FunTrivia Literature Mix: Vol 6 Quiz

Answer: Othello

Othello is described as a Moor, which in Shakespeare's day could refer to any of a number of tribes living in North Africa, or to Muslims in general. But there are numerous scenes in the play which describe him as having a dark complexion and African features, so black actors are often chosen to play the part. "Othello" isn't the only play by Shakespeare to have a Moor as a character; they also appear in "The Merchant of Venice" and "Titus Andronicus".

Question by player daver852

Answer: Stanislaw Lem

"Solaris", published in 1961, was the story of three astronauts sent to a newly discovered alien "living ocean", capable of giving life form to their memories of beloved dead persons. It was made into movies by Andrey Tarkovskiy in 1972 and Steven Soderbergh in 2002.

Question by player nerzack

Answer: The Lord of the Rings

"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is comprised of three fantasy books: "The Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King." Written by the philologist and professor J. R. R. Tolkien, it is the most successful trilogy in the history of literature.

Question by player portgleep

Answer: Having your name in print in public

When Jane Austen published her novels, her name was not on it. Instead, the books were written by "a lady." Having your name in the newspapers as a lady was a horrible thing, especially if your name appeared in the gossip column. In addition, most women only rode side-saddle. Dresses, especially full-length ones, are hardly the best type of clothing to ride astride.

Question by player pinkbunny98

Answer: The Little Prince

"The Little Prince" tells of a small visitor from another, tiny worldlet who struggles to understand the ways of grown-ups. The story is told by French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and would, as the saying has it, bring a tear to a glass eye.

Question by player PaulS2011

Answer: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow wrote the poem "Christmas Bells" on Christmas Day 1863. It was published in a young people's magazine in February 1865.

Question by player lrjensen

Answer: The Hobbit

"The Hobbit" was also written by J.R.R. Tolkein, and was published in 1937. It was a smaller, classic adventure that targeted a younger demographic. The "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was much more complicated, with a sprawling, epic narrative.

Question by player qrayx

Answer: Hamlet

"Murder most foul, as in the best it is, but this most foul, strange, and unnatural." The quote comes in Act I, Scene V when the ghost of Hamlet's father speaks these words. He tells Hamlet that he was murdered and encourages Hamlet to take revenge. The other plays are comedies.

Question by player Tizzabelle

Answer: Toad

Toad is a terrible driver. He's crashed seven times and, on three occasions, ended up in hospital. Badger, Mole and Rat, determined to save him from himself, place him under house arrest but Toad engineers an escape and goes to the Red Lion Inn for lunch. From there he steals a car, is caught and sent to prison for twenty years. Saying that he's appropriately named refers to the "frog and toad" being rhyming slang for "road".

Question by player pollucci19

Answer: Rudyard Kipling

All the answers were Nobel Prize-winners in Literature. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was the 1907 Nobel Laureate. He wrote: "I keep six honest serving-men / (They taught me all I knew); / Their names are What and Why and When / And How and Where and Who." His poem refers to the importance of questioning techniques when gathering information. Sometimes abbreviated '5W1H', the 'serving-men' are all keywords for questioning: What, Why, When, Where, Who and How.

Question by player psnz