to the reinvigoration of Southern literature in the 1920s and 1930s.

In "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner, the central protagonist is Thomas Sutpen. The novel intricately details Sutpen's life, beginning in poverty in Virginia and his pursuit of wealth and family power in Mississippi, shaping the story's narrative around his ambitions and struggles.

"Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner primarily unfolds in Mississippi, encompassing the pre, during, and post-American Civil War era, focusing on Thomas Sutpen and three Southern families. The novel intricately explores themes of wealth, power, and familial relationships in the South.

Writers like Faulkner introduced new techniques such as stream of consciousness to their writings. Notably, "As I Lay Dying" employs a narrative style with changing narrators, offering an intricate and multi-layered perspective on characters and events.

Kate Chopin’s "Bayou Folk" presented a realistic portrayal of French Creole communities in Louisiana, setting the groundwork for a new realism in Southern literature.

Kate Chopin's seminal work, "The Awakening," is a groundbreaking contribution to Southern literature. Depicting a French Creole community in Louisiana, the novel addresses complex emotions and societal norms, earning its place as a serious and realistic piece in the genre.

I’ll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition, authored by the Southern Agrarians, contributed significantly to the Southern Renaissance, advocating for agrarian values and contributing to Southern literature.

Robert Penn Warren played a pivotal role in the New Criticism movement and was a co-founder of The Southern Review. His influential contribution to Southern literature and literary critique reshaped the approach to studying and analyzing literature.

The Fugitive Poets, primarily based in Tennessee, published "The Fugitive" and contributed significantly to Southern poetry, focusing on rural southern experiences and traditional prosody.