Final Jeopardy: Books of the 1970s (4-28-22)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (4/28/2022) in the category “Books of the 1970s” was:
Aptly, members of a black family in this novel have biblical names: Pilate, Hagar & the title one, an ancestor of the protagonist
17x champ Mattea Roach, a tutor from Toronto, Ontario, has now won $396,182. In Game 18, her opponents are: Renée Russell, a branch office administrator from Baltimore, MD; and Manav Jain, an undergraduate student from Clemson, SC.
Round 1 Categories: Old York – Movies”!” – Poets & Poetry – Iron – Landmarks – Rhymes with These
Renée found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Iron” under the $600 clue with 3 clues left after it. She was in third place with $2,400, $6,200 less than Mattea’s lead. Renée bet $2,000 and she was RIGHT.
At about 1,000 feet, it was the tallest iron structure in the world when it was completed in 1889 show
Mattea finished in the lead with $9,800. Renée was second with $5,200 and Manav was last with $3,000. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Philosophy – Celebrity Sibling Surnames – Double Double-Letter Words – North America – Catching You Short – Ballet & Opera
Mattea found the first Daily Double in “Philosophy” under the $1,600 clue on the fourth clue of the round. She was in the lead with $12,200, $7,000 more than Renée in second place. Mattea bet $2,000 and she was RIGHT.
It’s the philosophical study of art & of the judgments of art & beauty show
Renée got the last Daily Double in “Ballet & Opera” under the $400 clue with 4 clues left after it. She was in second place with $16,000, $4,600 less than Mattea’s lead. Renée bet $5,000 and she was RIGHT.
M-m-m-my Verona! On February 9, 1965 Nureyev & Fonteyn danced this ever-doomed couple in London show
Mattea finished in the lead with $22,600. Renée was hot on her heels with $21,000. Manav was last with $600. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS “SONG OF SOLOMON”?
Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison published her third novel “Song of Solomon” in 1977. the protagonist is Macon “Milkman” Dead III. Solomon is his great-grandfather and the song the title refers to reflects the experience of Milkman’s great-grandmother, Ryna: “O Solomon don’t leave me here,” but Solomon does. From SparkNotes: “Even though Solomon’s flight dooms Ryna to abandonment and his children to orphanhood, the song suggests that his flight is still a magnificent achievement.”
“Song of Solomon” is also the name of an Old Testament book (aka “Song of Songs”). The Bible book was the topic of the last Daily Double in the April 21, 2022 Jeopardy! game.
Manav didn’t have a response. He lost his $100 bet and finished with $500.
Renée thought it was “Roots”. She lost $19,799 and was left with $1,201.
Mattea got it right. She bet $19,401 and won the game with $42,001. Her 18-day total is $438,183.
2 triple stumpers from BALLET & OPERA:
($1600) An opera with hitmen? I’m in! This Verdi title jester wants revenge on the Duke of Mantua & hires Sparafucile to kill him
($2000) Early in Act 2 in an Adolphe Adam classic ballet, Hilarion mourns at the grave of this title woman
2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “Statesmen”
The first Asian to accept the Nobel Peace Prize was the PM of this country who in 1967 renounced use of nuclear weapons show
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@Jason, I learned on the GMA clip this morning that Mattea went to Catholic high school and says a Hail Mary before the game starts. That and watching her reaction after her big bet convinced me more than ever that my assessment of her betting habits is correct. To me it came off like she took an educated guess on the Toni Morrison book and she was fully expecting fate to show up and clobber her because of the big bet. As she confirmed to Ken, she couldn’t believe it! 🤣🤣🤣
Whereas, I don’t see it as a big bet, but, just like the $1 bet, she bet whatever was needed plus one. It’s just that Renée wasn’t as inept as many of the prior challengers. It brings to my mind the early game where the player in 3rd place was the only one to get FJ correct, but made the wrong call as the amount to wager, and Mattea slid by.
Louis, thanks for your comments! I was proud to make Mattea sweat!!!
I was particularly impressed with your getting the “Death Be Not Proud” poet, Renée. Bravo! Thanks for making the match so much better
I got all the TS on page 2, except the North America one. Irony? I saw one of those a few years ago, and took a picture of it! Just couldn’t remember the name!
I didn’t know FJ, so, got it wrong. Mattea made the right bet. Renée didn’t. Maybe, although I certainly don’t expect it, she’ll get a feeling for exciting bets. And, I’m hoping strong challengers continue.
Very impressive. I knew the Brazilian mountain, guessed the runway STOL, and Charlemagne’s dad. Was clueless on the final.
I agree with what you said about Renee’s FJ wager. $1601 would have been enough, as Mattea had to be wrong for her to win, and it was certain she’d bet $19401. Renee guaranteed herself 2nd place with $1201 with her wager which locked out Manav from second if he’d wagered $600 and been correct. But a $1600 wager would have won her the game if both women were wrong, whereas her $19799 wager guaranteed Mattea the win if both were wrong.
All that said, Renee put up a hell of a fight.
Mattea found the first DJ Daily Double under the 1600 clue, not the 1200.
As always, thanks for a great job!
A big win once again for mattea with that big bet. Renee definitely made our champion work for it. So there is a chance she could be in the second chance tournament.
This was a close call and another scare survival for our champ. Congrats to her. Pretty soon mattea will surpass Julia Collins. Both mattea and Renee were fast on the buzzer finger.