Classic Literature Trivia Quiz
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Questions and Answers

In 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,' what magical country does the White Witch put a spell on so that it is always winter but never Christmas?

Narnia

'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus,' translated as 'Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon,' is the official motto for what fictional place of learning?

Hogwarts

Oakland, California features a neighborhood named after what author of 'The Call of the Wild,' who often frequented the area?

Jack London

Thestrals and Floo Powder are both forms of transportation invented by what internationally-renowned author?

<p>JK Rowling</p> Signup and view all the answers

What 1847 Emily Bronte classic deals with two West Yorkshire families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons?

<p>Wuthering Heights</p> Signup and view all the answers

Henry David Thoreau wrote about life in the woods in Massachusetts in what iconic 1854 work of nonfiction literature?

<p>Walden</p> Signup and view all the answers

A large portion of what 2001 Yann Martel novel features the title character stranded on a lifeboat after a shipwreck with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker?

<p>Life of Pi</p> Signup and view all the answers

The international publishing group Random House merged with what 'aviary' publisher in 2013?

<p>Penguin Group</p> Signup and view all the answers

'The Cricket on the Hearth' is a holiday novel by what British author?

<p>Charles Dickens</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the dancing clown in Stephen King's famed horror novel 'It'?

<p>Pennywise</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Dog doo good god!' is a sentence that reads the same backwards and forwards. This is an example of what literary device?

<p>Palindrome</p> Signup and view all the answers

Prolific author Carl Hiaasen made his first foray into young adult fiction with what four-letter owl-centric novel?

<p>Hoot</p> Signup and view all the answers

Code-switching and police violence are major themes in what 2017 young-adult novel by Angie Thomas?

<p>The Hate U Give</p> Signup and view all the answers

What British author wrote the classic 1964 children's novel 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'?

<p>Roald Dahl</p> Signup and view all the answers

Jack, Simon, Piggy, and Roger are four of the young characters that make up the cast in what 1954 novel?

<p>Lord of the Flies</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the 5 categories for the Nobel Prize?

<p>Peace, Chemistry, Literature, Medicine/Physiology, and Physics</p> Signup and view all the answers

Dwalin, Smaug's Delight, and Thorin Oakenshield are sandwiches at a Houston cafe named for what 1937 novel?

<p>The Hobbit (There and Back Again)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What 1938 Daphne Du Maurier novel is about a woman who marries a wealthy widower, only to find that he and his house are haunted by the titular dead wife's memory?

<p>Rebecca</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Alarm Will HOWL,' reads an emergency exit warning at a San Francisco museum dedicated to what mid-20th century literary movement?

<p>Beat</p> Signup and view all the answers

What 1945 British novel depicting animal life was often accompanied with the subtitle 'A Contemporary Satire'?

<p>Animal Farm</p> Signup and view all the answers

The title character of what Charlotte Bronte novel asks Mr. Rochester about her worth?

<p>Jane Eyre</p> Signup and view all the answers

What 'phony' and 'lousy' book by J.D. Salinger was Mark David Chapman holding when he killed John Lennon?

<p>Catcher in the Rye</p> Signup and view all the answers

What English writer was born Adeline Virginia Stephen in 1882 and is considered one of the most important 20th-century modernist writers?

<p>Virginia Woolf</p> Signup and view all the answers

What author, famous for writing 'The Outsiders' and 'Rumble Fish', set her 2004 novel, 'Hawkes Harbor', in Delaware?

<p>SE Hinton</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Going to the mattresses,' or hiding out from enemies, was a term popularized by what 1969 Mario Puzo novel?

<p>The Godfather</p> Signup and view all the answers

Likenesses of Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins splash in puddles in a Portland sculpture garden dedicated to what beloved children's lit author?

<p>Beverly Cleary</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the popular book about two families living in 1990s Shaker Heights?

<p>Little Fires Everywhere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What American novelist was born in 1931 and is known for her works including 'The Bluest Eye' and 'Beloved'?

<p>Toni Morrison</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to ancient Greek literature, Argos, the dog of what wayward king of Ithaca, died of joy after seeing his master?

<p>Odysseus</p> Signup and view all the answers

The O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) are traditionally taken at Hogwarts at the end of which school year?

<p>Fifth Year</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the Harry Potter books, how many total balls are used in a standard Quidditch match?

<p>4</p> Signup and view all the answers

What novel begins with the line, 'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born'?

<p>The Catcher in the Rye</p> Signup and view all the answers

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi was created by Rudyard Kipling in what anthology?

