Animal Themes Trivia

1. What female character of Homer's "The Odyssey" is a powerful sorceress who turns the hero's companions into swine?

From Quiz This Little Piggy

Answer: Circe

In Books 9-12 of "The Odyssey", Odysseus - who is a guest of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians - tells his hosts about the adventures he and his crew had during their voyage back home from Troy. After their escape from the cannibalistic Laestrygonians, the hero and his companions reached the island of Aeaea, inhabited by the enchantress Circe, the immortal daughter of the sun god Helios. In Book 10 of the poem, Circe welcomes a group of men into her house, but feeds them a poisoned drink to make them forget their homes, and turns them into pigs with a stroke of her wand. Odysseus, however, is warned by the god Hermes, who gives him a herb that will protect him from Circe's witchcraft. The hero eventually manages to get his men turned back into human beings, and lets himself be seduced by the sorceress, with whom he remains for one year. Another pig-related episode occurs in Book 19. Odysseus - who has finally arrived in Ithaca, but pretends to be a beggar - is recognized by his old nurse, Eurycleia, when she sees a scar on the hero's leg. The scar was the result of an encounter with a huge wild boar during a hunt when Odysseus was a young man.

From Quiz Let's Read About Cows

Answer: Liechtenstein

"Ludmila" (1955) is based on a folktale from Liechtenstein. Gallico spent some time in Liechtentstein in the 1950s and wrote the story. It is the story of a young girl who owns a weakling cow that does not produce much milk. After praying to Saint Ludmilla, the cow miraculously becomes a star milk producer. The first editions of the book were printed in Liechtenstein in 1954, and then in England the next year. The first printing in the United States was in 1959. Liechtenstein is a small principality located between Switzerland and Austria. Vaduz, the capital, is roughly 100 kilometers southeast of Zurich.

From Quiz Friends in Need

Answer: a stuffed rabbit

In 'The Velveteen Rabbit', subtitled 'How Toys Become Real', a toy rabbit dreams of becoming real. After being initially ignored by his owner, the boy comes to have a liking for the Velveteen Rabbit and both become attached to the other. However, the Velveteen Rabbit is ordered burned after the boy gets scarlet fever because they might be infected. The Velveteen Rabbit sheds a tear at this news and a fairy appears from a flower to transform the Velveteen Rabbit into a real rabbit. Question by JoePetz

From Quiz Lions are Beautiful, Right?

Answer: C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis spent much of his life as an atheist, but after he joined a group at Magdalen College (University of Oxford) called the Inklings, he became convinced that God--specifically Jesus Christ--was true. After his conversion to Christianity, Lewis wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia" book series, which has many Christian elements in it. Lewis also wrote "Mere Christianity", which many Christians consider a great book of theology and apologetics. Lewis himself stated that Aslan is not simply a symbol or allegory for Christ--to Lewis, Aslan IS Christ, but Christ to Narnia rather than Christ to Earth. Lewis said he wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia" because he wondered what it would be like if the Son of God visited a fantasy world instead of Earth. Lewis made the Narnia Christ figure a lion because Revelation 5:5 calls Jesus the Lion of Judah. In "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", Aslan was tortured, beaten, and murdered and then he resurrected, just like Jesus in the New Testament. What I personally find fascinating is how even some of the little details match the New Testament. For example, the female characters, Susan and Lucy, witnessed Aslan's death and resurrection. This mirrors the New Testament because the witnesses to Christ's death and resurrection were indeed the women followers.

From Quiz The Phoenix Also Rises

Answer: Sparky

Sparky is the team mascot for the New Zealand quidditch team (also known as the Moutohora Macaws) and he appears in the fictitious book "Quidditch Through the Ages", which is given to Harry by Hermione Granger prior to his first quidditch match in "Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone" (1997). Whilst Dumbledore proclaims that they (phoenixes) make "highly faithful pets", Newton Scamander, in his work "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", indicates that they are extremely difficult to domesticate and very few wizards have ever succeeded in doing so. When Dumbledore passes away Fawkes performs a lament and then flies away from Hogwarts as a free bird leaving Sparky as the only known "domesticated" phoenix in the series. Fluffy is a three headed dog that Hagrid obtained from "some Irish fellow", Norbert is a baby dragon that Hagrid hatched and Aragog is a blind Acromantula that Hagrid also owned. This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

From Quiz Fluffy and Friends: Dogs in Books

Answer: He has three heads

Fluffy is a hellhound, the most famous example of his species being Cerberus, who guards the entrance to hell in Greek mythology. In the book, Fluffy's role is to guard the eponymous Philosopher's Stone. His only weakness is a tendency to fall asleep when music is played to him, as Harry and his friends fortunately discover.

From Quiz Did You Say Mouseketeer or Musketeer?

