The Gulf Stream by Winslow Homer (USA — 1899) — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What is remarkable and causes much discussion about Winslow Homer's painting 'The Gulf Stream'?

Choices

  1. A) It shows a happy fisherman dancing.
  2. B) The artist fully explained the fisherman's future.
  3. C) The painting is very small and easy to carry.
  4. D) The fisherman's fate is a mystery that Homer never fully answered. ✓

Answer: D) The fisherman's fate is a mystery that Homer never fully answered.

From page 1

What did young Winslow Homer realize about the sea while sketching in Maine?

Choices

  1. A) It was only a quiet background for his pictures.
  2. B) It was a character with its own feelings and stories. ✓
  3. C) It was a good place to find buried treasure.
  4. D) It was too scary to paint.

Answer: B) It was a character with its own feelings and stories.

From page 2

How did Winslow Homer's experiences during the American Civil War affect his later art?

Choices

  1. A) They made him want to paint only happy pictures of parties.
  2. B) They helped him paint strong people facing hard times. ✓
  3. C) They made him stop painting forever.
  4. D) They taught him how to build army forts.

Answer: B) They helped him paint strong people facing hard times.

From page 3

Why did Winslow Homer enjoy using watercolor for his paintings?

Choices

  1. A) It was the only paint he could find at the store.
  2. B) It helped him quickly paint how light looked and felt. ✓
  3. C) It made all his paintings look blurry and unclear.
  4. D) It was very difficult to use and he liked challenges.

Answer: B) It helped him quickly paint how light looked and felt.

From page 4

What inspired Winslow Homer during his trip to the Bahamas?

Choices

  1. A) The cold weather and dark clouds.
  2. B) The bright colors of the water, sun, and local culture. ✓
  3. C) New types of airplanes flying overhead.
  4. D) Quiet places to read books all day.

Answer: B) The bright colors of the water, sun, and local culture.

From page 5

Which French Realist painter did Winslow Homer admire for his bold paintings of nature?

Choices

  1. A) Nathaniel
  2. B) Gustave Courbet ✓
  3. C) Arthur
  4. D) Nikhil

Answer: B) Gustave Courbet

From page 6

How did some critics describe Winslow Homer's later paintings of the sea?

Choices

  1. A) Very cheerful and full of joy.
  2. B) Too sad and without much hope. ✓
  3. C) The prettiest and most romantic pictures ever.
  4. D) Full of funny animals and bright flowers.

Answer: B) Too sad and without much hope.

From page 7

Which quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson did Winslow Homer find inspiring for his art?

Choices

  1. A) "A stitch in time saves nine."
  2. B) "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ✓
  3. C) "All that glitters is not gold."
  4. D) "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

Answer: B) "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

From page 8

How did Winslow Homer want to show the sea and life's realities in his paintings?

Choices

  1. A) He wanted to make them look as pretty and romantic as possible.
  2. B) He wanted to show them directly and honestly, without making them seem softer or nicer. ✓
  3. C) He wanted to hide what was really happening in the sea.
  4. D) He only wanted to paint things that made people feel comfortable.

Answer: B) He wanted to show them directly and honestly, without making them seem softer or nicer.

From page 9

What does 'The Gulf Stream' continue to help people do when they see it today?

Choices

  1. A) It tells them exactly what happened to the fisherman.
  2. B) It makes them feel tired and bored.
  3. C) It helps them think about life's challenges and human strength. ✓
  4. D) It reminds them to go sailing right away on a boat.

Answer: C) It helps them think about life's challenges and human strength.

From page 10