American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the title of the 1855 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne recounting a fictionalized version of the 1692 Salem witch trials?

1. The Scarlet Letter

2. The Crucible

3. Moby Dick

4. The minister’s Black Veil

The correct answer is: The Crucible

The Scarlet Letter is incorrect because it was published in 1850, five years before the novel referenced in the question. Moby Dick is incorrect because it was published in 1851, four years before the novel referenced in the question. The minister’s Black Veil is incorrect because it is a short story, not a novel. The Crucible is the correct answer because it was published in 1855 and is a fictionalized version of the Salem witch trials, which is the focus of the question. It is important to pay attention to the dates and the type of literary work to determine the correct answer.