Answer: C.S. Lewis

Reepicheep appears in the Narnia series of books by C.S. Lewis, notably in "Prince Caspian" and "The Voyage of the Dawntreader". He is fiercely loyal to the lion Aslan and, as a reward, he is finally allowed to realize his great ambition to sail off alone in his small coracle to the end of the world. Lucy Pevensey, one of the four children originally called to the magical land of Narnia, always wanted to cuddle him but he would have been mortally offended if she did so.

From Quiz A Bird in the Book

Answer: Agatha Christie

'Cat Among the Pigeons' was published in 1959. The story takes place at a fictional English prep school called the Meadowbank School for Girls. Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, does not make his appearance until the final third of the book.

From Quiz Burning it Up - Dragons in Literature

Answer: the Jabberwock

At first Alice doesn't understand how to read the poem but then realizes she must hold it in front of a mirror because it's a mirror-image. After reading it she discovers that it is nonsense and she still doesn't understand it. Carroll created a number of words for the poem including some that have persisted in the English language, such as chortle and galumphing.

From Quiz Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!

Answer: Experience

"The Tyger" is one in a collection of 26 poems called "Songs of Experience", while "The Lamb" is among "Songs of Innocence". Bound together in a volume, "Songs of Innocence and of Experience Showing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul" was written and illustrated by the visionary poet William Blake, published in 1794. These poems were set to music many times, including by poet Allen Ginsberg, and sung in haunting beauty by blues/folk musician Greg Brown. Blake asks the sinewy tyger, "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?"

From Quiz Blackbird Pie For 'Raven'ous Readers

Answer: Crow

In "The Raven and the Crow", Aesop tells of a crow who was envious of a raven because of the high regard afforded to it by men as an omen of the future. The crow wanted to be held in such esteem as that of the raven. It came to pass that the crow saw some men travelling in her direction one day so she perched herself in the branch of a tree. As the travellers passed by her the crow caw-cawed in the loudest voice she could muster. Upon hearing the crow, the travellers were worried that the strange sound was an ill omen. When they realised the sound came from a crow and not a raven, they dismissed it and continued travelling because the call of a crow meant nothing to them. As with all Aesop's fables, there is a moral to this story: "Those who pretend to be something they are not, only make themselves ridiculous." Much of what has been written about the life of Aesop is rather ambiguous. What is generally agreed upon however is that he was a Thracian slave who lived on the island of Samos during the sixth century B.C. Whether he ever wrote his fables down is uncertain. No evidence has been found to suggest that this was the case, so it is more likely he communicated his fables orally. The raven featured in other fables written by Aesop, most notably in "The Fox and the Raven" and "The Raven and the Swan", but different interpretations through the centuries have seen writers employ their artistic licence by replacing the raven with the crow in these stories.

From Quiz It's Always the Sheep!

Answer: Flock

The poem gives images of the sheep "squeezed into the holding pen", "squirming around to find a little room", and "looking so much alike it would be nearly impossible to count them." Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003, was born in New York City in 1941. Some of his poetry books include: "She Was Just Seventeen", "Video Poems", "Pokerface", "Nine Horses", and "The Trouble with Poetry".

From Quiz Big Fish, Little Fish

Answer: The Catcher in the Rye

In the story, Holden Caulfield is rather obsessed about knowing where the ducks go when the lake in Central Park freezes during winter. He asks a surly cab driver, Horwitz, about it and Horwitz starts ranting about fish and how they stay in the lake even though it's frozen over. When Holden questions how the fish ignore the ice, Horwitz yells that the fish "get frozen right in one position for the whole winter". It's their nature!

From Quiz So You Think You Know About Dragons

Answer: By burning their venom

Dragons have fangs and venom glands, similar to those found in snakes. They also have a special pouch in the lower jaw where they keep pieces of flint. Jiggling the flint produces the spark needed to ignite the venom. However, not all dragons are fire-breathers. For example, rather than breathing fire, Frost Dragons breathe ice.

From Quiz Follow the White Rabbit

Answer: Miffy

Miffy was created by Dick Bruna in 1955 as a story told to his young son, and is called Nijntje in Dutch, the author's native language. The stories are short and are written to help children with situations they are likely to face in their real lives, such as the birth of a sibling or starting school. The character has also appeared in cartoon form on television as 'Miffy and Friends'. Flopsymopsy thinks she is a bit too old to fit in these books, so her search goes on.

From Quiz Cats for Book Lovers

Answer: Pyewacket

"Bell Book and Candle" is the first that many of us heard this name for a cat, but it apparently originated from a witch's familiar in England in 1644.

From Quiz Deep Space K9

Answer: Life's a Bichon

"Life's A Bichon" was written for, and first published in, the 2004 anthology "Sirius: The Dog Star". The anthology is dedicated to a real dog named Sirius who lost his life while carrying out his bomb disposal sniffer dog duties, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.

