Twaint Necessarily So Quiz | Kid Lit Authors L - Z

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Match a Place: In this one, you need to identify from which of the United States the time-travelling hero, Hank Morgan, comes.

Answer: Connecticut

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is one of my favourite stories from my childhood. Published in 1889 this book tells the story of Hank Morgan, who is hit on the head in a fight, and wakes up to find himself in mediaeval England. He falls in love with Sandy, one of the ladies in the court, performs 'magic' by fixing a leak in a fountain and predicting an eclipse. Stabbed during battle, Hank wakes up in the 'modern' era talking to Sandy.

2. Match a Character: The character who appears in the title of this novel is a brave girl, whose feats are recalled by Louis de Conte.

Answer: Joan of Arc

This story is told as a sort of 'memoir' of the life of St. Joan of Arc, from her birth in the village of Domrey to her martyrdom, as recalled by Sieur Louis de Conte. When Twain first wrote the book, it was published as a serial in "Harper's Magazine", under the pseudonym of Jean Francois Alden. This was Twain's last full novel, and was first published when he was 61 years old.

3. Match a Title: Find the name of the book that tells the story of two boys who looked identical, but who had very different lives.

Answer: The Prince and the Pauper

'The Prince and the Pauper' was Twain's story of Edward VI, who (in the story) was identical in looks to an educated young lad named Tom Canty who lived in Pudding Lane, London. They meet at the Palace and decide to swap places. Prince Edward goes through all sorts of adventures, while Tom becomes 'king' with the death of Henry VIII.

They swap back their identity just before Tom is about to be crowned.

4. Match a Place: Captain Elias Stormfield travels on a comet to this place, where he meets Adam, Moses and even William Shakespeare!

Answer: Heaven

"Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven" is a short story that tells of a sea captain named Elias (Eli) Stormfield. He arrives at heaven by a series detours (it only took him a few decades!). He finds things not quite as he expects, but he does meet some interesting people in the course of the story. Twain wrote the narrative early in his writing career, but it wasn't published until 1907, three years before his death.

It was another of his short stories that was serialised before being published as a novella.

5. Match a Title: The tale of a family who move to Missouri to make a better life.

Answer: The Gilded Age

'The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today' is set in the mid-late 1800s. Charles Dudley Warner co-authored the book which was published in 1873, but it is not considered one of Twain's best works. The story tells of the beginning of the enormous wealth that came with industrialisation and the poverty of those who were not able to benefit from the opportunities.

6. Match a Place: This tale is a memoir of a man who spent his life on a paddle-steamer on a particular river that shares its name with a state in the United States.

Answer: Mississippi

"Life on the Mississippi" details the experiences Twain has as he fulfills his childhood dream to become a steamboat pilot. He is apprenticed to Captain Horace Bixby. It recalls the dangers and intricacies of the task, the beauty of the river, and the foibles of the passengers.

As it was written in retrospect, he is able to comment on the changes he has seen, certain historical events that occurred in various locations, and to discuss the people he met on his various journeys.

7. Match a Title: A book about inexperienced people travelling overseas.

Answer: The Innocents Abroad

Written as a humorous travelogue while Twain was working for a San Francisco newspaper, "The Innocents Abroad" was enormously popular even though it poked fun at fellow-travellers who were very ignorant about world history and culture. He was critical of the practise of some countries making money from religion, and the excessive veneration of old masters displayed by some tourists.

He reflected upon his return that it was only once they are home that sightseers could realise the true value of travel.

8. Match a Character: A boy with the same first name as a small fruit, who found gold with his friend.

Answer: Huckleberry Finn

Huck Finn is getting used to 'respectable' life until his father kidnaps him from the house of Widow Douglas. He escapes and meets up with Jim, and they embark on a series of adventures, including capturing a raft and sailing down river. At the end of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Huck decides to head out West for more adventure.

9. Match a Title: The story of a family pet, told from her point of view.

Answer: A Dog's Tale

"A Dog's Tale" is the story of Aileen Mavourneen, a Presbyterian dog who was adopted by a family and was leading a very pleasant life. She had a puppy, and the family had a baby. One evening the baby and Aileen were alone upstairs in the nursery and a fire started. Aileen snatched up the baby and took it to safety. The story has a theme of objection to vivisection, and a sad ending.

10. Match a Character: A man whose real name is David, who moves to a town where two children have been switched at birth.

Answer: Pudd'nhead Wilson

This book talks about the study Pudd'nhead Wilson undertakes as he observes the life of two young men swapped at birth, and their behaviour, both good and bad. Wilson is able to prove one of them innocent in a court case; ultimately the children feel out of place with their lot in life.

Source: Author VegemiteKid

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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Twaint Necessarily So Trivia Quiz

Imagine my shock to discover there were no Kids Lit quizzes on Mark Twain. Now, there's one! In this quiz, I'll describe the book title, or a place or character whose name appears in the title, and you decide which choice it matches.

Questions		Choices
1. Match a Place: In this one, you need to identify from which of the United States the time-travelling hero, Hank Morgan, comes.		A Dog's Tale
2. Match a Character: The character who appears in the title of this novel is a brave girl, whose feats are recalled by Louis de Conte.		The Gilded Age
3. Match a Title: Find the name of the book that tells the story of two boys who looked identical, but who had very different lives.		Joan of Arc
4. Match a Place: Captain Elias Stormfield travels on a comet to this place, where he meets Adam, Moses and even William Shakespeare!		The Innocents Abroad
5. Match a Title: The tale of a family who move to Missouri to make a better life.		Mississippi
6. Match a Place: This tale is a memoir of a man who spent his life on a paddle-steamer on a particular river that shares its name with a state in the United States.		Heaven
7. Match a Title: A book about inexperienced people travelling overseas.		Connecticut
8. Match a Character: A boy with the same first name as a small fruit, who found gold with his friend.		Pudd'nhead Wilson
9. Match a Title: The story of a family pet, told from her point of view.		The Prince and the Pauper
10. Match a Character: A man whose real name is David, who moves to a town where two children have been switched at birth.		Huckleberry Finn