Final Jeopardy: French Literature (11-18-14)
The Final Jeopardy question (11/18/2014), in the category “French Literature” was:
Its first chapter recalls “the little scallop-shell of pastry, so richly sensual under its severe, religious folds”.
The second semi-final match of the 2014 Tournament of Champions features Arthur Chu semi-finalist:$21,000; Mark Japinga, wild card winner $15,003; and Rebecca Rider, wild card winner $11,600.
Round 1: Arthur found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Battle Creek” under the $800 clue before the first break. He was in the lead with $2,600, $200 more than Mark in second place. He bet $1,000 and he was RIGHT.
Site of a Nov. 7, 1811 battle, this Indiana River got additional notoriety in an 1840 campaign of a different sort. show
Arthur finished in the lead with $6,800. Mark was second with $2,000 and Rebecca was last with $1,800.
Round 2: Arthur found the first Daily Double in “Quotes of Note” under the $1,600 clue. He was in the lead with $13,200, $9,600 ahead of Mark in second place. He bet $1,000 and he was RIGHT.
Churchill said he couldn’t forecast the action of Russia: “It is a riddle wrapped inside a mystery inside” this. show
Rebecca found the last Daily Double in “A Load of Odin” under the $1.600 clue. In second place with $4,600, she had $12,000 less than Arthur’s lead. “This may end up being the stupidest thing I ever say in my life,” she said and made it a true Daily Double. It wasn’t because she was RIGHT.
Odin’s sons by Frigga were Hermod, Hodur & this beloved son who died in a tragic accident. show
Arthur finished in the lead with $17,800. Rebecca was next with $12,800 and Mark was in third place with $8,000.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
The clue is Marcel Proust’s description of a madeleine cake near the end of the first chapter (Overture) of “Swann’s Way”. To many, the madeleine is the ultimate symbol of Proustian memory. In his 1931 essay, Proust
“…involuntary memory is an unruly magician and will not be importuned. It chooses its own time and place for the performance of its miracle. I do not know how often this miracle recurs in Proust. I think twelve or thirteen times. But the first– the famous episode of the madeleine steeped in tea– would justify the assertion that his entire book is a monument to involuntary memory and the epic of its action. The whole of Proust’s world comes out of a teacup, and not merely Combray and his childhood.”
“Swann’s Way” is freely available to read online or download in several formats on Project Gutenberg. There are also audio readings on youtube in French and English.
Mark thought it was “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He bet and lost it all.
Rebecca came up with “Les Miserables” She lost her $7,000 bet and finished with $5,800.
Arthur got it right, as you probably figured since he was done writing his answer before Mark and Rebecca even began! His $7,801 bet brought him up to $25,601 and the Chu/Collins final is on.
Tomorrow we will find out who will join Arthur and Julia. Will it be Ben Ingram, Joshua Brakhage or Sandie Baker?
2 years ago:: TWO of the players got this FJ in “U.S. CONSTITUTION”
Found in Article 3, Section 3, & requiring the testimony of 2 witnesses to prove, it’s the only crime defined in the Constitution. show
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I was surprised only one contestant got fj correct. Marcel Proust’s work is a Jeopardy fav. It was a clue earlier this year and has been a clue almost every year on Jeopardy. It shows that Arthur Chu did his “homework.”
Several champion contestants over past years have said the best way to prepare for Jeopardy is to watch the show. I’ve found that to be true. The writers are repetitive in some areas and dig up old clues.
It helps to have a good memory, too, which Arthur Chu seems to have.
Why did he mispronounce “harem” every time he said it?
Alex said Arthur Chu provided the “secondary title” for Proust’s work. Actually In Search of Lost Time is the current preferred translation of the original French title. A Remembrance of Things Past is not a translation at all but a fancier alternative title (quoted from Shakespeare) given by the original English translator.
That’s true, Brichot, but Alex is old school 🙂
Does anyone know how much money the losers get this week?
The semi-finalists who are out go home with $10K; the prizes for the 3 finalists are $250K winner, $100K 2nd place, $50K 3rd place.
Here’s what Alex said today: “Getting to play in the finals later this week is quite an accomplishment but the money’s important, also. Whoever wins today’s game– and any of the semi-finals– is guaranteed a $50,000 prize later in the week. Of course, $250,000 for our champion.”
I heard that. I thought it was strange he didn’t say what 2nd place would earn. I assumed it would be 100,000.. I thought the eliminated semi-finalists might get more. I guess this is the same as the last TOC in early 2013.
Rebecca should have wagered between $0-2800 so as to win on a triple stumper. It didn’t matter anyway. The Chu in primetime again Thu and Fri.
and i have a feeling he will roll over everybody, unless he gets a fj category on both days where he has NO clue whatsoever. but today: my respects. imo it was the toughest fj in a long time. as i said, today i was predicting 1 or no solve. IF one would get it, my guess would not have been chu, but a deserved win, anyway you slice it.
Well, there is no question that Arthur prepared himself thoroughly. You could tell he knew whether he knew the answer or not half-way through any given clue and Arthur’s buzzer speed seemed to really throw Mark Japinga off his game. Does not bode well for Julia since she may still be feeling under the weather.
just as i said a few days ago: the road to win it all goes through chu. i am surprised though that he got today’s fj right. i was leaning to 1 or none (CotD talk), but more towards none.
you have to hand it to arthur: well done!
and he would have won with 9.999, even if he had missed.imo a pretty difficult fj for quite a while.