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Names and Pseudonyms Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia Quizzes

16 quizzes and 155 trivia questions.

Authors, also Known as .... great trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Famous authors, less famously known as......

Average, 10 Qns, spanishliz, May 25 24

Average
spanishliz editor

May 25 24
225 plays

When Two of Us Are One great trivia quiz

Match Quiz

10 Qns

Many authors have published using different names for different works. Can you match the two names who are one person in disguise?

Easier, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Apr 29 23

Easier
looney_tunes editor

Apr 29 23
510 plays

The Two of Us as One popular trivia quiz

Match Quiz

10 Qns

Authors Richard Marsten and Ed McBain, for example, are in fact the same person - Evan Hunter. Can you match these pseudonyms correctly?

Easier, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Sep 25 22

Easier
looney_tunes editor

Sep 25 22
420 plays

Opposite Gender Pseudonyms best quiz

Match Quiz

10 Qns

Sometimes female authors adopt male pen-names, and vice versa. Can you match the authors with their opposite gender pseudonyms?

Easier, 10 Qns, MotherGoose, Nov 02 22

Easier
MotherGoose editor

Nov 02 22
224 plays

Someday I'll Find the Write Job! popular trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

A look at some great authors and their unlikely careers/background before they were famous. (Mainly 19th and early 20th centuries).

Easier, 10 Qns, skumma, Nov 11 16

Easier
skumma
1928 plays

Authors' Initials 2 great trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

This authors' initials quiz is harder than the first, so I've given you a little help here and there. If you get them all you're a literature genius.... or you've looked them up! Just the last name in the answers.

Average, 10 Qns, minch, Feb 03 18

Average
minch

5064 plays

Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials great trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Do you know what the 'J.K.' stands for in J.K.Rowling? How many other authors' initials are unknown to you? Try this quiz and find out. All authors are well known.

Average, 10 Qns, miss g, May 10 15

Average
miss g
2678 plays

Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

This is a quiz on the nicknames and pseudonyms of English authors who became immortal by writing great literary works. The quiz has been written with an emphasis on the funny aspects of the authors and tries to be informative.

Average, 10 Qns, indranil49, Nov 14 19

Average
indranil49
Nov 14 19
606 plays

Name These Children's Authors

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

With homage to Minch's quiz called "Authors' Initials." I give you a children's author's first two (or three) names. You type in the writer's surname. For example, if the clue is "Joanne Kathleen," you type "Rowling."

Average, 10 Qns, robynraymer, Aug 03 18

Average
robynraymer
Aug 03 18
1814 plays

10.

Authors' Initials popular trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Some authors are generally known by their initials and last name. You are given their full first names. Give their last name. Start with a capital!

Average, 10 Qns, minch, Sep 25 19

Average
minch

Sep 25 19
4378 plays

Quick Question

This author wrote about the daft antics of a man about town and his astute 'man'. Who was this endearing author with the heart of a goof?

From Quiz "Someday I'll Find the Write Job!"

11.

The Write Brothers

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

These brothers (and sisters) couldn't fly, but they sure could write. What do you know about siblings who soared to great heights in Literature?

Average, 10 Qns, Caeiro, Dec 04 14

Average
Caeiro
478 plays

12.

Author's Pseudonyms

Multiple Choice

5 Qns

Quite a few authors write under other names. I will list the author's real name and you pick out the pseudonym.

Average, 5 Qns, mizlentz, Dec 11 06

Average
mizlentz
3864 plays

13.

Given Names of Authors

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

You are given the penname, give the real name of the author.

Average, 10 Qns, finlady, Aug 07 15

Average
finlady
4782 plays

14.

Author Anagrams

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

All of these anagrams are the names of authors. All are two words - first and last names (except for the last one).

Tough, 10 Qns, robert362, Mar 12 02

Tough
robert362
773 plays

15.

Authors Behind Initials

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Guys seem to like to hide behind initialled first names. Sometimes we end up knowing the initials but no longer what first names were behind them. Have a try.Is J.R.R. Tolkien : John Ruben Romuald T. No, it's .. . Well hadn't you better try the quiz?

Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, May 04 07

Average
flem-ish
1650 plays

16.