<p>'The Jungle Book'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What epic John Milton poem, first published in 1667, concerns the fall of Lucifer?

<p>Paradise Lost</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the narrator in 'The Great Gatsby' whose last name sounds a bit like departing while holding an object?

<p>Nick Carraway</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Cervantes's iconic work 'Don Quixote,' who is Quixote's companion who regularly quotes proverbs?

<p>Sancho Panza</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lilly 'Shug' Avery is a character in what award-winning epistolary novel by Alice Walker?

<p>The Color Purple</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'robot' was introduced in what form of literature by Karel Capek in 1920?

<p>Play</p> Signup and view all the answers

Set just before the American Revolution, what Newbery-winning novel's title character is a silversmith's apprentice?

<p>Johnny Tremain</p> Signup and view all the answers

What Shakespearean play, in which two couples wind up marrying, coined a modern-day term for an unnecessary dispute?

<p>Much Ado About Nothing</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Scarlett and Rhett's child in 'Gone with the Wind'?

<p>Bonnie</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty' in his poem, 'Ode on a Grecian Urn'?

<p>John Keats</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 1999 novel 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' was inspired by a painting with the same title by what Dutch artist?

<p>Vermeer</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the punctuation mark that is Greek for 'together'?

<p>Hyphen</p> Signup and view all the answers

What Boston neighborhood was home to Sylvia Plath, Robert Frost, and Louisa May Alcott?

<p>Beacon Hill</p> Signup and view all the answers

The collective name for owls is parliament. This noun arose because of a description of a meeting of owls in what author's works?

<p>CS Lewis</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what 1995 poem did Maya Angelou declare, 'Pretty women wonder where my secret lies'?

<p>Phenomenal Woman</p> Signup and view all the answers

What native Minnesotan won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his novel 'Main Street'?

<p>Sinclair Lewis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name some Daniel Hawthorne books.

<p>The Scarlet Letter 1850, Young Goodman Brown 1835, The House of 7 Gables 1851</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the shortest Shakespeare Play?

<p>The Comedy of Errors</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Shakespeare's longest play?

<p>Hamlet</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Measure for Measure, what is the name of the clown?

<p>Pompey</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Juliet's age in Romeo and Juliet?

<p>13</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which country was the tragedy Hamlet set in?

<p>Germany</p> Signup and view all the answers

Falstaff appears in which of William Shakespeare's plays?

<p>The Merry Wives of Windsor</p> Signup and view all the answers

'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players' is from which play?

<p>As You Like It</p> Signup and view all the answers

'All that glitters is not gold' is a famous line from which play?

<p>The Merchant of Venice</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind' is from which play?

<p>A Midsummer Night's Dream</p> Signup and view all the answers

I am one that loved not wisely but too well is a quote from which play?

<p>Othello</p> Signup and view all the answers

'A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!' is a quote from which play?

<p>Richard III</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Brevity is the soul of wit' is a quote from which play?

<p>Hamlet</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.' is from which play?

<p>Twelfth Night</p> Signup and view all the answers

Full fathom five thy father lies, of his bones are coral made. Those are pearls that were his eyes. is from which play?

<p>The Tempest</p> Signup and view all the answers

'How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!' is a quote from which play?

<p>King Lear</p> Signup and view all the answers

'To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.' is from which play?

<p>Hamlet</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Off with his head!' is a quote from which play?

<p>Richard III</p> Signup and view all the answers

The crime novel 'The Godfather', also a hit movie, was written by whom?

<p>Mario Puzo</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which Stephen King novel takes place mostly in the fictional Overlook Hotel?

<p>The Shining</p> Signup and view all the answers

What novel begins with: 'Call me Ishmael'?

<p>Moby Dick</p> Signup and view all the answers

What's the name of the first Harry Potter book?

<p>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis have in common?

<p>They both died on Nov 22, 1963, as did Kennedy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who introduced the phrase 'wear your heart on your sleeve'?

<p>Shakespeare</p> Signup and view all the answers

In George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', what type of animal is Boxer?

<p>A horse</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who did C.S. Lewis base the protagonist of his 'Space Trilogy' on?

<p>J.R.R. Tolkien</p> Signup and view all the answers

First published in 1842, 'The Masque of the Red Death' is a short story by which American writer?

<p>Edgar Allan Poe</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Charlotte's Web', 'The Trumpet of the Swan', and 'Stuart Little'?

<p>E.B. White</p> Signup and view all the answers

What novel ends with: 'It is a far better thing I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known'?

