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Quiz about The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber
Quiz about The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber Quiz


This is one of the true treasures from the short story genre. It is vintage Hemingway. Best of luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by Triviaballer. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Triviaballer
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
220,334
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
11 / 15
Plays
814
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 183 (11/15), Guest 183 (9/15), Guest 38 (9/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. What event has just happened before the story begins? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. What is the name of Francis Macomber's wife? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. How long has Francis Macomber been married to his wife? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. What was the name of the hunting guide that Macomber had hired? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. What phrase do we learn that hunters use to mean that their safari has been unsuccessful? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. What term does the hunting guide use throughout the story to describe Macomber's wife? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. What does the story mention that Macomber's wife had done five years previously, in order to receive $5,000? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. According to a Somali proverb, there are three times when a brave man is frightened by a lion. Of the following, which is NOT one of them? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Although Francis Macomber did not know much about hunting, the story mentions him knowing about other things. Of the following, which of these does Macomber "know"? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. What does Macomber's wife do during the night of the day where Macomber shot his first lion? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Other than lions, what other animal does Macomber hunt? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. While on the final hunt, Macomber's wife complained that the guide and her husband had done something unfair. What was this practice that the hunting guide mentioned was illegal and could result in a loss of his license if they heard about it in Nairobi? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Who does the hunting guide attempt to quote off the top of his head when he says "By my troth, I care not; a man can die but once; we owe God a death and let it go which way it will he that dies this year is quit for the next". Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. At the end of the story, what happens to Francis Macomber? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. After the death of Francis Macomber, which of the following does the hunting guide NOT say to Macomber's wife? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 183: 11/15
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 183: 9/15
Sep 26 2024 : Guest 38: 9/15
Sep 23 2024 : Guest 173: 14/15
Sep 18 2024 : Guest 108: 12/15
Sep 18 2024 : Guest 173: 12/15
Sep 06 2024 : Guest 23: 11/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What event has just happened before the story begins?

Answer: Macomber cowardly ran away from a lion hunt.

Hemingway's opening lunch scene in which the characters were pretending that nothing had happened is superb.
2. What is the name of Francis Macomber's wife?

Answer: Margaret

Margaret (also called Margot) Macomber is a very interesting character. She begins to hate her husband after his displays of cowardice, but when he becomes brave she feels threatened.
3. How long has Francis Macomber been married to his wife?

Answer: 11 years

According to the story, Margaret's opportunities to leave Francis were past.
4. What was the name of the hunting guide that Macomber had hired?

Answer: Robert Wilson

Wilson is a true Hemingway character. A physically adept man, Wilson gets most of his pleasure in life through outdoor activities like hunting.
5. What phrase do we learn that hunters use to mean that their safari has been unsuccessful?

Answer: I'm still drinking their whiskey.

A very interesting way of sugar-coating your lack of success.
6. What term does the hunting guide use throughout the story to describe Macomber's wife?

Answer: Memsahib

Memsahib is a term used by natives of India to address a European woman. I'm not sure if Wilson uses the term as flirtatious flattery or if he is mocking her shallowness.
7. What does the story mention that Macomber's wife had done five years previously, in order to receive $5,000?

Answer: She had endorsed a beauty product that she never used.

This little tidbit fits perfectly with Margaret's character. She is described as a beautiful woman that could make people buy a product just because her face is on it (not much has changed in advertising).
8. According to a Somali proverb, there are three times when a brave man is frightened by a lion. Of the following, which is NOT one of them?

Answer: When he first looks into his eyes.

We learn this information as Macomber is unable to sleep because he is afraid of the lion roaring at night.
9. Although Francis Macomber did not know much about hunting, the story mentions him knowing about other things. Of the following, which of these does Macomber "know"?

Answer: His wife would never leave him.

As contained in the story, "Margot was too beautiful for Macomber to divorce her and Macomber had too much money for Margot ever to leave him".
10. What does Macomber's wife do during the night of the day where Macomber shot his first lion?

Answer: She makes love to the hunting guide.

After Macomber runs away from the lion hunt a second time, Margaret has lost all respect for him and feels she has the right to "misbehave".
11. Other than lions, what other animal does Macomber hunt?

Answer: Buffalo

The buffalo hunt is where Macomber has his transformation from being a coward to being a brave man. Wilson likens Macomber's transformation to a boy becoming a man.
12. While on the final hunt, Macomber's wife complained that the guide and her husband had done something unfair. What was this practice that the hunting guide mentioned was illegal and could result in a loss of his license if they heard about it in Nairobi?

Answer: Chasing the animals in motor cars after a shot has already been fired.

This does seem like a rather unfair practice (actually using guns in general is anyway). They went up to 45 miles an hour during the chase and one of the gun-bearers fell off on the ride.
13. Who does the hunting guide attempt to quote off the top of his head when he says "By my troth, I care not; a man can die but once; we owe God a death and let it go which way it will he that dies this year is quit for the next".

Answer: William Shakespeare

This line is from "Henry IV, Part II", Act III, Scene II. It doesn't really seem like Wilson's character to recite Shakespeare, but the quote fits the situation.
14. At the end of the story, what happens to Francis Macomber?

Answer: His wife shoots him as he is being charged by a buffalo.

Whether or not Margaret tried to shoot Macomber was a topic of debate for years. Most of the evidence, including Wilson's character, seems to lead to the conclusion that she purposely shot him.
15. After the death of Francis Macomber, which of the following does the hunting guide NOT say to Macomber's wife?

Answer: I don't think I've ever had a day quite like this.

Wilson also tells Margaret that the gunbearers, the driver, and himself will vouch for her at the testimony to be held in Nairobi.
Source: Author Triviaballer

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