Poems From my Childhood Trivia Quiz

Answer: A. A. Milne

'Disobedience' was first published in the 1924 collection of poems 'When We Were Very Young', with fabulous illustrations from E. H. Shepard. (Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem 'Teddy Bear', and Disney used Shepard's illustration of that poem as the basis for his design of Winnie-the-Pooh.) The storyline is simple - James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George DuPree told his mother not to wander on her own (he took great care of her, though he was only three); she rashly tried to go to the end of the town one afternoon, and was never seen again, despite the king posting a handsome reward. My personal favorite bit was the notice King John posted:

"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES
MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF
THE TOWN - FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!"

And, of course, all three of us enjoyed participating in the whispered last verse that repeats the first verse with initials instead of words, and then erupting in a shouted finishing chorus of "You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-if-you-don't-go-down-with ME!"

Answer: Edward Lear

Edward' Lear's 'Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets', first published in 1871, started with 'The Owl and the Pussycat' along with eight other poems/songs, two stories, three recipes for nonsense food (including Amblongus Pie), some illustrations of nonsensical plants, and three alphabets - the latter were my family's favorites. We never tired of the wonderful sounds and the images they evoked.

Answer: At the Zoo

Better known as a satirical novelist ('Vanity Fair', first published in 1847-1848, is probably his best known work), Thackeray also wrote many poems, including the short one used for the question. While he did not specifically write for children, we used to enjoy acting out the animals in 'At the Zoo' - my brothers were especially keen on the monkeys, which usually led to a certain amount of rolling around on the floor, hardly the best way of getting ready for bed.

Answer: Shadow

'My Shadow' was first published in the poetry collection 'Penny Whistles' in 1885 - the collection was subsequently renamed 'A Child's Garden of Verse', and released with added illustrations. It has been included in many anthologies of verse for children.

Answer: Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? / Be off, or I'll kick you downstairs!

Alice recites this poem to the caterpillar, to illustrate her problems with remembering poetry as part of her identity crisis. A young man is questioning the eccentric behavior of his father, which includes standing on his head, turning back somersaults, and balancing an eel on his nose. Father William provides nonsensical reasons, leading to the three incorrect couplets, then finally loses his temper.

Answer: Mary Jane

'Rice Pudding', from 'When We Were Very Young', had lovely illustrations of the various stages of protest which Mary Jane carries out to the puzzlement of her carer, as exemplified by the first and last verse:

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's crying with all her might and main,
And she won't eat her dinner - rice pudding again -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

We children reveled in the smug knowledge that we could work it out, even though the adult narrator hadn't a clue!

Answer: The Cat in the Hat

All of these wonderful books were by Dr. Seuss, but it was 'The Cat in the Hat' that introduced the mischievous cat with the red and white hat, who caused chaos wherever he went. As if he weren't disruption enough, he fetched in Thing One and Thing Two, who added indoor kite-flying to the antics.

The resourceful children trapped them, and the Cat helped set everything to rights before their mother came home. (I hope that spoiler didn't ruin the suspense for you.)

Answer: Ogden Nash

Ogden Nash (1902-1971) was well known for his short and surprising verses, including the famed 'Candy is Dandy'. Another favorite of my childhood was 'Fleas', which read (in total) "Adam / Had 'em"

Answer: Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo is ostensibly responsible for writing 'The Hobbit', of which he is the title character. Recruited by dwarves to help them rescue their hereditary treasure from a dragon, he returns after many adventures to settle in the Shire, and recites this poem to describe the satisfaction of having had great adventures, but being able to be home at last. It is not part of the traditional canon of children's poetry, but it is a treasured poetic memory from my childhood.

Answer: Robert Frost

Of course, as a child I completely missed most of the significant imagery in one of Robert Frost's best-known poems, but I loved the image of a lovely snowy winter's night in New England, and the sense of companionship between the narrator and his horse. The poem didn't say so, but I always imagined the woods as a pine forest, with snow weighing down the green boughs.