Celsius 232.8 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Wind in the Willows

Written by Kenneth Grahame, "The Wind in the Willows" was first published in 1908. Grahame wrote the now-classic story featuring Toad of Toad Hall's adventures and friends after having resigned his post as Secretary at The Bank of England. He married Elspeth Thomson in 1899, and, in May 1900, they had a son, Alistair.

In 1929, another celebrated author, A.A. Milne, adapted the story for stage under the title "Toad of Toad Hall".

Answer: We Were Soldiers

"We Were Soldiers" is a 2002 film based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young" by retired U.S Army Lt. Gen. Harold "Hal" Moore and reporter Joseph L. Galloway. The movie follows Moore and his battalion as they train for combat and then are sent to Vietnam.

Although several battles are seen and referenced in the course of the film, the main one that Moore's battalion are involved with is the battle of Ia Drang; this is considered the first major battle between U.S Army regulars and the People's Army of Vietnam's regulars. "We Were Soldiers" starred Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Sam Elliott, and many others.

Answer: The Silence of the Lambs

"The Silence of the Lambs" is a 1991 film that starred Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and Ted Levine as Jame Gumb. The film follows Starling, a student at the FBI Academy, when she is called out of her studies to interview the incarcerated Lecter.

It is hoped that he can provide clues/insight to help the FBI catch a serial killer who is currently on the loose, known as Buffalo Bill. "The Silence of the Lambs" was based on a novel of the same name, written by Thomas Harris.

Answer: Little Lost Robot

Written by Isaac Asimov, "Little Lost Robot" was first published in the March 1947 issue of "Astounding Science Magazine"; it would later be published in several different collections of Asimov's works, including "I, Robot" and "The Complete Robot". The story follows the search for NS-2, also known as Nestor, who was told by a frustrated scientist to 'get lost'; he takes this literally of course, and so sets up the rest of the story.

Answer: The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" concerns an old fisherman, Santiago, and his struggles with a giant marlin that he has snagged in the Gulf Stream near Cuba; on his way back to shore, sharks eat up his prize until all that is left is the skeleton.

Hemingway wrote the novel while he was in Cuba in 1951; it was not, however, published until 1952. "The Old Man and the Sea" was the last of Hemingway's works to be published in his lifetime, and it received considerable praise, including the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953, and cited as one of the influences in Hemingway's win of the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Answer: Stephen Crane

Arguably the best-known work of Stephen Crane, "The Red Badge of Courage" tells the story of young Henry Fleming, who is a private in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During his first battle encounter, Fleming finds himself running away instead of standing his ground; upon later reflection, he becomes determined to erase this mark of cowardice with the titular 'red badge of courage'. Stephen Crane was born in 1871 in New Jersey, and had taught himself to read before his fourth birthday.

He would have his first novel published in 1893; later in life he would become a war correspondent in both the Greco-Turkish and Spanish-American wars. He died June 5th, 1900 in Badenweiler, Germany and was later buried in Newark, New Jersey.

Answer: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Written by J.K Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" has also been published as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in some markets. It introduces the reader to Harry Potter, who is nearing his 11th birthday, and has just been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

In this and the six books that followed - as well as the film adaptations of all of these - Harry would soon find himself in the middle of nearly endless adventures, curses, and other mischief.

Answer: Tarzan

Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, "Tarzan" - or more properly, "Tarzan of the Apes" - is the first in a series of twenty-four novels concerning the titular character. The story has been made into many different films, starting with a silent movie in 1918.

It has also been adapted to TV, a musical, and video games. The story follows John Clayton, whose parents die, leaving him alone in equatorial Africa; he is adopted by an ape, Kala, who gives him the name Tarzan. Later in the story, it is revealed that Tarzan is actually Lord Greystoke.

Answer: Fahrenheit 451

Written by Ray Bradbury, originally published in 1953, and the inspiration for the title of this quiz, "Fahrenheit 451" is set in a dystopian future where books are banned; those in charge of making sure that no citizen has books - and if they do, to burn the now-outlawed material - are called firemen.

The protagonist of the story, Guy Montag, is one such fireman. One night, he is called to an old woman's house, which she had secretly filled with books; Montag finds his curiosity piqued, and he steals one of the books without his fellow firemen noticing.

The events that follow chronicle the changes that Montag goes through - from believing it is in the best interest of society for books to be burned, to wondering how it is that society ever fell to the point where it could seem like burning books was the best option.

Answer: Shenandoah

Set in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in 1864, "Shenandoah" follows the Anderson family; led by patriarch Charley Anderson (Stewart), they are farmers who are trying to stay neutral in the American Civil War. They have no slaves, but are fiercely loyal to the state of Virginia.

While out one day, the youngest son - known only as 'Boy' (Phillip Alford) - finds a Confederate soldier's cap floating down the river and brings it home. When he goes hunting a few days later, some Union soldiers find him, and his new cap, and take him in as a prisoner of war.

The rest of the film follows not only his journey, but the measures taken by the rest of his family to try to find and rescue him.