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Courtenay Bryce Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Courtenay Bryce Quizzes, Trivia

Bryce Courtenay Trivia

Bryce Courtenay Trivia Quizzes

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Bryce Courtenay's first novel, "The Power of One", was set in his native South Africa. Many of his later works were set in Australia, where he spent much of his adult life.
4 Bryce Courtenay quizzes and 45 Bryce Courtenay trivia questions.
1.
  'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
'White Thorn' is a novel of Africa. Written by Australian author Bryce Courtenay, it is based in South Africa in 1939. ENJOY :)
Average, 10 Qns, ozzz2002, Nov 26 08
Average
ozzz2002 gold member
157 plays
2.
  Average The Power Of One Trivia    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz especially designed for the true fans of Bryce Courtenay's "The Power Of One".
Average, 10 Qns, tainted_tara, Jun 06 07
Average
tainted_tara
377 plays
3.
  Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is based on the great yet sad story of Jessica Bergman. It's about her personal fight for justice against enormous odds.
Average, 15 Qns, blurrystar1, Sep 15 04
Average
blurrystar1
492 plays
4.
  10 Questions: The Power of One Multiple Choice Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Required reading for my OAC (Ontario Academic Courses.. grade 13) English class. Another excellent novel.
Average, 10 Qns, LadyCaitriona, Dec 15 16
Average
LadyCaitriona gold member
805 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who approaches Peekay to fight Gideon?

From Quiz "The Power Of One"




Related Topics
  African Literature [Literature] (6 quizzes)

  Australian Literature [Literature] (17 quizzes)

  Contemporary Literature and Fiction [Literature] (23 quizzes)


Bryce Courtenay Trivia Questions
1. What is the name of our main character?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: Tom Fitzsaxby

Mattress is the "pig boy" who takes care of the animals. Voetsek is actually Afrikaans, and it's an insult used to scare off stray dogs. And Kobus "Pissy" Vermaak is another orphan.

2. "Pride is holding your head up when everyone around you has theirs bowed. Courage is what makes you do it." Who gives these words of wisdom to Peekay?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Big Hettie

Big Hettie is only a very minor character in this book; she accompanies Peekay from Gravelotte, mainly because she was extremely drunk at the time.

3. Who wrote 'The Power of One'?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: Bryce Courtenay

4. What is the name of the orphanage where Tom grows up?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: The Boys Farm

Johannesburg Boys School may exist, but it isn't where Tom grew up. Pretoria is a reform school. Williamskrans (Williams Cliff) is the name of a town a few miles down the river from The Boys Farm.

5. Who does Hoppie Groenewald fight in Gravelotte?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Jackhammer Smit

Jackhammer Smit is the brother of Lieutenant Smit, the prison officer who begins training Peekay at Barbeton Prison.

6. In what year was Jessica born?

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: 1896

Jessica was the youngest child out of two children. Meg is her older sister.

7. Who is the main character?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: Peekay & peekay

8. Who is Mattress set up to box against after the false accusations made against him?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: Frikkie Botha

Joe Louis is an American boxer, whom Mattress named his son after. Fonnie is one of the older students at the boys farm and the Dominee is the minister. Frikkie Botha was once a district amateur champion heavyweight boxer.

9. What happens to Granpa Chook on the Judge's last day at the boarding school?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: He is strung up and killed by the boys with rocks from their catapults.

Peekay was given Granpa Chook by Inkosi-Inkosikazi, after the great medicine man visits Peekay in order to help stop the night water (bed wetting), which plagues him at his boarding school.

10. By what name was William D'arcy Simon better known as?

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: Billy Simple

Billy was always normal before he had the accident (the fight with the tar boys and horses running over his head). After the accident his only real friends were Jack and Jessica.

11. In which country does the story take place?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: South Africa

12. What language does Tom speak to Mattress in?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: Zulu

Tom doesn't learn to speak English until many years later, even though he is English by birth, hence the last name Fitzsaxby. Although he was not entirely fluent in Zulu, Mattress helped him with words he wasn't familiar with.

