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Thomas Mann was born in Hamburg, Germany, on July 6, 1875.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source indicates Thomas Mann was born on June 6, 1875, in the Free City of Lübeck, Germany.
Thomas Mann's mother, Julia da Silva Bruhns, was of solely German ancestry.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Mann's mother, Julia da Silva Bruhns, had ancestry that included Brazilian, German, and Portuguese heritage, not solely German.
Thomas Mann pursued higher education primarily in law and philosophy before focusing on journalism.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mann initially studied science and later attended universities in Munich where he focused on history, economics, art history, and literature, preparing for a career in journalism, rather than law or philosophy.
Thomas Mann's primary occupations were novelist and playwright.
Answer: False
Explanation: While primarily a novelist, Thomas Mann also worked as a journalist and literary critic; he was not known as a playwright.
The novella *Death in Venice* and the novel *The Magic Mountain* are considered among Thomas Mann's most notable literary works.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source explicitly lists these works among his most significant literary achievements.
Thomas Mann began his writing career with the publication of his novel *Buddenbrooks* in 1898.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Mann began his writing career with contributions to *Simplicissimus* and the publication of his first short story, “Little Herr Friedemann” (*Der Kleine Herr Friedemann*), in 1898. *Buddenbrooks* was published later, in 1901.
Thomas Mann's novel *Buddenbrooks* was inspired by his experiences visiting a sanatorium in Switzerland.
Answer: False
Explanation: *Buddenbrooks* was inspired by his family background and social class in Lübeck. His experiences visiting a sanatorium in Switzerland inspired *The Magic Mountain*.
The novella *Death in Venice* explores themes of forbidden desire and mortality through the character of Gustav von Aschenbach.
Answer: True
Explanation: The novella centers on the artist Gustav von Aschenbach's obsession with the young Tadzio, exploring themes of forbidden desire, beauty, and mortality.
Which of the following is NOT listed as one of Thomas Mann's notable literary works in the source?
Answer: *The Sorrows of Young Werther*
Explanation: The source lists *Doctor Faustus*, *The Magic Mountain*, and *Joseph and His Brothers* as notable works. *The Sorrows of Young Werther* is by Goethe and not attributed to Mann.
Thomas Mann's novel *Buddenbrooks* is described as drawing heavily from which aspect of his life?
Answer: His family background and social class in Lübeck.
Explanation: *Buddenbrooks*, Mann's first novel, drew significantly from his own hanseatic family background and social class in Lübeck, chronicling the decline of a merchant family.
What event inspired Thomas Mann to write his novel *The Magic Mountain*?
Answer: His wife's treatment at a sanatorium in Switzerland.
Explanation: Mann was inspired to write *The Magic Mountain* after visiting his wife, Katia, who was undergoing treatment for tuberculosis at a sanatorium in Davos, Switzerland.
Which of Thomas Mann's works features the character Adrian Leverkühn and explores the corruption of German culture?
Answer: *Doctor Faustus*
Explanation: The novel *Doctor Faustus* features the composer Adrian Leverkühn and uses his life story to explore the corruption of German culture and the rise of Nazism.
Thomas Mann's first short story, published in 1898, was titled:
Answer: *Little Herr Friedemann*
Explanation: Thomas Mann's first short story, published in 1898, was titled "Little Herr Friedemann" (*Der Kleine Herr Friedemann*).
Which of the following is a novella written by Thomas Mann, according to the source?
Answer: *Mario and the Magician*
Explanation: The source lists *Mario and the Magician* among Thomas Mann's notable novellas, alongside works like *Death in Venice* and *Tonio Kröger*.
Thomas Mann's writing was significantly influenced by authors like Leo Tolstoy and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mann's work was influenced by literary predecessors such as Theodor Fontane and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, as well as philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, who informed his exploration of themes like decay and creativity.
Which philosophical concept from Arthur Schopenhauer significantly influenced Thomas Mann's exploration of decline and decay?
Answer: The World as Will and Representation
Explanation: Arthur Schopenhauer's concept of "The World as Will and Representation" provided philosophical inspiration for Mann, particularly influencing his exploration of decline and decay in works like *Buddenbrooks*.
Thomas Mann's characteristic writing style, described as “gravely-mischievous,” was partly inspired by which earlier author?
Answer: Theodor Fontane
Explanation: Thomas Mann's distinctive "gravely-mischievous" style, characterized by a blend of solemnity and ironic humor, was partly inspired by the earlier author Theodor Fontane.
