Final Jeopardy: Modern American Novels (11-25-11)
The Final Jeopardy question (11/25/2011) in the category “Modern American Novels” was:
The title of this 1981 Pulitzer Prize winner comes from a Jonathan Swift line about how lesser minds unite to oppose genius.
Yesterday’s champ, Ann Thurlow from New Jersey returned on Black Friday to take on two new challengers: James Ruchala,, from North Carolina, and Kendra Anspaugh, from Louisiana.
In the Jeopardy! round, James found the Daily Double in the category “It’s the Humility.” With $6,200, he had an $1,800 lead and decided to bet $2,000. He got the RIGHT answer and another $200 clue.
In 2011, this politician said he didn’t deserve the honor of having the Wilmington, Del. train station named after him. show
James finished in the lead with $8,400. Kendra was next with $6,600. Ann had $3,200 (a lot more than she had at the end of the Jeopardy round yesterday).
Kendra got the first Double Jeopardy Daily Double in “Lonely Island.” She chose to bet $5,000 of her $8,200, got it RIGHT and jumped right into the lead.
The name given to these islands when they were annexed by the U.S. in 1867 reflected their position between America & Asia. show
Then she got the second Daily Double in “Halogens.” Kendra made a bold $10,000 bet and succeeded in giving the RIGHT reply, bringing her score to $28,000.
“All isotopes of astatines, the heaviest halogen, are this, which is why they have half-lives.” show
Kendra finished Double Jeopardy with an amazing $34,800. James was second with $17,600 and at least a chance in Final Jeopardy. Ann didn’t have a prayer with $1,600.
TWO of the contestants had the correct Final Jeopardy answer:
WHAT IS A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES?
“… an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy Toole’s hero is one Ignatius J. Reilly, huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, and a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original character, denizens of New Orleans’ lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures” (Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun Times)
John Kennedy Toole was awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously. He committed suicide in 1969 and his mother, Thelma, helped get “A Confederacy of Dunces” published in 1980. Toole’s middle name had nothing to do with the Kennedy family, but was a name from his mother’s side. JFK was 20 years old when Toole was born.
Ann got it right, making a surprising bet of nothing (because she has always done well in lit categories) so she finished with $1,600.
James also got it right, also making a surprising bet of $400 (we thought he would bet it all except the obligatory dollar– and he could have won!). So he finished with $18,000.
Kendra had no idea what it was. She bet $500. Her final score of $34,300 made her today’s champion.
