Wieland Study Guide Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is 'Wieland and Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist'?

by Charles Brockden Brown

What year was 'Wieland' published?

1798

What is the setting of 'Wieland'?

French and Indian War 1754 - 1763

Is 'Wieland' considered the first American Gothic novel?

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the narrator of the novel?

<p>Clara Wieland</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what narrative form does Clara Wieland tell the story?

<p>First person narrative</p> Signup and view all the answers

What nationality is the Wieland family?

<p>German</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Elder Wieland's profession?

<p>An extremely religious man</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused the Elder Wieland's death?

<p>An unknown, mysterious cause after an explosion of light and fire</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Clara's opinion on her father's death?

<p>She was not sure if it was by a divine hand or spontaneous combustion</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was Clara's closest friend in childhood?

<p>Catharine Pleyel</p> Signup and view all the answers

What profession did Wieland pursue?

<p>Agriculture</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Clara and her brother differ in terms of religion?

<p>Clara believed herself more rational, and Wieland was very religious</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was Wieland's intellectual hero?

<p>Cicero</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about Henry Pleyel is false?

<p>He was equally religious as Wieland. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Louisa Conway?

<p>The Wieland's ward</p> Signup and view all the answers

Whose voice did Wieland hear in the temple?

<p>Catharine</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Pleyel believe about the voice Wieland hears?

<p>Wieland's senses deceived him</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Wieland's character like?

<p>Melancholy, reserved, thoughtful</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pleyel encourages Wieland to take up his inheritance for all of the following reasons except?

<p>To embrace his family's legacy. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the mysterious voice tell Pleyel and Wieland?

<p>That Catharine is opposed to the Saxony scheme and that Pleyel's beloved is dead</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Clara find enthralling about the man who visits her house?

<p>His voice</p> Signup and view all the answers

While thinking about Carwin, who does Clara also think about?

<p>Her brother and his family dead</p> Signup and view all the answers

From where does Clara hear the murderous voices?

<p>Her closet</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Wieland and Pleyel discover Clara fainted?

<p>A mysterious voice alerts them</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the strange voice say to Clara near the summer house?

<p>It warns her away from this spot because it is dangerous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Clara Wieland?

<p>The narrator and sister of Theodore Wieland</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Theodore Wieland?

<p>The brother of Clara, husband of Catharine</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Francis Carwin?

<p>Obscure, intelligent, and seductive figure in the Wieland household</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Elder Wieland?

<p>The father of Theodore and Clara, an intensely religious man</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Catharine Pleyel?

<p>Wife of Theodore Wieland and closest friend of Clara</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Henry Pleyel?

<p>Brother of Catharine and close friend of the Wieland siblings</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Louisa Conway?

<p>The young ward of the Wieland family</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mrs. Baynton?

<p>A family friend residing in Philadelphia</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Theresa, the Baroness de Stolberg?

<p>Pleyel's former love</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Major Stuart?

<p>Louisa Conway's father</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Maxwell?

<p>An aid de camp with a rivalry to Major Stuart</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Thomas Cambridge?

<p>Clara and Theodore's maternal uncle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mr. Hallet?

<p>A distant kinsman and respected magistrate</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Judith?

<p>Clara Wieland's maidservant</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wieland Overview

  • "Wieland" and "Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist" is a work by Charles Brockden Brown, published in 1798.
  • Recognized as the first American Gothic novel, characterized by themes of emotion, terror, madness, the supernatural, and moral dilemmas.

Setting & Context

  • Set during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), predating the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).

Narrative Structure

  • Narrated in first-person by Clara Wieland, who expresses her experiences through two letters detailing her life and reflections on tragedy.

Characters

  • Clara Wieland: The narrator; she received a secular education, displaying a volatile mix of rationality and emotional extremes. Often seen as an unreliable narrator.
  • Theodore Wieland: Clara's brother, deeply religious and melancholic; takes over the family farm and is influenced by Cicero.
  • Catharine Pleyel: Theodore's wife and Clara's closest childhood friend; characterized as sweet and nurturing but lacks depth in development.
  • Henry Pleyel: Catharine's brother, well-educated and rational; contrasts with the religious fervor seen in Theodore.
  • Francis Carwin: A complex figure in the Wieland household; an Englishman with a mysterious past, gifted in ventriloquism, leading to the family's downfall.

Elder Wieland

  • The father of Clara and Theodore, known for his extreme religiousness; his mysterious death is pivotal, occurring during an unexplained explosion that injured him.

Themes

  • Explores the tension between rationality and the supernatural.
  • Examines religious zealotry and its consequences on family dynamics, particularly through the characters of Clara and Theodore.

Key Events and Relationships

  • Clara's childhood relationship with Catharine shapes her character.
  • Theodore's inheritance leads him to agriculture, ultimately influenced by his father's religious fanaticism.
  • Voices play a significant role, with Wieland hearing Catharine’s voice, which impacts his mental state and actions.

Supporting Characters

  • Louisa Conway: Ward of the Wieland family, daughter of Major Stuart.
  • Mrs. Baynton: A minor family friend located in Philadelphia.
  • Major Stuart: Father of Louisa, seeking reconciliation with his daughter.
  • Maxwell: A deceitful rival to Major Stuart.
  • Judith: Clara's maidservant, involved with Carwin.

Tragic Outcomes

  • The book culminates in tragedy, reflecting on the themes of loss and the impact of violent events on familial relationships, while also posing questions about divine intervention versus nature's chaos.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Charles Brockden Brown's 'Wieland' with this study guide quiz. Explore key facts such as the publication year, setting, and its significance as a Gothic novel. Perfect for students delving into American literature.

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