Literary Anagrams - Not Too Tough

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

You should get at least some of these - give it a try!

Tough, 10 Qns, robert362, Mar 12 02

Tough
robert362
1162 plays

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia Questions

1. Christopher Marlowe was a great Renaissance writer of tragedies.He introduced 'blank verse' in English. He had a nickname. Can you remember the nickname of Marlowe?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Kit

Christopher Marlowe was a great tragedian of the Elizabethan period. He was considered the prince in Elizabethan Theatrical world. He paved the way for Shakespeare. His nickname was 'Kit'. His friend Thomas Nashe regretted his untimely death with the words 'poor deceased Kit Marlowe'.

2. This great 19th century British author started out in a blacking factory while his family lived in a debtors' prison. Hard times, but this didn't stop him from having great expectations for his future! Who was he?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Charles Dickens

Dickens' father was in prison for debt and the young Charles (aged 12) was sent to work in a factory to help support his family. Dickens drew on these early experiences in his novels, most notably "Little Dorrit" and "David Copperfield".

3. What first names hide behind : L.P. Hartley?

From Quiz Authors Behind Initials

Answer: Leslie Poles

Author of 'The Go-Between'

4. What is the last name of the poet who is usually known by the initials of his first names Edward Estlin?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: cummings

Usually known as e. e. cummings with no capitals. Known for his typographically eccentric poetry.

5. What is O. Henry's given name?

From Quiz Given Names of Authors

Answer: William Sydney Porter

6. Shelley's first publication was entitled 'Original Poetry'. It was published under a pen-name. What was the pen-name that Shelley adopted in his first publication?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Victor and Cazire

In September 1810, a poetry collection entitled 'Original Poetry' by Victor and Cazire was published anonymously by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was his first published volume of poetry. He wrote the poems in collaboration with his sister Elizabeth. The volume consisted of sixteen poems and a fragment of a poem.

7. This American author was once the U.S. Consul in Liverpool. I'm not sure if his diplomatic bag contained scarlet letters, though. What was his name?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hawthorne started out in the Boston Customs House as a clerk. His later, political appointment took him to Liverpool, where he lived 'over the water' in Rockferry, next to Birkenhead.

8. What does the 'J.B.' stand for in J.B. Priestley?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: John Boynton

Priestley (1894-1984) a famous English writer and playwright penned such works as the play "An Inspector Calls." His other works are too numerous to list.

9. Who doesn't know Agatha Christie? Her books featuring detectives Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Tuppence and Tommy Beresford and Harley Quin, are famous. She also tried her hand at gothic romances under which nom de plume?

From Quiz Authors, also Known as ....

Answer: Mary Westmacott

Mary Westmacott's books include "Unfinished Portrait", "The Rose and the Yew Tree" and "A Daughter's Daughter". She didn't achieve an iota of Agatha Christie's fame, by comparison.

10. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names James Matthew?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Barrie

11. Sarah Burney was an English novelist, author of novels like "Clarentine" or "Traits of Nature". She was not as famous as her half-sister, though. Who was this novelist and playwright, the author of "Evelina", "Cecilia" and "Camilla"?

From Quiz The Write Brothers

Answer: Frances Burney

Frances Burney (1752-1840) was also known as Madame d'Arbley, after her marriage with the French General Alexandre d'Arblay. Her works also include journals and letters as well as several plays (both comedies and tragedies).

12. Shelley's 'Ozymandias' was published in the January issue of 'The Examiner' in 1818. It was published under a pen-name of the author. Can you say the pen-name that Shelley adopted?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Glirastes

Shelley adopted a number of pen-names in his early career. His famous poem 'Ozymandias' was published in John Hunt's famous magazine 'The Examiner' on 11 January, 1818 under the pen-name 'Glirastes'. Shelley chose the theme from the description of an Egyptian King Ramesses II. His friend, Horace Smith, also published a poem entitled 'Ozymandias' in the February issue of the same magazine (i.e. 'The Examiner'). Shelley wrote the poem in a friendly competition with his friend.

