Ideal Countries In Literature Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Island of the Lotus Eaters

Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809 and died on October 6, 1892.
A typical fragment:
"In the afternoon they came into a land
In which it seemed always afternoon
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream."

Answer: Arcadia

Beotians were known as "stupidoes". Lesbos was home to Sappho and her sweet friends. Epidauros was known for its theatre.

Sir Philip Sidney was not the only one who dreamt of Arcadia (in "The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia"). Others to contemplate Arcadia included the painters Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665), Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Honoré Fragonard (1732-1792) and Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898).

By the way, the word Cajun derived from the Canadian "Accadian", a word which itself derives from Arcadian.

Answer: the Forest of Arden

"As You Like It", Act II, scene iv, lines 11-12:

Rosalind: Well, this is the Forest of Arden.
Touchstone: Ay, now I am in Arden.

Answer: Avalon

'Cader Idris' means Seat of Idris, Idris possibly referring to a giant in Welsh mythology.

There are various Rivers named Avon. In England the Bristol Area is often called 'Avon Valley'. The word 'Avon' actually means river, so reference to the Avon River is actually a tautology.

In the Arthurian legends Camelot is the Seat of King Arthur's Court. Some say Cadbury Castle was Arthur's Camelot.

Avalon is the island to which Arthur was conveyed for the healing of his wounds after his final battle.

Answer: Aristophanes

Aristophanes' play was called "The Birds". Aristophanes lived from 450 till 388 BC. Aesop was an earlier writer (6th century BC). Aeschylus (525-456 BC) also preceded Aristophanes in Greek history. Aeschines came later in history: 390-314 BC.

Answer: The Land of Cockayne

The "New Jerusalem" is not exactly a place for gluttons, more like a long-stretched church-service with organ music by Bach or Handel.
In some versions of the "Land of Cockayne" story there grow bottles of wine on the branches of the trees, or the walls of the city are made of rice-pudding. The Germans imagined it to be a place with plenty of sausages and roast pork. Their name for it was "Schlaraffenland".

Answer: Eldorado

E.A. Poe's gallant knight is somewhat like the 'Wandering Jew' or the 'Flying Dutchman', condemned to keep searching but destined never to find. His travelling is a Sisyphian labour.

Answer: the Celestial City

'Eden' had too many associations with the Fall of Adam and devilish temptations. 'New Canaan' would not have been entirely convincing as the Hebrews had too much trouble over there, and a 'Land' that is only a 'Promise' was not sufficiently attractive. So Bunyan (1628-1688) gave it a more real-sounding name: a city with walls and entrance-gates, only of a supernatural quality. The road to this place of bliss is not an easy one for his Pilgrim Christian.

Answer: Neverland

James M. Barrie lived from 1860-1937. His Peter Pan character is somehow a precursor of Holden Caulfield, the boy who refuses to grow up.
As to the name "Neverland", in the first version of the play the name "Never, Never, Neverland" was used. The next year one of the Nevers was dropped: "Never-Neverland". In the printed version a further shortening took place: "Neverland". For an analysis in depth of the history of the play see the German website: http://staff-www.uni-marburg.de/~boedicke/Peter Pan.pdf
An English website gives Never-Neverland: www.dragonfare.com/AL/shows/peterpan.html

Answer: Shangri-La

James Hilton (1900-1954) published two of his most successful books in 1933-34,
"Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips". Frank Capra made a film-version of "Lost Horizon" in 1937.