Classic Literature for Kids Trivia Quiz

Answer: A Christmas Carol

"A Christmas Carol" was first published in December of 1843, and enjoyed great success with readers. At the time of publication, the celebration of Christmas had been banned or disapproved of for many years, both in England and the United States. Dickens' book is believed to have played an important part in the revival of Christmas celebrations as we know them today.

There have been many versions made of "A Christmas Carol" in films and on television.

Answer: Jules Verne

Jules Verne is one of the most translated authors of all time. His amazing books would foresee television, the Internet and the automobile, among many other technological advances we take for granted today. "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" was published in 1869, "Around the World in Eighty Days" in 1873, and "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 1864.

Answer: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

All the books mentioned above were written by the esteemed writer Mark Twain, (whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.) His works included "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1867), "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1889), and his all-time favorite with young readers "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884).

In addition to his novels, he wrote non-fiction and travel books, satire, philosophy and social commentary. Mark Twain is considered one of the great American authors.

Answer: Rudyard Kipling

Kipling's writings introduced his readers to the different customs and cultures of the many countries he visited, in a way that can be appreciated by young readers. He loved traveling and writing about the people he came to know in India, Afghanistan and South Africa. His works include the novels "Captains Courageous" (1896) and "Kim" (1901), many collections of short stories, and poems such as the beautiful "If". Rudyard Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

Answer: Kidnapped

The other books mentioned were also written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson was a Scottish novelist and travel writer who was greatly admired by readers and critics alike. "Kidnapped" was written as a novel for boys and was serialized in the magazine "Young Folks" in 1886. Much of the book is based on real people and actual events. It was written during a time of political turmoil in Scotland, which plays a part in the "Kidnapped" story. A sequel to "Kidnapped", called "Catriona", was published in 1893.

Answer: The Brothers Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German scholars best known for publishing collections of folk and fairy tales. During their university years they began to collect tales which had been passed down over generations, from parents to children, and by word of mouth, but which had never been published in books.

Many were based on tales written by Italian, German and French authors. Their first book, called "Children's and Household Tales", was published in 1812, to great success. "Rumpelstiltskin", "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella" were among the stories included in their collections.

Answer: Hans Christian Andersen

In the mid-1800s, Hans Christian Andersen wrote and published his stories for children including "The Little Mermaid" (1836), "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1837), "The Ugly Duckling" (1844) and "The Snow Queen" (1845). Andersen was acclaimed for his stories, which have remained popular to this day.

His fairy tales have been translated into the languages of most of the countries of the world.

Answer: Emerald City

The Emerald City is located in the middle of Oz, at the end of the Yellow Brick Road. In the first Oz book, called "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", everyone in the Emerald City was required to wear green-colored glasses so that everything would appear to be green. This was one of many tricks used by the so-called Wizard.
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum, first published in 1900. It has become one of the most popular children's stories. It was made into a play, and then into the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz" starring Judy Garland.

Answer: Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy

The characters were based on Louisa May Alcott herself (as Jo March) and her three sisters. Alcott was an American writer whose best known work is "Little Women." The book, first published in two parts, was finally published in its entirety in 1880. Two sequels followed, both continuing the story of the March sisters, "Little Men" (1871) and "Jo's Boys" (1886). There have been several film versions of "Little Women." The book has also been adapted to the stage, the opera, and as an animated feature.

Answer: Ichabod Crane

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was written by Washington Irving. He was an American author, biographer and historian. His most famous works were his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", which are part of his book "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent", published in 1819.

He also wrote biographies of George Washington, the author Oliver Goldsmith and the prophet Mohammad. The legendary Headless Horseman was said to be the ghost of a soldier who was decapitated in combat during the American Revolutionary War.

In the story, the soldier throws his own head at Crane, who falls to the ground. The next day Crane's hat is discovered, next to a burst pumpkin. Ichabod is never seen again, and the Headless Horseman is blamed.

There is more to the story, and I hope young readers will enjoy it.