<p>A Tale of Two Cities</p> Signup and view all the answers

'2001: A Space Odyssey' features which artificially intelligent computer?

<p>HAL</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Harry Potter's best female friend?

<p>Hermione</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which town is the book 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee set?

<p>Maycomb, AL</p> Signup and view all the answers

Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights' recounts the tragic romance between which two lovers?

<p>Catherine and Heathcliff</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Rip Van Winkle'?

<p>Washington Irving</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the children's book 'Where the Wild Things Are'?

<p>Maurice Sendak</p> Signup and view all the answers

The hero Beowulf faces a monster known by what name?

<p>Grendel</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Literature Trivia Study Notes

  • Narnia, a magical country in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," is perpetually winter with no Christmas.
  • Hogwarts' official motto, "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus," translates to "Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon."
  • Jack London, the author of "The Call of the Wild," is associated with a neighborhood in Oakland, California.
  • J.K. Rowling invented Thestrals and Floo Powder, key transportation methods in the Harry Potter series.
  • "Wuthering Heights," published in 1847 by Emily Brontë, tells the story of Heathcliff and the Earnshaw family and was adapted into a 1939 film.
  • Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" (1854) reflects on life in the Massachusetts woods.
  • Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" (2001) features a character stranded on a lifeboat alongside a Bengal tiger.
  • Random House merged with Penguin Group in 2013, creating a significant publishing company.
  • "The Cricket on the Hearth" was authored by Charles Dickens, less famous than his other holiday work, "A Christmas Carol."
  • Pennywise is the notorious clown from Stephen King's horror novel "It."
  • A palindrome is exemplified by the phrase "Dog doo good god!" as it reads the same forwards and backwards.
  • Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot," centered on environmental themes, was a Newbery Medal honor book in 2002.
  • Angie Thomas's "The Hate U Give" (2017) tackles issues like code-switching and police violence.
  • Roald Dahl wrote the beloved children's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in 1964.
  • "Lord of the Flies" (1954) features young characters like Jack, Simon, Piggy, and Roger.
  • The Nobel Prize is awarded in five categories: Peace, Literature, Chemistry, Medicine/Physiology, and Physics.
  • The cafe in Houston named after "The Hobbit" (1937) features sandwiches inspired by characters like Dwalin and Smaug.
  • Daphne Du Maurier's 1938 novel "Rebecca" tells of a haunted house and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film.
  • The term "Beat" refers to a mid-20th century literary movement, with "Alarm Will HOWL" as a related phrase.
  • George Orwell's "Animal Farm" (1945) is a satirical portrayal of political life through animal characters.
  • Charlotte Brontë’s "Jane Eyre" has the protagonist questioning her worth in a conversation with Mr. Rochester.
  • J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" was a book held by Mark David Chapman during John Lennon’s assassination.
  • Virginia Woolf, born Adeline Virginia Stephen in 1882, is a noted 20th-century modernist writer known for "The Waves."
  • SE Hinton set her novel "Hawkes Harbor" in Delaware and is famous for works like "The Outsiders."
  • "The Godfather" (1969) popularized the phrase "going to the mattresses," referring to taking refuge from enemies.
  • A Portland sculpture garden celebrates children's author Beverly Cleary, featuring characters like Ramona Quimby.
  • Lois Lowry's "The Giver" won the 1994 Newbery Medal, focusing on Jonas's role as his community's memory Keeper.
  • Jane Austen's unfinished novel "Sanditon" was her last work before her 1817 death.
  • Virginia Woolf wrote standing, with classics like "Mrs. Dalloway" attributed to her unique process.
  • Augustus Gloop is remembered as a "great big greedy nincompoop" from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
  • Anne Brontë, sister to Charlotte and Emily, authored "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall."
  • Hedwig, Harry Potter's snowy owl, was a gifted birthday present from Hagrid.
  • "Little Women" parallels Louisa May Alcott’s own life experiences in 19th century America.
  • Joseph Heller’s "Catch-22" follows Capt. John Yossarian, an anti-war commentary on the absurdities of war.
  • "The Call of the Wild" illustrates Buck's transformation from domesticity to leadership in the animal kingdom.
  • Emily Dickinson, prolific yet under-published during her lifetime, penned notable poems about mortality.
  • John Milton's "Paradise Lost" (1667) narrates the biblical fall of Lucifer and Adam and Eve.
