Paws Up for Anthropomorphism! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aesop

Aesop's history is not certain, but it is believed that he was a slave in ancient Greek times, born around 620 BCE. He wrote many moral stories for children, giving the animals depicted in his 'Fables' anthropomorphic or 'human' qualities in order to illustrate the moral of the story. His enduring tales have been translated into many languages and are still taught to children today. 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' is a particular favourite, demonstrating to children the importance of not giving a false alarm, because when they do tell the truth they will not be believed.

All the other choices were ancient Greeks of some renown. Herodotus was an historian, Socrates a philosopher, and Archimedes a mathematician and physicist among his many other accomplishments.

Answer: Grandmother

Little Red Riding Hood was indeed on her way to visit her grandmother. There are many different adaptations of the tale 'Little Red Riding Hood', a fairy tale believed to have originated in 14th-century France. The most widely known version today is that compiled in the 19th century by the Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in their 'Grimm's Fairy Tales'. In this version the little girl was saved from her untimely fate by a woodsman. The oldest known printed account is the one collected by 17th century French writer Charles Perrault (1628-1703), which did not, alas, have such a happy ending.

Answer: Rupert Bear

Rupert lives in Nutwood with his parents. Some of his friends are Ping-Pong the Pekinese, Edward Trunk the elephant, Algy Pug and his best friend, Bill Badger. Rupert, his parents and his many friends are all anthropomorphic, although there are human characters too, such as the Professor, who often introduces Rupert and his 'pals' to new adventures. Rupert wears yellow checked trousers with a corresponding scarf, topped off by a bright red jumper.

Originally created by writer and artist Mary Tourtel of Canterbury, Kent, Rupert made his debut in The Daily Express in 1920 and, under the authorship of different writers and artists over the years continues to this day. There have been several books, annuals, television series and even videogames devoted to Rupert and he has a large fan following. There is also a museum dedicated to him in Canterbury.

Answer: The White Rabbit

All the choices appear in the book, but the White Rabbit is the first character Alice meets after she falls asleep on the riverbank when her dream (and the tale) begins. Lewis Carroll's wonderful story introduces the reader to many colourful animal characters including the March Hare and the Dormouse, who Alice meets at the Hatter's tea party, the Gryphon, the Mock Turtle and many more.

Lewis Carroll was the pen name of English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898). His other works include the sequel to 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Alice Through the Looking-Glass', which features the nonsense poem 'Jabberwocky'.

Answer: Fantastic

Roald Dahl's children's novel 'Fantastic Mr Fox' details the devious ploys of a fox to feed his wife and family despite the increasing efforts of three local farmers to protect their livestock. Despite nearly being caught and losing his tail, Mr Fox outwits the waiting farmers and digs a tunnel into their chicken houses and stores to steal food for his family. Along the way he meets with other animals and shares his good fortune with them, while the farmers wait in vain.

British author Roald Dahl (1916-1990) brought his own unique perspective to many children's books, among them 'James and the Giant Peach', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'The BFG'. 'Fantastic Mr Fox' was made into an animated film in 2009 starring George Clooney voicing the part of Mr Fox.

Answer: Paddington

Paddington is found on the platform at Paddington Station by Mr and Mrs Brown, with a note pinned to his coat reading simply 'Please look after this bear. Thank you'. He tells them he has been sent as a stowaway to England from 'Darkest Peru' by his Aunt Lucy. The Browns take him into their home to live with them and their children Jonathan and Judy, where he quickly becomes part of their lives. Paddington is friends with local antiques seller Mr Gruber and visits him frequently in his shop for 'elevenses'.

Paddington has featured in many books since author Michael Bond introduced him to his many followers in 'A Bear Called Paddington' in 1958.

Answer: Human being

The 'Tailor of Gloucester' is a real live human being! A tailor by profession, he discovers his cat has trapped some mice and, feeling sorry for them, releases them. When his cat, Simpkin, returns home from his task of obtaining some silk to finish an important order, a waistcoat for the local Mayor's wedding, he finds the mice have been released and hides the silk out of spite. The mice save the day, however; grateful for their release they finish the waistcoat so it is completed in time for the wedding, all except for the last buttonhole, which is soon remedied when Simpkin returns the silk.

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was a remarkable woman. As well as bringing to the world such delightful characters as Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin et al, she was also a keen businesswoman, sheep farmer and conservationist.

Answer: Kaa

Kaa, who is very old and very long, becomes one of Mowgli's best friends in the jungle and rescues him on more than one occasion. There are two other snakes in the book, Nag and his wife Nagaina, who are cobras. Baloo is the bear, Bagheera the panther and Raksha the mother wolf who adopts Mowgli.

'The Jungle Book' was written by English author Rudyard Kipling (1867-1947), who was inspired in many of his writings by his links with India, having been born there and also spent some of his adult life there. His first cousin was three-times British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Kipling's home, Bateman's, in Burwash, East Sussex, was bequeathed to the National Trust and is now a museum devoted to the author's life, and well worth a visit.

Answer: Poohsticks

Such is the popularity of Poohsticks there is even a World Poohsticks Championships, which takes place annually in Oxfordshire on the River Thames! The stories are set in the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Christopher Robin's adventures with his friends Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, Owl and the others take place in the 'Hundred Acre Wood' which is named after the Forest's Five Hundred Acre Wood. In 1925 A A Milne purchased Cotchford Farm in nearby Hartfield, which was the family home for many years and where Christopher Robin Milne grew up.

The delightful illustrations in the books are all by the artist E H Shepard, and Winnie the Pooh and his friends are immortalised in film and television as well as many toys and other merchandise.

Answer: Toad

Mr Toad is very well off and lives in his family home, Toad Hall. Good-hearted, sociable and lovable, but very conceited, he is a demon driver and lives life in the fast lane. He even spends time in prison for dangerous driving in a car he has stolen, eventually escaping dressed as a washerwoman, with the assistance of the gaoler's daughter, a rare human character in the novel.

'The Wind in the Willows' was written by Kenneth Grahame and remains an all-time classic. It was published for the first time in 1908 and has been reprinted many times over the years. There have been many television and film adaptations made of the book, and also a stage play under the name 'Toad of Toad Hall' written by A A Milne, creator of 'Winnie the Pooh', which opened in London in 1929.