Final Jeopardy: Literary Influences (11-7-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (11/7/2013) in the category “Literary Influences” was:

The “Gossip Girl” series was inspired by this Pulitzer Prize winning novel, also set in NYC but 120 years earlier.

2-day champ Rani Peffer has won $28,712 so far. On her third go-round, she is up against these two players: Sarah Orman, from Shoreview, MN; and Adam Johnston, from Mechanicsville, MD.

Adam found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Around the USA.” He was in second place with $800, $2,000 behind Rani’s lead. He bet the $1,000 allowance and he was RIGHT.

As the U.S. expanded its territory westward, this point moved from the east coast in 1776 to South Dakota in 1959 with the addition of Alaska and Hawaii. show

WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER?

Rani finished in the lead with $8,600. Adam was second with $3,400 and Sarah was last with $1,800.

Adam found the first Daily Double in “British Prime Ministers.” He was in second place with $8,200, $1,600 less than Rani’s lead. He bet $6,000 and guessed Disraeli. That was WRONG.

The longest serving Labour Prime Minister ever. show

WHO IS TONY BLAIR?

Rani found the last Daily Double in “On the Wall.” In the lead with $14,600, she had $10,000 more than Adam in second place. She bet $1,200 and thought it was the Louvre. That was WRONG.

On the wall of this museum is a portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna as a child (1712-13) by Ivan Nikitin. show

WHAT IS THE HERMITAGE?

Rani finished in the lead with a runaway $14,200. Sarah was next with $5,000 and Adam was in third place with $4,600.

NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS “THE AGE OF INNOCENCE”?

Edith Wharton was the first female recipient of a Pulitzer prize for literature for her 1920 novel. “Like many of Wharton’s books, The Age of Innocence was a critique of the insularity and hypocrisy of the upper class in turn-of-the-century New York. The book has inspired several stage and screen adaptations, and the writer Cecily Von Ziegesar has said that it was the model for her popular Gossip Girl series of books.” (History.com: Famous First in American Women’s History)

Adam wrote down “The Great Gatsby.” He lost this $3,000 bet and finished with $1,600.

Sarah began writing “Bonfire of the Vanities” but didn’t get much of it in. She lost $4,300, finishing with $700.

Rani wrote down “Dangerous Liaisons.” She bet and lost $1,777 so she won the game with $12,423. Her 3-day total is $41,135.

Today’s trip giveaway: Southeast Alaska