Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Shakespeare:
This unlucky guy might not have been as smart or compelling as the protagonist, but he only wanted to mourn his sister Ophelia and his father Polonius! When he came back from France, though, and found out what had happened to his father, he was then used as a pawn by the evil king and died in the ill-fated conspiracy that the king cooked up with him. Who is this nice guy whose familial loyalty drives him to unspeakable acts and death?
2. Shakespeare:
This nice guy is actually a nice girl, and she is the only really innocent major character in her play. She is married shortly before the events of the play, but her servant Emilia betrays her by stealing a handkerchief and giving it to Iago. This tragically leads to the nice girl's death at the hands of her madly mistaken husband. Who is this character?
3. Musical Theater:
Alright, this time I'm actually asking about someone who *does* survive! In "Les Miserables", mega-musical by Boubil and Schonberg, there is a student uprising. In the musical, it is shown that every single one of the boys on the barricade (from the original group, that is) falls in the fight. These nice guys, all idealistic young students - don't make it. Except one! Which one? He gets to survive for his happily ever after!
4. Musical Theater:
In Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific," one of the plotlines ends in tragedy. The tragedy is set up in the middle of the show, when a nice young man, sadly unable to overcome his culturally ingrained racism, contracts malaria. Depressed about having to give up his Tonkinese love interest, he is then assigned to go on a crucial and dangerous mission and does not survive.
Which character is this, who tells us that "You Have To Be Carefully Taught" to hate and fear those of different races, but alas, society does carefully teach this?
5. Novels:
In "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, we know that most of the children in the arena have to die, so when this sweet, nice young girl is introduced to us in that dreadful place, there aren't high hopes for her survival. She allies with Katniss, the main character, but is sadly unable to survive an onslaught from the vicious Careers. Who is this nice girl who doesn't make it to the end of the first book of the Collins trilogy?
6. Novels:
In "Lord of the Flies", this glasses-wearing character with asthma is the voice of reason and a good influence on Ralph, one of the leaders. But when the evil band of boys comes for the final confrontation with Ralph and his group, this character cannot survive the ensuing fight. Which character, who constantly insists that a particular conch shell should be respected as the right to call the group to assembly, is this?
7. Movies:
In "Fellowship of the Ring", there's a tragic death at the end (and you know this is from the movie, not the books, because this event doesn't happen until "The Two Towers" in the original novels). A generally well-meaning but corruptible man, who feels guilty about recently trying to steal the ring from the ringbearer, jumps into the fight between the Uruk-hai and the hobbits. He dies defending Merry and Pippin, after reconciling with the man he had formerly dismissed as unworthy of leading Gondor.
Who is this generally good character whose death rocks both the Fellowship and his family in the later films?
8. Movies:
In "The Lion King," this character's iconic death drives much of the action. You know it, you cried at it, you tried to explain it to your kids - so tell me, which of these characters, father to the protagonist, is brutally murdered at the hands of his jealous brother despite being a fair and upright king?
9. Anime/Manga:
The classic manga/anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" features a comic relief character who is so kind, so loving, and so intelligent, it was a jawdropping surprise when he died. He's usually too smart to put his own life in jeopardy, but when he figures out the villains' plan, even his wits can't save him. When his shapeshifting opponent takes on the shape of his wife, he can't bring himself to keep fighting, and he is quickly dispatched. Who is this man whose death turns the entire tide of the story?
10. Shakespeare:
Because I can't resist going back to the Shakespeare well - this character is a witty, passionate man. He may not always be nice, but he is clearly devoted to his friend Romeo, reacting very aggressively when Romeo's enemies disrespect him. When Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel and Romeo declines, this man takes offense at his friends' disgrace and steps in. He sadly does not survive, leaving Romeo devastated. Who is this character whose death kicks off the "tragedy" part of the tragedy?
Source: Author
merylfederman
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
kyleisalive before going online.
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