13. This Russian author was an aristocrat. During his early military career, he fought in the Crimean War, and later enjoyed peace with his family. Who was this prolific writer?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy had genuine concerns for the peasants living on his estates and introduced reforms. The character of Konstantin Dmitrich Levin, in the masterpiece "Anna Karenina" was based largely on himself, his views and his life. If you've never read any of his works, this compelling book is a wonderful way to discover him.

14. What does the 'D.H.' stand for in D.H. Lawrence?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: David Herbert

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is perhaps most famous for "Lady Chatterley's Lover", which told the story of a rich woman's affair with the gamekeeper. The full text was banned in Britain and America till 1960.

15. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names Alfred Edward?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Housman

Author of 'A Shropshire Lad'.

16. Jacob and Wilhelm were German academics and scholars. They collected and published several folk tales, such as "Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel" or "Snow White", popularizing them in the 1800s. What was their last name?

From Quiz The Write Brothers

Answer: Grimm

Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859) were better known as "The Brothers Grimm". Their book "Children's and Household Tales", first published in 1812, introduced some of the most recognizable fairy tales, like "Cinderella" or "Rumpelstiltskin" to a wider audience. In addition, they began the "Deutsches Wörterbuch" in 1838. It is the nearest German counterpart to the "Oxford English Dictionary" and runs to 33 volumes. The first volume was published in 1854, the last 107 years later, in 1961.

17. Charles Dickens was a great novelist. He wrote under a pen-name in the early years of his career. Can you remember the pen-name of Charles Dickens?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Boz

At the beginning of his career, Charles Dickens used the pen name 'Boz'. He borrowed it from Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield'. It was pronounced Bozes. He shortened it to 'Boz'. His 'Sketches by Boz' was published in 1836.

18. This American adventurer started off as a real life pirate! He went on to write some of the greatest stories about hardship and the human spirit ever written. Who was this man who answered the call of the wild?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Jack London

This is a direct quote from the author about his early life: "Alas for visions! When I was sixteen I had already earned the title of "prince." But this title was given me by a gang of cut-throats and thieves, by whom I was called 'The Prince of the Oyster Pirates.' After spending sometime as a drifter (and in prison) the young Jack decided to educate himself. His stories of the Alaskan Goldrush are still exciting reading.

19. What does 'P.D.' stand for in P.D. James?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: Phyllis Dorothy

P.D. James is a well-known detective fiction writer. Many of her books have been televised. In 1991, she was made a Life Peer by Queen Elizabeth II.

20. Stephen King is the Master of Suspense and Horror. His books include "The Shining", "The Dead Zone" and "Salem's Lot" to mention just a few. But he has also written under pen names. Which pen name is the one he has used for works such as "The Long Walk"?

From Quiz Authors, also Known as ....

Answer: Richard Bachman & Bachman

The Bachman books include "The Long Walk", "Rage", and "The Running Man". These three, at least, focus more on the horrors men can inflict on other men and less on the supernatural. Stephen King originally started using the Bachman name because his publishers didn't want to flood the market with King novels, and also to see how well they would do without being publicized as much as those published under his own name were.

21. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of her first name, Joanne, and her grandmother's name, Kathleen?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Rowling

22. The novel 'Little Women' made Louisa May Alcott an author of international repute. But, at the beginning of her career she had to adopt a pen-name in order to get her works published. What was that pen-name?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: A. M. Barnard

Louisa May Alcott is a renowned name in the literary world. Her 'Little Women' is popular all over the globe. But she had to adopt a male pen-name, A. M. Barnard, at the beginning of her career.

23. This French King of Romance worked as a notary's clerk and then for the Duc d'Orléans (later King Louis Phillipe) before discovering the treasure of Monte Cristo. It might not have been twenty years after, but what was his name?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Alexandre Dumas

The creator of such unforgettable characters as Edmond Dantes and his insatiable search for revenge; D'Artagnan and his Musketeer friends fighting against Cardinal Richelieu and his desire for power - good, old-fashioned storty telling! Dumas wrote around 250 books in his lifetime and started the genre of romantic adventure stories.

24. What does the 'J.D.' stand for in J.D. Salinger's name?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: Jerome David

The American writer J.D. Salinger is perhaps best known for his novel "The Catcher in the Rye."

25. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names Jerome David?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Salinger

'Catcher in the Rye'.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:46 AM

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