From Quiz Quoth The Raven

Answer: Robin

This poem features in "Heart of Midlothian", published in 1818. It is sung by Madge Wildfire as she lays on her deathbed. "Proud Maisie is in the wood, Walking so early; Sweet Robin sits on the bush, Singing so rarely. "Tell me, thou bonny bird, When shall I marry me?" "When six braw gentlemen Kirkward shall carry ye." "Who makes the bridal bed, Birdie, say truly?" "The grey-headed sexton That delves the grave duly. "The glow-worm o'er grave and stone Shall light thee steady. The owl from the steeple sing, 'Welcome, proud lady'." (Question by Christinap)

From Quiz Turbot or not Turbot? That Fish the Question!

Answer: The Terrible Dogfish

After being swallowed by the "Attila of Fish and Fishermen", Pinocchio holds a conversation with a very intelligent tunny. This little fish offers pearls of wisdom such as "when one is born a tunny it is more dignified to die in the water than in oil", and tells us that the Dogfish is "two miles long without counting its tail". In the Disney film version of the book, "The Terrible Dogfish" was turned into a whale called "Monstro". Should you wish to encounter this fearsome creature face to face, you may wish to pay a visit to "Pinocchio Park" in Tuscany, Italy. Question trawled from the depths of memory by ArthurR.

From Quiz The Year of the Pig

Answer: Dick King-Smith

'The Sheep-Pig' was published in the UK in 1983 and was adapted into the film 'Babe' in 1995. It tells the story of a piglet who is won by a farmer and brought up by a sheepdog named Fly. He learns to herd sheep, eventually winning a prize at the sheepdog trials. His skill saves his life, as he was originally destined to be eaten. Enid Blyton wrote many children's books, including the 'Famous Five' series. Maurice Sendak's best known work is probably 'Where the Wild Things Are' and Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote 'The Secret Garden', among others.

From Quiz Invertebrates in Children's Books

Answer: Dr. Doolittle

The "Doctor Doolittle" books were originally written as letters home to author Hugh Lofting's children, when he was sent off to fight in the trenches in World War I. There are fourteen books in the series, three of which were published posthumously after Lofting's death in 1947. The first one, "The Story of Doctor Doolittle", was first published in 1920. "Doctor Doolittle in the Moon" was published in 1928.

From Quiz Dog Days

Answer: Argos

Odysseus is an unusual Greek mythical hero as he is known for having a brain as well as muscles. His weakness was in having too much pride.

From Quiz Horses in Literature

Answer: the white knight

When it stopped he fell off forwards, when it walked on, he fell off backwards and every now and then he fell off sideways.

From Quiz Cat Connoisseurs

Answer: Monkey

La Fontaine dedicated his first collection of fables to the 6-year-old son of Louis XIV. Aesop and Horace were two of the sources of his inspiration. "The Monkey and the Cat" was in the second collection and altogether he wrote 243 fables.

From Quiz Cats of the Literary Classics

Answer: Macbeth

The witches (or "three weird sisters", as they're called) speak of the brindled cat. The other plays, too, have lines about cats. Hamlet says "The cat will mew, the dog will have his day." In "Midsummer Night's Dream" Gremio asks, "But wilt thou woo this wild cat?" And Falstaff, in "Henry IV", tells us,"I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream."

From Quiz Ducks in Literature

Answer: The Tale of Tom Kitten

In "The Tale of Tom Kitten" the mother cat Tabitha Twitchit gets her three kittens cleaned and dressed in preparation for visitors. She then sends them out to play with instructions not to get dirty. They do get dirty and also lose their clothes to some ducks who come passing by including Jemima Puddle-Duck.

From Quiz Literary Canines

Answer: Boots

Boots tell us the story of the book. He says of himself; 'I am son of Kildonan Brogue-Champion Reserve'. Boots is a terrier and fights with rats, does parlour tricks for his master and mistress and is an acute observer of the social niceties of the day. Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936 ) was born in Bombay to John Lockwood Kipling and his wife Alice. His father was both an artist and teacher of architectural sculpture. He was a prodigious literary talent including poetry and novels as well as short stories.

From Quiz Literary Dogs

Answer: mongrel

In the first book, "Five on a Treasure Island" Timmy is kept a secret from George's parents who disapprove of dogs, but after his heroic participation in their adventure on the island, George is allowed to keep him at home -and he's even allowed to sleep on her bed!

From Quiz The Most Famous Animals in Literature

Answer: Jack London

Buck is the dog that cannot resist "The Call of the Wild". Honorable Mention to "The Hound of the Baskervilles".

From Quiz Animals In Literature

Answer: Horse

Boxer was the voice of reason.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:47 AM

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