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Fragile Things Trivia Quiz

"Fragile Things" is an anthology of short stories and poetry by Neil Gaiman. How much do you know about the weird and wonderful works collected in the book?

A multiple-choice quiz by rowena8482. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
rowena8482

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
264,588

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
301

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Question 1 of 10

1. Which story is told in full in the introduction, and isn't included in the contents list of the book at all? Hint

The Mapmaker

Journey South

Goliath

The Wanderer Returns

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Question 2 of 10

2. The story "A Study in Emerald" is based on another very famous story. Complete it's title - "A Study in _____". Hint

Black

Silver

Moonlight

Scarlet

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is Shadow's real name in "The Monarch of the Glen"? Hint

Bragi Comet

Loki Sun

Balder Moon

Odin Star

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the subtitle of "Fragile Things"? Hint

A collection

Are easily broken

And dangerous minds

Short fictions and wonders

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Question 5 of 10

5. In "The Fairy Reel", what will the fairy lass "pluck from the air"? Hint

Thunder clouds

My dreams

The sun

Wild eagles

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Question 6 of 10

6. What does Harlequin nail to Missy's front door? Hint

A dead cat

His own heart

A paper heart

Dead roses

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which story was written for Gaiman's oldest daughter? Hint

Goliath

The Fairy Reel

Eaters and Feeders

Sunbird

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Question 8 of 10

8. In "Monarch of the Glen" we re-encounter 'Mr. Alice', but in which story do we meet him first? Hint

Goliath

Keepsakes and Treasures

Eaters and Feeders

The Mapmaker

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Question 9 of 10

9. "The Problem of Susan" features a famous Susan from the "Narnia" series of books. What is her surname in the Narnia stories? Hint

Peverall

Pevensie

Peverley

Peavey

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Question 10 of 10

10. Two of the stories feature a door knocker in the shape of a mythical creature - what is it? Hint

Golden Gryphon

Black Devil

Red Imp

Silver Unicorn

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which story is told in full in the introduction, and isn't included in the contents list of the book at all?

Answer: The Mapmaker

In the introduction Gaiman says "one describes a tale best by telling the tale" and then proceeds to do so. So if you skipped the introduction, go back, you missed a bit!

2. The story "A Study in Emerald" is based on another very famous story. Complete it's title - "A Study in _____".

Answer: Scarlet

"A Study in Scarlet" is the first Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and was first published in serial form in 1887.

3. What is Shadow's real name in "The Monarch of the Glen"?

Answer: Balder Moon

The character of 'Shadow' also appears in "American Gods". The story "The Monarch of the Glen" is set two years after the events of "American Gods".

4. What is the subtitle of "Fragile Things"?

Answer: Short fictions and wonders

Gaiman says "[stories] are all fragile things made of just 26 letters arranged and rearranged to form tales and imaginings which will dazzle your senses, haunt your imagination and move you to the very depths of your soul."

5. In "The Fairy Reel", what will the fairy lass "pluck from the air"?

Answer: Wild eagles

"The Fairy Reel" is described by Gaiman as "not much of a poem really, but enormous fun to read aloud."

6. What does Harlequin nail to Missy's front door?

Answer: His own heart

The original Harlequin is a character from the 'Commedia dell'Arte' which began in Italy in the late 1400s. His love interest in the Commedia is always Columbine.

7. Which story was written for Gaiman's oldest daughter?

Answer: Sunbird

"Sunbird" was written for Gaiman's daughter Holly for her 18th birthday present.
He says it took him so long to write that she actually got it for her "nineteen and a halfth birthday".

8. In "Monarch of the Glen" we re-encounter 'Mr. Alice', but in which story do we meet him first?

Answer: Keepsakes and Treasures

Gaiman says that he hopes to write more of Mr. Alice and Smith one day, so we may well meet them again. Part of "Keepsakes and Treasures" was first written as a 'noir' comic book tale, and it appears here in a rewritten, expanded form.

9. "The Problem of Susan" features a famous Susan from the "Narnia" series of books. What is her surname in the Narnia stories?

Answer: Pevensie

The Narnia Chronicles were written by C.S. Lewis, and published between 1950 and 1956. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has been translated into 29 languages.
In "The Problem of Susan", her name is Professor Susan Hastings.

10. Two of the stories feature a door knocker in the shape of a mythical creature - what is it?

Answer: Red Imp

Both "Closing Time" and "Instructions" feature doorknockers shaped like a red metal imp, and one definately gets the message that doors with red metal imp knockers on should NOT be opened!

Source: Author rowena8482

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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