  • Charles Dickens introduces Pip in "Great Expectations," noting his background and self-identification.
  • Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" begins with the line "All this happened, more or less," blending science fiction and war.
  • "Little Fires Everywhere" centers on two families in 1990s Shaker Heights, sparked by a house catching fire.
  • Toni Morrison, an influential Ohioan author, won the Nobel Prize and penned works like "Beloved."
  • Argos is the loyal dog of Odysseus from ancient Greek literature, dying in joy upon reuniting with his master.
  • The O.W.L.s, or Ordinary Wizarding Levels, are significant tests taken at Hogwarts during the fifth year.
  • In Quidditch, four balls are utilized in a standard match.
  • Justin Trudeau earned a literature degree from McGill University.
  • "The Catcher in the Rye" opens with a distinct narrative voice, sharing the protagonist’s reflections.
  • Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a character in "The Jungle Book," is a mongoose known for its bravery.
  • Richard Adams developed Hazel, the rabbit in "Watership Down," inspired by his WWII experiences.
  • Nick Carraway is the narrator of "The Great Gatsby," with a last name suggesting departure.
  • In "Don Quixote," Sancho Panza is Quixote's loyal companion famed for his proverbs.
  • Alice Walker’s epistolary novel, "The Color Purple," features the character Lilly "Shug" Avery.
  • Karel Čapek introduced the concept of a "robot" in his 1920 play.
  • Virginia Woolf's "Orlando: A Biography" is a pioneering work of LGBTQ literature published in 1928.
  • Esther Forbes' "Johnny Tremain" explores themes of patriotism and rebellion before the American Revolution.
  • Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" introduced the term "much ado about nothing" to describe unnecessary disputes.
  • Scarlett and Rhett's child in "Gone with the Wind" is named Bonnie, reflecting the era’s sentiments.
  • John Keats wrote "Beauty is truth, truth beauty" in "Ode on a Grecian Urn," expressing timeless ideas.
  • Tracy Chevalier's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" is inspired by the work of Dutch artist Vermeer.
  • The hyphen, a punctuation mark, derives its name from Greek, meaning "together."
  • Beacon Hill in Boston was home to notable literary figures like Sylvia Plath and Louisa May Alcott.
  • C.S. Lewis described a collective of owls as a "parliament" in his works, enriching literary imagery.
  • Maya Angelou’s 1995 poem "Phenomenal Woman" addresses themes of self-acceptance and beauty.
  • Sinclair Lewis, a native Minnesotan, earned the Nobel Prize for his novel "Main Street."
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne's literary contributions include "The Scarlet Letter," "Young Goodman Brown," and "The House of 7 Gables."
  • "The Comedy of Errors" is recognized as Shakespeare's shortest play.
  • "Hamlet" stands as Shakespeare's longest play, celebrated for its complex themes.
  • Pompey is the name of the clown character in "Measure for Measure," bringing comedic relief.
  • Juliet, from "Romeo and Juliet," is portrayed as 13 years old, emphasizing young love's tragedy.
  • "Hamlet" is set in Denmark, contrasting with many of Shakespeare's other works.
  • Falstaff is a notable character in "The Merry Wives of Windsor," showcasing Shakespeare's comedic style.
  • "As You Like It" features the famous monologue, highlighting the theatrical nature of life.
  • "The Merchant of Venice" introduces the line, "All that glitters is not gold," reflecting societal illusions.
  • "A Midsummer Night's Dream" explores love's complexities through the quote on Cupid's blindness.
  • Othello highlights the consequence of love with the line about loving "not wisely but too well."
  • In "Richard III," the memorable line "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" reveals desperation.
  • Hamlet remarks, "Brevity is the soul of wit," underscoring the value of conciseness in communication.
  • "Twelfth Night" brings forth the idea that greatness can come from different paths and circumstances.
  • The Tempest features reflections on transformation and loss through "Full fathom five thy father lies."
  • King Lear captures the pain of ungratefulness with the line about thankless children.
  • Hamlet’s advice, "To thine own self be true," emphasizes authenticity as a moral guideline.
  • "Off with his head!" encapsulates the dramatic tone of "Richard III."
  • Mario Puzo authored "The Godfather," a seminal crime novel adapted into a highly successful film.
  • Stephen King’s "The Shining" predominantly occurs in the haunted Overlook Hotel, creating a chilling atmosphere.
  • "Moby Dick" begins with the famous line, "Call me Ishmael," introducing the iconic whaling narrative.
  • The first book in the Harry Potter series is "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

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Test your knowledge of classic literary works with this trivia quiz. Explore questions related to beloved stories and characters, including Narnia and Hogwarts. Challenge yourself and see how much you really know about these iconic tales!

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