FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Scottish Literature
Quiz about Scottish Literature

Scottish Literature Trivia Quiz


Robert Burns is possibly the most famous Scottish writer but there are plenty of others, see how well you know them.

A multiple-choice quiz by alan03. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Literature Trivia
  6. »
  7. Literature by Region
  8. »
  9. British Literature

Author
alan03
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
155,904
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
1231
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 5 (11/15), Guest 84 (13/15), Guest 31 (10/15).
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. Who was the author of the 'Waverley' novels? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Which Scottish author writes both contemporary and science fiction but adds an initial to his name for his science fiction works? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Robert Louis Stevenson was the author of many famous works including 'Treasure Island' and 'Kidnapped'. However, what other activity was his family noted for? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. Which novel by Irvine Welsh was made into a 1996 movie starring Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle?

Answer: (One Word - no apostrophes needed)
Question 5 of 15
5. Who was the author of both 'The Blood of the Martyrs' and 'The Corn King and the Spring Queen'? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Which Scottish novel focuses on a teacher at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Which novel was made into a 2002 film directed by Lynne Ramsay? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Who wrote 'The 39 Steps'? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Which of Neil M Gunn's novels deals with the coming of the Vikings to Scotland? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Which Scottish novel was the controversial winner of the 1994 Booker Prize? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Lewis Grassic Gibbon's "Scot's Quair" consists of three connected novels about life in the north-east of Scotland. Which of the following is not one of them? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Scottish author J.M. Barrie created a very famous boy in a novel written for children, who was he?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 13 of 15
13. Who is the author of the Inspector Rebus novels? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Who was the famous companion of Dr Samuel Johnson who wrote an account of their tour of the Western Isles and later Johnson's biography? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. 'Lanark: a Life in Four Books' was written by which Scottish author who also illustrates his/her own works? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 5: 11/15
Oct 12 2024 : Guest 84: 13/15
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 31: 10/15
Sep 09 2024 : Guest 152: 9/15
Sep 02 2024 : Peachie13: 15/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who was the author of the 'Waverley' novels?

Answer: Sir Walter Scott

Scott wrote the first novel, 'Waverley', anonymously as he was slightly ashamed, feeling it would affect his reputation as a poet. Subsequent novels were published as "By the Author of 'Waverley'". The Scott Monument in Edinburgh sits across from the city's main rail station: Edinburgh Waverley.
2. Which Scottish author writes both contemporary and science fiction but adds an initial to his name for his science fiction works?

Answer: Iain Banks

Iain Banks's contemporary fiction includes 'Complicity', 'The Wasp Factory' and 'Dead Air'. The science fiction novels of Iain M. Banks include 'Feersum Endjinn', 'Against a Dark Background' and 'Consider Phlebus'. The M stands for Menzies.
3. Robert Louis Stevenson was the author of many famous works including 'Treasure Island' and 'Kidnapped'. However, what other activity was his family noted for?

Answer: Building lighthouses

RLS's grandfather, Robert, was the first of the Lighthouse Stevensons, building the famous Bell Rock lighthouse - a remarkable feat of engineering, built on a partially submerged reef, which has not required any repairs to its stonework since it was completed in 1811. Robert's sons, Alan, David and Thomas followed him into the trade as did several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family were also responsible for other engineering feats such as harbours, roads, bridges and canals.

Despite training as an engineer, however, RLS - to his father's great disappointemnt - turned his back on all of this to devote his life to writing. His other novels include 'The Master of Ballantrae', 'Catriona' and 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde'.
4. Which novel by Irvine Welsh was made into a 1996 movie starring Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle?

Answer: Trainspotting

The book was largely written in the Edinburgh dialect which made it a challenging read at times even for other Scots outside the Edinburgh area.
5. Who was the author of both 'The Blood of the Martyrs' and 'The Corn King and the Spring Queen'?

Answer: Naomi Mitchison

Mitchison was the daughter of the noted physiologist J S Haldane. A noted feminist and free-thinker, she was the author of over 70 books and died in 1999 at the age of 101.

'The Blood of the Martyrs', about a group of Christians living in ancient Rome, is one of my favourite novels.
6. Which Scottish novel focuses on a teacher at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls?

Answer: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Muriel Spark's novel about an unconventional teacher in her 'prime' who has an unfortunate effect on the girls she teaches was made into a 1969 film with Maggie Smith in the title role. Muriel Spark has written over twenty novels as well as short stories, poetry and biographies of Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley and John Masefield.

However, 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', published in 1961, remains by far her best-known work.
7. Which novel was made into a 2002 film directed by Lynne Ramsay?

Answer: 'Morvern Callar' by Alan Warner

'Morvern Callar' is about a girl living in the Highlands who comes home to find her boyfriend has committed suicide. She hides the body and steals his unpublished book and passes it off as her own, living off the royalties. The title role was played by Samantha Morton in the film.
8. Who wrote 'The 39 Steps'?

Answer: John Buchan

John Buchan was another prolific Scottish author. He was a member of the British parliament and was later Governor-General of Canada. 'The 39 Steps' is his best-known work.
9. Which of Neil M Gunn's novels deals with the coming of the Vikings to Scotland?

Answer: Sun Circle

Gunn's other novels include 'The Grey Coast' and 'Butcher's Broom'.
10. Which Scottish novel was the controversial winner of the 1994 Booker Prize?

Answer: 'How Late it Was, How Late' by James Kelman

'How Late It Was, How Late' was notorious due to the sheer volume of swearing contained within its pages.
11. Lewis Grassic Gibbon's "Scot's Quair" consists of three connected novels about life in the north-east of Scotland. Which of the following is not one of them?

Answer: Gillespie

'Sunset Song' was published in 1932, 'Could Howe' in 1933 and 'Grey Granite' in 1934. 'Gillespie' was written by John MacDougall Hay.
12. Scottish author J.M. Barrie created a very famous boy in a novel written for children, who was he?

Answer: Peter Pan

In his will, J.M. Barrie donated the royalties of 'Peter Pan' to Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children in London. The copyright expired in 1987. However, the British Government stepped in to effectively extend the copyright in perpetuity or until the hospital ceases to exist.
13. Who is the author of the Inspector Rebus novels?

Answer: Ian Rankin

The first Rebus novel, 'Knots & Crosses', was published in 1987. A further 13 had been published by 2003. A number of them have been filmed for British TV, starring John Hannah as Inspector John Rebus.

Arthur Conan Doyle was, of course, the creator of an even more famous detective: Sherlock Holmes.
14. Who was the famous companion of Dr Samuel Johnson who wrote an account of their tour of the Western Isles and later Johnson's biography?

Answer: James Boswell

Boswell's 'Journal of the Tour of the Hebrides' was published in 1785 and his 'Life of Samuel Johnson' in 1791.

Tobias Smollett's most famous work was 'The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker'. Allan Ramsay was an accomplished poet while James MacPherson wrote the "Ossian" poems which were originally passed off as translations from ancient Celtic texts.
15. 'Lanark: a Life in Four Books' was written by which Scottish author who also illustrates his/her own works?

Answer: Alasdair Gray

Gray's other works include '1982, Janine', 'The Book of Prefaces' and 'A History Maker'.
Source: Author alan03

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
10/31/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us