Thomas Mann's full name was Paul Thomas Mann, and he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source states he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, not 1932. His full name was Paul Thomas Mann.
Thomas Mann was awarded the Nobel Prize mainly for his contributions to German journalism and his critical essays.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Nobel Committee cited his achievements with his novels and short stories, recognizing their "highly symbolic and ironic insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual."
What was the primary reason cited by the Nobel Committee for awarding Thomas Mann the Prize in Literature?
Answer: His symbolic and ironic insight into the psychology of the artist and intellectual, particularly through his novels and short stories.
Explanation: The Nobel Committee recognized his "highly symbolic and ironic insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual, particularly through his novels and short stories."
Thomas Mann received which German literary award in 1949?
Answer: The Goethe Prize
Explanation: Thomas Mann was awarded the Goethe Prize in 1949.
After fleeing Germany in 1933, Thomas Mann immediately became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Answer: False
Explanation: After fleeing Germany in 1933, Mann resided in Switzerland and later the United States, becoming a naturalized US citizen in 1944, not immediately. His German citizenship was revoked in 1936.
Thomas Mann fled Germany in 1933 due to political persecution following the rise of the Nazi party.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mann departed Germany in 1933 following Hitler's ascent to power, as his critical stance towards the Nazi regime made his continued presence unsafe.
Thomas Mann delivered anti-Nazi speeches via the BBC during World War II.
Answer: True
Explanation: During World War II, Mann actively opposed Nazism by delivering anti-Nazi speeches via the BBC and recording broadcasts from the U.S. to reach German listeners.
Thomas Mann believed German citizens bore no collective guilt for the actions of the Nazi regime.
Answer: False
Explanation: In a 1945 BBC broadcast, Mann acknowledged the concept of German collective guilt among nations affected by Nazi actions, while also noting the complexities of individual justice.
Thomas Mann's political stance during World War I was liberal and anti-monarchist.
Answer: False
Explanation: During World War I, Mann adopted a conservative stance, supporting the German monarchy and the war effort, as articulated in his work *Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man*.
Which of the following was NOT a country where Thomas Mann resided after fleeing Germany in 1933?
Answer: France
Explanation: After leaving Germany in 1933, Mann resided in Switzerland and the United States. The source does not mention France or Czechoslovakia as places of residence during this period.
Thomas Mann's German citizenship was revoked in 1936 by which entity?
Answer: The Nazi government
Explanation: The Nazi government revoked Thomas Mann's German citizenship in 1936, following his departure from Germany in 1933 due to his opposition to the regime.
During World War II, Thomas Mann actively opposed the Nazi regime by:
Answer: Delivering anti-Nazi speeches via the BBC and recording broadcasts.
Explanation: Mann actively opposed the Nazi regime by delivering anti-Nazi speeches via the BBC and recording broadcasts from the U.S. to reach German listeners.
In his 1922 essay “On the German Republic,” Thomas Mann advocated for:
Answer: Intellectuals to support the newly established Weimar Republic.
Explanation: In his 1922 essay "On the German Republic," Mann urged German intellectuals to support and defend the newly established Weimar Republic.
During the Cold War, Thomas Mann faced scrutiny from which U.S. committee due to accusations of communist sympathies?
Answer: The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
Explanation: During the Cold War, Thomas Mann faced scrutiny from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) due to accusations of communist sympathies.
Thomas Mann's older brother, Heinrich Mann, was also a renowned novelist, and three of Thomas's children became significant writers.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms Heinrich Mann was a notable writer, and Erika, Klaus, and Golo Mann achieved literary significance.
Thomas Mann supported the decriminalization of homosexual acts in Germany and signed a relevant petition in 1922.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mann signed a petition in 1922 advocating for the abolition of Section 175 of the German Criminal Code, which criminalized homosexual acts.
Thomas Mann's diaries revealed personal struggles primarily related to which aspect of his life?
Answer: His attraction to men and bisexuality.
Explanation: Thomas Mann's diaries revealed significant personal struggles related to his attraction to men and his bisexuality, which also found expression in his literary works.
Thomas Mann died in Zurich, Switzerland, from complications related to pneumonia.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Mann died in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 12, 1955, from complications related to a perforated iliac artery aneurysm, not pneumonia.
The “Buddenbrookhaus” in Lübeck, significant to Thomas Mann's family, now serves as a museum dedicated to his life and work.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Buddenbrookhaus in Lübeck, the family home depicted in his novel, is preserved as a museum honoring Thomas Mann's life and literary contributions.