13. What composition is Doc scared of playing at the town recital?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Beethoven's Symphony Number Five

Doc's full name is Karl Von Vollensteen, and he is a Doctor of Music, which explains him being called 'Doc'. He also has a fascination with cacti, having written one book entirely in German before his imprisonment, and then whilst in prison he writes another in English.

14. Why was Jessica told to live in a small tin hut, away from her family?

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: She was pregant and not married. It would be a disgrace to her family if anyone found out.

Jessica did not get on well with her family at all, except for her father. Because there were no sons in the family Jessica took on the role that a boy would've taken. So when Jessica moved away her mother and sister were very happy, as they could get on with their plans. Her father thought it was the best option so he went along with it. He didn't know what Meg and Hester were up to.

15. What social inequality is the main focus of the book?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: apartheid

16. How did Tom recognise Mattress in the photo shown to him by Sergeant Van Niekerk?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: his feet

When Mattress was found murdered his face was unrecognisable. Tom only realised it was his friend Mattress by looking at the hardened soles of his "platform" feet. The Zulu people got these from years of walking across rocky ground until their feet bled and they finally hardened.

17. What is the chant the Africans cry out at Peekay's fights?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Onoshobishobi Ingelosi

Onoshobishobi Ingelosi is translated as meaning "Tadpole Angel" in English.

18. In what sport does the main character want to become the top competitor for his class?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: boxing

19. What was the name of the book Tom stole from under the doctor's house?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: Abolition of Slavery 1834

Despite being born English, Tom didn't start learning the language until he was seven, mostly curious to know what the book he had found was about.

20. Who teaches Peekay an eight punch combination, which is then named after him?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Geel Piet

Geel Piet was murdered the night of the big prison concert. Peekay is the one who finds him lying in the boxing ring inside the gymnasium, just after the concert has concluded. Gert is a prison officer who is also on the boxing squad, Hoppie is the train conductor who gives Peekay the "First with the head, then with the heart" mantra and Jannie Geldenhuis is a student that Peekay fights while attending school.

21. Who did Meg, Jessica's older sister, end up marrying?

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: Jack Thomas & Thomas & jack thomas & thomas

This marriage was forced upon Jack by Meg and Hester (her mother). Jack really loved Jessica but he couldn't do anything to stop the marriage.

22. Complete this advice 'First with the _____, then with the _____...'?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: head, heart

23. 'Izinyawo ezinkulu zika Mattress' is the password Tom used for his dog Tinker to give her permission to eat food offered to her, but what does it mean?

From Quiz 'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions

Answer: Mattress's big feet

Tom used this password so Tinker, his dog, would never forget Mattress after he was murdered. Mattress raised Tinker from a puppy, as Tom was not allowed to have a pet and had to keep Tinker hidden.

24. Who murdered Geel Piet?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Lieutenant Borman

Smit later on fights Borman in an act of vengeance - one of the best pages in this book. Klipkop, Smit and Gert are all members of the boxing squad at Barbeton Prison.

25. How old was Jessica's and Meg's dad, Joe Bergman, when he died?

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: 72

Joe was a simple, kind man and very Australian.

26. The main character's doctor friend is a doctor of which field?

From Quiz The Power of One

Answer: music

27. What is the name of the boarding school to which Peekay wins a scholarship?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Prince of Wales

One of my favourite characters that comes into the story after Peekay begins his schooling at Prince Of Whales is Darby White, one of the boxing coaches of the school. He has the habit of not being able to make a decision without having had both hands in his pants fumbling around. Hilarious really.

28. Who said this quote: "Jessie, just think it could be your way out of here! Besides, I now know I love you. I've been gone a week and I've not slept a wink for thinking of you."

From Quiz Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica"

Answer: Moishe Goldberg

Moishe even proposed after confessing his love but Jessica turned him down, even though she liked him.

29. Who approaches Peekay to fight Gideon?

From Quiz The Power Of One

Answer: Mr Nguni

This is one character that I'm not entirely fond of, I think in part it's because of reading "Tandia", which picks up where this book ends, I recommend it to everyone. Mrs Boxall is the librarian from Peekay's home town and Hymie is his best friend. Mr Ugani is just someone I made up.

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