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Nursery Rhyme Origins Trivia Quiz

What are nursery rhymes about or based on? Find out in this quiz. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by eunomia. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
eunomia

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
331,171

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
520

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The popular nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill" is supposed to be about whom? Hint

Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria

King Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette

Isabella "She-wolf" of France and her lover Roger Mortimer

Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who is the "Grand Old Duke of York" supposed to have been? Hint

Henry VIII

Edward IV

Richard, Duke of York

Richard III

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Question 3 of 10

3. Old King Cole (or Coel) could have been based on one of the ancient Kings from the 3rd-5th centuries. How many King Coels were there? Hint

four

two

three

five

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Question 4 of 10

4. Both the farmer's wife in "Three Blind Mice" and the title character of "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" are based on the same Queen. Who is she? Hint

Mary I of England ("Bloody" Mary)

Mary Queen of Scots

Marie Antoinette of France

Mary Tudor, Queen of France

5. "Pussycat, Pussycat" is based on a true story. One of the ladies in waiting to a Queen of England had a cat which once accidentally brushed against the Queen's foot. Luckily the Queen had a sense of humour and allowed the cat to wander where it liked as long as it kept the room free of mice. Who was this Tudor Queen? Hint

Elizabeth of York

Mary I

Elizabeth I

Catherine of Aragon

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the "crooked stile" in "There was a crooked man..."? Hint

The border between England and Wales

The rhyme has no historic reference

The border between Normandy and the rest of France

The border between England and Scotland

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Question 7 of 10

7. Two nursery rhymes, "Old Mother Hubbard" and "Little Boy Blue", reputedly refer to Henry VIII's friend and henchman who was hated by Henry VIII's second wife despite the fact that he had arranged Henry's divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Who is he? Hint

Thomas More

Thomas Cromwell

Cardinal Wolsey

Thomas Cranmer

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Rain rain go away" originates from the reign of Elizabeth I. It is about a famous victory that was not just due to the English but also the stormy weather. What country was the opposition?

Answer: (One word, name of a country)

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Question 9 of 10

9. "Remember Remember the 5th of November" refers to which famous event in 17th century Britain? Hint

Gunpowder Plot

Beheading of Charles I

Fire of London

Accession of James I

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Question 10 of 10

10. Doctor Foster is interestingly based on a true story! Which Plantagenet King of England, known as Longshanks, fell into a puddle in Gloucester and consequently refused to visit there again? Hint

William I

John

Richard I

Edward I

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The popular nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill" is supposed to be about whom?

Answer: King Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette

Both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded. These beheadings occurred in 1793. The first publication date for the Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties in with the history and origins. The ending was made happy so that the rhyme was more child-friendly.

2. Who is the "Grand Old Duke of York" supposed to have been?

Answer: Richard, Duke of York

Richard, Duke of York, was the father of future kings Edward IV and Richard III. This rhyme refers to the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, one of the battles during the Wars of the Roses against the Lancastrians. Richard had 10,000 men in a strong position at the top of the hill, but madly led them down to meet the Lancastrians. He was killed and his army was overwhelmed!

3. Old King Cole (or Coel) could have been based on one of the ancient Kings from the 3rd-5th centuries. How many King Coels were there?

Answer: three

The King Coles were Coel Godhebog (Cole the Magnificent b.220), Coel Hen (Coel the Old c.350 - c.420 ) and St. Ceneu ap Coel (born c382). The Tudor dynasty claimed that they descended from Old King Cole in order to strengthen their throne.

4. Both the farmer's wife in "Three Blind Mice" and the title character of "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" are based on the same Queen. Who is she?

Answer: Mary I of England ("Bloody" Mary)

Mary's garden in "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" is said to represent a graveyard of all the Protestants she burned because of their religion, and the "three blind mice" are three such Protestants.

Answer: Elizabeth I

Elizabeth was the last Tudor monarch, reigning from 1558-1603. A number of nursery rhymes are said to refer to her or to events that occurred during her reign.

6. What is the "crooked stile" in "There was a crooked man..."?

Answer: The border between England and Scotland

This rhyme dates from the 17th century, specifically from the time of Charles I. The crooked man is supposedly the Scottish General Alexander Leslie, who signed an agreement between Scotland and England. "They all lived together in a little crooked house" refers to the fact that Scotland and England were now at peace at last.

Answer: Cardinal Wolsey

Wolsey was very arrogant; "blowing his horn", otherwise known as bragging, was certainly true of him. The words "where's the boy who looks after the sheep?" could refer to Wolsey's concern with lining his own pockets as opposed to looking after the country. In the "Old Mother Hubbard" song, King Henry was the "doggie" and the "bone" refers to the divorce with Catherine of Aragon.

The cupboard relates to the Catholic Church although the subsequent divorce arranged by Thomas Cramner resulted in the break with Rome and the formation of the English Protestant church along with the demise of Old Mother Hubbard - Cardinal Wolsey.

8. "Rain rain go away" originates from the reign of Elizabeth I. It is about a famous victory that was not just due to the English but also the stormy weather. What country was the opposition?

Answer: Spain

The English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. The "rain" in this rhyme could symbolise the Armada itself, or it could simply be taken at face value to mean the rain and stormy weather that helped England to victory.

9. "Remember Remember the 5th of November" refers to which famous event in 17th century Britain?

Answer: Gunpowder Plot

All of these events took place in the 17th century but the Gunpowder Plot, a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, was exposed on 5th November 1605, when Guy Fawkes was discovered in the cellars with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. The members of the conspiracy were Thomas Bates, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Wright, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby and Thomas Wintour. We celebrate Gunpowder Day by building bonfires and setting off fireworks on the evening of 5th November.

10. Doctor Foster is interestingly based on a true story! Which Plantagenet King of England, known as Longshanks, fell into a puddle in Gloucester and consequently refused to visit there again?

Answer: Edward I

Edward I ruled England from 1307-1327. He was an incredibnly strong King who managed to defeat independent Wales.

Source: Author eunomia

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