John Updike Trivia

1. In "Rabbit Redux", what drink does Harry's father always order when they meet at the bar after work?

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: A Schlitz

Harry and Earl Angstrom worked at the same establishment for the local newspaper in "Rabbit Redux". After work, they would meet at a bar to talk, and Harry's drink of choice was a daiquiri while Earl's was a Schlitz.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: Pennsylvania

John Updike was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1932. Perhaps he inherited his literary talent from his mother, who was a part-time writer. Updike's father worked as a math teacher.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: Hamlet

Updike sets an incredibly high standard for himself in presuming to write a prequel to Shakespeare's most widely read and praised play, Hamlet.

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Toyota

Harry owns Springer Motors with his wife in Brewer, Pennsylvania.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: The Micky Mouse Club

Janice was watching the Mickey Mouse Club. Harry decided not only to quit smoking that day, but also to walk out on Janice and Nelson. A movie based on "Rabbit Run" came out in 1970 starring James Caan in the leading role.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: Harvard

John Updike graduated from Harvard summa cum laude in 1954, majoring in English. While attending Harvard, he was president of the college's "Harvard Lampoon" magazine.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: 3

The three parts of the book are unique in that each part adheres to a separate naming convention for the "dramatis personae."

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Janice Angstrom

Harry's wife Janice lived with Charlie for a while. The affair occurred in the previous Rabbit book, 'Rabbit Redux'.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: Gring

Harry often thinks of her as "Peggy Gring" because he attending high school with her, and that was her maiden name back then. Peggy was Janice's best friend during high school, and her son, Billy was best friends with Nelson Angstrom. Peggy and Harry have a fling in "Rabbit Redux" and she is said to have died in the years between "Rabbit is Rich" and "Rabbit at Rest" due to breast cancer.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: The New Yorker

John Updike wrote articles in the "The New Yorker" on a full-time basis for about two years. He also contributed essays and furnished literary reviews for the magazine.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: Gertrude & Gerutha & Geruthe

Updike writes his book from the point of view of Hamlet's mother, scripting a version that is quite sympathetic to Gertrude.

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Basketball

The Toyota dealership still has yellowed clippings describing Harry's heroics.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: Harold

The birth certificate reads "Harold Roy", however, the child goes by the name "Roy". Nelson and Pru named him after both his grandfathers; Harry feels slighted that Roy's called name belongs to Pru's deadbeat dad.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: Ted Williams

John Updike wrote an essay about The Splendid Splinter entitled, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu." In the article, Updike described Ted Williams' final at bat as follows: "He ran as he always ran out home runs- hurriedly, unsmiling, head down, as if our praise were a storm of rain to get out of."

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Cindy Murkett

Harry fantasises about Cindy quite often. He hopes they will get together on the island vacation, but he ends up with Thelma who is in love with him.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: The Flying Eagle

They join the Flying Eagle in "Rabbit is Rich" and it is here where they meet often with their friends to play golf, tennis, swim and drink almost every weekend.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: The Poorhouse Fair

"The Poorhouse Fair", published in 1959, takes place in a public home for the aging. The characters engage in philosophical conversations about such topics as growing old, death, and religion. "Of the Farm" appeared in 1965, "Marry Me" was published in 1977, and "Gertrude and Claudius" came out in 2002.

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Damage The Car

Nelson keeps banging up the car and I believe he even wrecks one.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: Kent State

During "Rabbit is Rich", Nelson attends Kent State where he meets his wife, Theresa aka Pru. Her accidental pregnancy causes Nelson to quit school at Kent and move back to Pennsylvania. She grew up in the ghetto of Akron, Ohio with an abusive father, and is more than happy to leave her life there and move to Pennsylvania with Nelson and his family.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: basketball

Rabbit Angstrom was an all-star basketball player for his Mt. Judge, PA, high school team, setting numerous scoring records. However, as an adult, Rabbit cannot recapture the glory years of his youth. In "Rabbit, Run" he is 26 years old and selling kitchen gadgets. Unhappily married, he decides to flee from his wife.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: bird

She identifies with the theme of imprisonment of various birds throughout the novel.

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: His

The other three answers are the one word sentences that Updike ends three of the other Rabbit books.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: A Chinese restaurant

Tothero has a date at a local Chinese restaurant and invites Harry to come along. Here, he meets Ruth who he will go home with, and live with for a few months during "Rabbit, Run". During this time she becomes pregnant, and Harry believes that she had an abortion. In "Rabbit is Rich" he meets his daughter by Ruth when she visits the Toyota dealership and believes her to be his without ever knowing the truth.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: suburban Pennsylvania

"Rabbit, Run" takes place near Brewer, Pennsylvania. Rabbit Angstrom, the main character, feels trapped in his small town environment and seeks to run away from his marital responsibilities.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: Feng & Fengon & Claudius

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: national and pulitzer

It also won the American book award.

From Quiz The "Rabbit" Series by John Updike

Answer: Greek

Charlie Stavros, who is mentioned quite often throughout the series as being Greek, works for Springer Motors. The tables have turned in "Rabbit Redux" and Janice leaves Harry to move in with Charlie for a few months. Ironically, after the affair has ended, in the two books following he becomes one of Harry's closest friends.

From Quiz John Updike

Answer: James Buchanan

"Buchanan Dying" was a play by John Updike about James Buchanan, the U.S. president from 1857 to 1861. The play takes place during the final days of Buchanan's life.

From Quiz Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike

Answer: Italian

It is indeed Italian. The servant to whom Fengon speaks Italian is the one who later betrays him.

From Quiz Rabbit Is Rich

Answer: Harry's daughter

I don't think it is fully revealed in this book who she is, but there are some very strong indicators. Harry had her with Ruth in the book 'Rabbit Run'.

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