Fictional Characters from Massachusetts Quiz

Answer: Salem

Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is set in Salem, Massachusetts, a town famous for its colonial witch trials. Miller wrote the play at a time when he was accused of being a Communist during the 1950s Red Scare.

"The Crucible" centers around John Proctor, a prominent Salem man who has previously had an affair with the young Abigail. When the Rev. Parris' daughter Betty falls ill after dancing naked in the woods, witchcraft is suspected. Betty and Abigail, to cover up their misdeeds, accuse several women in town of being witches and many of those women are arrested.

John, however, knows what Abigail is up to but cannot come clean for risk of her revealing their affair publicly. Meanwhile, some of the accused women falsely confess to witchcraft to save their own lives and accuse other people of being witches. Soon, dozens of people in town are on trial. As accused witches, the defendants are forced to surrender their property, giving more incentive for others to accuse them.

Answer: Ted

"Ted" is a 2012 comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett. When John was a little boy, he wished his teddy bear named Ted would come to life. His wish was granted and decades later, Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) and John are still friends, much to the dismay of John's girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis). Lori worries Ted's influence caused John to never really grow up as he and Ted still get into a lot of childish shenanigans together.

This causes a strain not only in their relationship but also between John and Ted.

Answer: Fox Mulder

Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) is one of the two main characters on the sci-fi series "The X-Files". He was born in Massachusetts where he was traumatized at a young age when he witnessed his younger sister Samantha be abducted by aliens. Mulder was driven to the FBI and extraterrestrial studies in order to discover what happened to Samantha.

As an adult, he works alongside Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) to investigate various strange happenings across the U.S.

Answer: Sam Malone

On "Cheers" Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson, was the ex-baseball player turned bartender. Sam is a recovering alcoholic who had many relationships with many different women, most notably with his waitress Diane (Shelley Long). Sam Malone also crossed over in other television series, including "Frasier". Sam was popular with his patrons who recognized him from his short lived baseball career.

Answer: Manchester by the Sea

Casey Affleck played Lee Chandler in "Manchester by the Sea". Lee is a lonely bachelor from Quincy who becomes the legal guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges) after his brother dies. Neither Lee nor Patrick are enthused about this. Lee especially is concerned because he was responsible for a fire that killed his three children and does not feel suited for the job.

Moreover, he is surprised his brother left him Patrick in the first place.

Answer: Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg

"Little Women" is set in Massachusetts during the American Civil War. The March Sisters are teenagers struggling to cope with their growing into womanhood and their recent poverty. Because the family is so poor, the oldest girls are forced to work and miss out on many of the experiences many teenage girls would normally have. Each girl suffers through something but all are driven to succeed to earn the life each wants.

Answer: Joe and Brian

"Wings" was a comedy series starring Tim Daly and Steven Weber as Joe and Brian Hackett, two brothers who own a small airline. The series primarily revolved around Joe and Brian's business and the other people (mostly their friends) who work in various parts of the airline and in the airport on Nantucket Island. Joe and Brian are of totally different personalities. Joe is very cautious with the business and is much more responsible and series than Brian.

Answer: St. Eligius

"St. Elsewhere" was comedy-drama series that had a large ensemble cast. Many of the characters were doctors at the St. Eligius teaching hospital. St. Eligius was so bad it earned the nickname St. Elsewhere, a derogatory term for awful hospitals. Despite this, the staff worked hard to treat their patients, most of whom were refused treatment at better hospitals.

Answer: A giant sailor

Alfred Bulltop Stormalong is a giant sailing folk hero who washed up ashore in Cape Cod as a baby. He was, allegedly, 18 feet tall as a baby and grew too tall for Cape Cod so he moved to Boston. He became a sailor but had to build ship so big its masts could reach the moon if not properly built.

He also had other adventures outside of Massachusetts, including pulling boats aboard his ship to save them from a hurricane in the Caribbean.

Answer: Arthur Dimmesdale

Arthur Dimmesdale is the local reverend in the town. He had an affair with the attractive Hester Prynne. Hester became pregnant with their daughter Pearl and she was labeled an adulteress and forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing. Hester's husband never arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and although it was suggested he died, she is still labeled an adulteress.

Moreover, Hester's husband eventually does arrive and names himself Roger Chillingworth. Hester could have received a lesser punishment but she refuses to name Pearl's father.