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The Arthur Books - I Trivia Quiz

All questions in this quiz are based on Book One of Cornwell's amazing trilogy on Arthur - 'The Winter King'. Cornwell's take on the myth is slightly different from the medieval Arthurian romances, so it pays to have read the book. Enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by the_prince_. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
the_prince_

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
336,949

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
196

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'The Winter King' is the first part of a trilogy dealing with the Arthurian legend in post-Roman Britain. What is this trilogy called? Hint

The Merlin Trilogy

The Arthur Trilogy

The Warlord Trilogy

The Druidian Trilogy

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Question 2 of 10

2. The narrator of 'The Winter King' is an old man living in a Christian monastery recounting past events. Name him. Hint

Owain

Ligessac

Hywel

Derfel

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who is the queen, wife of King Brochvael of Powys, at whose behest the narrator jots down his memories of Arthur? (Hint: She shares her name with Arthur's mother.) Hint

Morgan

Igraine

Nimue

Sebile

4. Merlin's household is filled with stray children from all over Britain, whom he thinks are blessed by the Gods. One of them, as a child, was taken a slave from the Irish Kingdom of Demetia, and fell into the sea, but escaped without so much as a scratch. Name this child. Hint

Sebile

Derfel

Nimue

Morgan

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the Silurian Druid who threw Derfel into the death-pit as a sacrifice to the Gods? Hint

Pellinore

Iorweth

Tanaburs

Dian

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Question 6 of 10

6. What bird/animal was depicted on the Dumnonian banner? Hint

Fox

Dragon

Bear

Swan

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Question 7 of 10

7. Merlin's hall was built atop a small hill on an island in the marshes of Avalon. What was this island called? Hint

Ynys Wydryn

Ynys Mon

Ynyn Trebes

Ynys Wair

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who was Arthur's sister and Merlin's lover, who was grotesquely disfigured in a fire? Merlin had a mask of gold made for her and trained her to be his priestess. Hint

Sebile

Nimue

Morgan

Ceinwyn

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Name the traitor who opened the gates of Merlin's Hall to Gundleus, the wicked King of Siluria? Hint

Nimue

Ligessac

Pellinore

Hywel

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. For what crime had Arthur been banished from Dumnonia by the High King, at the beginning of the tale? Hint

The High King held Arthur response for the death of his son Mordred

The High King heard rumors of Arthur stirring up a rebellion to overthrow him

Arthur disobeyed the High King and marched to battle with Powys

The High King was troubled of a prophecy that he would die by Arthur's sword

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'The Winter King' is the first part of a trilogy dealing with the Arthurian legend in post-Roman Britain. What is this trilogy called?

Answer: The Warlord Trilogy

The story of Arthur continues in 'Enemy of God' and 'Excalibur', which, according to Cornwell, are his favorite books.

2. The narrator of 'The Winter King' is an old man living in a Christian monastery recounting past events. Name him.

Answer: Derfel

Derfel writes Arthur's story in the language of the Saxons so that Saint Sansum, who runs the monastery, will not be able to decipher them.

3. Who is the queen, wife of King Brochvael of Powys, at whose behest the narrator jots down his memories of Arthur? (Hint: She shares her name with Arthur's mother.)

Answer: Igraine

At Igraine's request, Derfel begins to write the story of Arthur, while maintaining to Saint Sansum that he is translating the Gospels to the Saxon language for the Queen.

Answer: Nimue

Merlin, who believed that Manawydan the Sea God loved Nimue, was quick to adopt her. He even named her Vivien, but she ignored it and kept her old name.

5. Who was the Silurian Druid who threw Derfel into the death-pit as a sacrifice to the Gods?

Answer: Tanaburs

The death-pit is a vile dark hole filled with stakes. Children, and sometimes animals, were thrown into it as sacrifice to the Gods. Derfel's escape from the pit meant that Tanaburs was careless with his sacrifice, and thus the Gods were displeased with him. This gave Derfel a rare claim over Tanaburs' life.

6. What bird/animal was depicted on the Dumnonian banner?

Answer: Dragon

The fox was the Silurian banner, Bear was Arthur's banner and the Swan, Lancelot's.

7. Merlin's hall was built atop a small hill on an island in the marshes of Avalon. What was this island called?

Answer: Ynys Wydryn

The paths to Merlin's Hall were winding and filled with charms and curses to confuse and scare away evil spirits.

8. Who was Arthur's sister and Merlin's lover, who was grotesquely disfigured in a fire? Merlin had a mask of gold made for her and trained her to be his priestess.

Answer: Morgan

Morgan's heavy disfigurement prevented her from being remarried, despite being a King's daughter (albeit illegitimate) and a famed warrior's sister.

9. Name the traitor who opened the gates of Merlin's Hall to Gundleus, the wicked King of Siluria?

Answer: Ligessac

Gundleus, under the pretense of marrying the widow Norwenna, wanted to kill the Edling of Dumnonia, and thus claim the throne for himself. Ligessac helped him, but the attack on Merlin's Hall did not go as planned.

10. For what crime had Arthur been banished from Dumnonia by the High King, at the beginning of the tale?

Answer: The High King held Arthur response for the death of his son Mordred

According to Ligessac, who claimed to be at the Battle of the Valley of Horses, it was Mordred and a band of heavily drunk men who rushed into the Saxon camp and got themselves killed. When Arthur heard of it, he ravaged the enemy and killed their chief, but High King Uther still blamed him for his son's death.

Source: Author the_prince_

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