Final Jeopardy: American Literature (4-7-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (4/7/2025) in the category “American Literature” was:
His 1821 novel was inspired by stories told to him by John Jay of Jay’s experiences with spies during the revolution
New champ Mike Dawson, a technology manager from Portland, OR, won $21,601 last Friday. In Game 2, he is up against: Erin Li, a psychiatrist from Queens, NY; and Taylor Mattox, an IT specialist from Columbus, OH.
Round 1 Categories: Nameless in Shakespeare – Gang “Way” – Ear, Ear – Movie Title Fill in the Blank – Fine – Dandy
Mike found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Nameless in Shakespeare” under the $1,000 on the 2nd pick of the round. Nobody was on the board yet. Mike bet $1,000 and he was RIGHT.
All 5 words of it, it’s the most famous line spoken by the Soothsayer in “Julius Caesar” show
Mike finished in the lead with $8,000. Erin was second with $3,600 and Taylor was last with $1,800. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Malice in Wonderland – Medieval Histories – Scrabble Scores – Habitats for Humanity – On the “M”ap – Her Mom’s a Singer
Erin found the first Daily Double in “On the ‘M’ap” under the $2,000 clue on the 3rd pick of the round. She was in second place with $6,000, $2,000 less than Mike’s lead. Erin bet $3,000 and she was RIGHT.
Southwest of Sri Lanka is this archipelago of some 1,200 islands, of which 200 are inhabited show
Taylor found the last Daily Double in “Medieval History” under the $1,200 clue on the 11th pick of the round. He was in last place with $3,000, $11,800 less than Mike’s lead. Taylor bet $3,000 and said the Killers. That was funny but it was WRONG.
The “Chronicon Regum Legionensium” is the “Chronicle of” them– Spanish rulers, not a 21st century rock band show
Mike finished in the lead with $18,800 but his score got bumped up to $22,000 on a reversal (see below(w. Erin was second with $15,000 and Taylor was last with $3,600. All clues were shown.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHO IS JAMES FENIMORE COOPER?
James Fenimore Cooper is most well known for “The Leatherstocking Tales”, particularly “The Last of the Mohicans”. Before that, Cooper’s 1821 novel “The Spy” became the first American bestseller, bringing him fame and fortune in America and abroad. “The Spy” is available on Project Gutenberg and also as an audiobook on YouTube.
Founding father and first Chief Justice John Jay was a friend and neighbor of Cooper. Jay has been called the Founding Father of Counterintelligence for his role as a “spymaster” during the Revolutionary War. A story Jay told Cooper about a spy he recruited is said to have been the inspiration for Cooper’s fictional spy, Harvey Birch. At some point after the novel’s publication, the real spy in question was said to be Enoch Crosby.
Taylor thought it was Nathaniel Hawthorne. He lost $3,000 and finished with $600.
Erin tried Crane. She bet and lost her whole $15,000.
Mike went with Irving, the other well-known American author in 1821. Mike lost $8,001 but won the game with the remaining $13,199. His 2-day total is $35,600.
Reversal: HABITATS FOR HUMANITY ($1600) The terms “granny flat” & “in-law suite” have given way to ADU, short for this unit – Mike’s response of ‘alternative dwelling unit’ was rejected. Ken said it was “close, but it’s actually an accessory or additional dwelling unit.” The judges decided that ‘alternative’ was an acceptable alternative.
A triple stumper from each round:
NAMELESS IN SHAKESPEARE ($800) In “Henry V” the guy with this job of announcing & proclaiming has a name, Montjoy; in “Othello” he’s nameless
MEDIEVAL HISTORIES ($2000) Andrew of Wyntoun’s “Orygynale Cronykil” of this land includes the tale of “Thre Werd Systrys”
2 years ago: ALL of the players got this FJ in “FAMOUS NAMES”
In 1966, the year of his death, he shared plans for an experimental prototype community in Florida show
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I was 0/3 on DD (in the words of dear departed Alex, “ooh, so close”, though!). For FJ, I said Irving. My wife, though – who decried knowledge of American Lit, saying early British was her thing – said Cooper. Score for her!
I pointed out to my wife about Mike’s height. The platform paradigm they have to equal heights gets busted when there is someone that tall.
Tough Final, only name I could muster was Hawthorne.
Missed first half of show and got only the middle DD. Didn’t know till just now about the reversal. I thought Mike would get that because ADUs are kind of a big deal in Portland. They gave it to him, but the proper word is accessory.
Erin should have wagered $7001. It cost her the 2nd place money.
Mike is without question a big guy as he towers over everybody else. Anyways, I performed somewhat below average in the game, and the F had simply baffled me.
We begin the week with a triple stumper since today’s final was tough.