Simone de Beauvoir

Question 1

What year was Simone de Beauvoir born?

Answer 1

1908

Question 2

Where was Simone de Beauvoir born?

Answer 2

Paris, France

Question 3

Who was Simone de Beauvoir’s lifelong intellectual companion?

Answer 3

Jean-Paul Sartre

Question 4

Which work is Simone de Beauvoir best known for?

Answer 4

The Second Sex

Question 5

Fill in the blank: Simone de Beauvoir is known for saying ‘One is not born, but rather becomes, a _____.

Answer 5

woman

Question 6

What is the main subject of ‘The Second Sex’?

Answer 6

The role of women in society and the concept of ‘Otherness’

Question 7

What major philosophical movement was Simone de Beauvoir associated with?

Answer 7

Existentialism

Question 8

Which of Simone de Beauvoir’s novels won the Prix Goncourt in 1954?

Answer 8

The Mandarins

Question 9

During which major historical events did Simone de Beauvoir live?

Answer 9

World War I, World War II, and post-war cultural shifts

Question 10

What societal movement in the 1960s and 1970s was heavily influenced by Simone de Beauvoir’s writings?

Answer 10

Second-wave feminism

Question 11

Fill in the blank: Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophy examined the complexities of human freedom, responsibility, and _____.

Answer 11

oppression

Question 12

Which famous work of Simone de Beauvoir laid the groundwork for modern feminist theory?

Answer 12

The Second Sex

Question 13

What concept did Simone de Beauvoir explore to describe how society positions women as the ‘Other’?

Answer 13

Otherness

Question 14

How did Simone de Beauvoir’s relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre differ from traditional relationships?

Answer 14

They had a non-monogamous, open relationship based on freedom.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: Simone de Beauvoir’s work influenced feminist theory as well as _____ and _____ studies.

Answer 15

postcolonial, queer

Question 16

Which institution banned Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘The Second Sex’?

Answer 16

The Vatican

Question 17

What was a major criticism that Simone de Beauvoir faced regarding her personal life?

Answer 17

Her unconventional relationship with Sartre and alleged affairs with students

Question 18

Name a political cause Simone de Beauvoir supported in the 1960s.

Answer 18

Reproductive rights or opposition to torture in Algeria

Question 19

Which of Simone de Beauvoir’s works is an autobiographical account of her intellectual development?

Answer 19

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter

Question 20

Fill in the blank: Despite being an atheist, Simone de Beauvoir’s mother was devoutly _____.

Answer 20

Catholic

Question 21

What ritual did Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre practice yearly regarding their romantic relationships?

Answer 21

They ranked each other’s affairs.

Question 22

Why is ‘The Second Sex’ considered a foundational text in feminist theory?

Answer 22

It critiques the societal structures that oppress women and presents the concept of ‘Otherness’.

Question 23

How did Simone de Beauvoir challenge traditional views on marriage and motherhood?

Answer 23

She critiqued them as oppressive structures for women.

Question 24

What was one of the main themes in Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialist writings?

Answer 24

The exploration of freedom and responsibility

Question 25

How is Simone de Beauvoir remembered today?

Answer 25

As an iconic feminist and existentialist philosopher whose work continues to influence feminist theory and social justice movements.

Question 26

Which key feminist revival movement saw renewed importance in Simone de Beauvoir’s work?

Answer 26

Second-wave feminism

Question 27

Name a lesser-known fact about Simone de Beauvoir’s travels that influenced her perspective.

Answer 27

She traveled to the U.S. and met intellectuals like Nelson Algren and Richard Wright.