FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

The Real Harry Potter Trivia Quiz

Few readers of the Harry Potter series are aware of the background of the books in the mythology and history of many cultures. How much do you know of the reality behind the books?

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
crisw

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
104,766

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
17400

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 151 (7/15), Guest 86 (15/15), triviag85 (3/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Boggarts, in the Harry Potter books, are creatures that transform into an apparition of your greatest fear. In Northern England, where the boggart legend originated, what were boggarts? Hint

Deformed garden gnomes

Malicious house spirits

Shapeshifters

Burrowing demons

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. Parts of quite a few plants and creatures are mentioned as potion ingredients. Which potion contributor is not real? Hint

Flobberworm

Asphodel

Boomslang

Dittany

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. One of the centaurs that Harry meets in the Forbidden Forest is named Firenze. What is the significance of this name? Hint

It is the name of a famous philosopher

It is the name of a city of learning

It is the name of a famous alchemist

It is the name of a person who wrote about centaurs

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. One potion ingredient is the bezoar, supposedly found in the stomach of a goat. Is this a real item?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. Harry learns that the Grim, a huge black dog, is an apparition that foretells death. The Grim has been a part of Yorkshire tales for many years. What is it known as in Yorkshire? Hint

Hell hound

Barghest

Bain sidhe

Druid's dog

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. The grindylow, a water demon, is a part of Yorkshire folklore, like many of the creatures in the Potter series. In the Yorkshire tales, what was the grindylow known for? Hint

Drowning livestock

Poisoning water supplies

Making an awful noise

Eating children

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. The basilisk that Harry faced differed from the mythological portrayal of its kind in several respects. What was one of these differences? Hint

Its reaction to a rooster's crow

Its size

Its deadly gaze

Its reptilian appearance

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. From what literary work is the spider Aragog likely to have derived his name? Hint

The Lord of the Rings

Macbeth

The Bible

Aesop's Fables

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Beauxbatons Academy is probably located in France. What does its name mean? Hint

Beautiful sticks

Fine bats

Handsome grooms

Good teachers

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. Sirius Black is named after what dog-related object? Hint

A breed of dog

A species of wild dog

A star

The moon

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. The pus-filled bubotubers take their name from what deadly disease? Hint

Gangrene

Leprosy

Plague

Cancer

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Dumbledore's phoenix is named Fawkes. What did the real Fawkes do? Hint

Attempted bombing

Saved many people from a fire

Murdered someone

Cured disease

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. The caretaker of Hogwarts is named Argus Filch. Why is this name appropriate? Hint

Argus was a cleaning man

Argus liked to spy on others

Argus had a nasty temper

Argus had many eyes

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Was there a real Nicolas Flamel?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, is named after a what? Hint

Norse owl god

Aviator

Author of magical books

Saint

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Nov 04 2024 : Guest 151: 7/15
Nov 03 2024 : Guest 86: 15/15
Nov 03 2024 : triviag85: 3/15
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 99: 8/15
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 50: 8/15
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 173: 12/15
Oct 26 2024 : MissVoldy: 8/15
Oct 25 2024 : Guest 207: 8/15
Oct 25 2024 : Guest 173: 12/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Boggarts, in the Harry Potter books, are creatures that transform into an apparition of your greatest fear. In Northern England, where the boggart legend originated, what were boggarts?

Answer: Malicious house spirits

Boggarts looked something like the house-elves in the books, except that they were hairy. They delighted in the types of acts that Peeves the Poltergeist would find amusing- blowing out candles, spilling food, pinching babies and the like. It was almost impossible to get rid of them- the only cure for a Boggart infestation was moving!

2. Parts of quite a few plants and creatures are mentioned as potion ingredients. Which potion contributor is not real?

Answer: Flobberworm

The boomslang is a deadly African snake. Asphodel and dittany are herbs that have long been used in potions.

3. One of the centaurs that Harry meets in the Forbidden Forest is named Firenze. What is the significance of this name?

Answer: It is the name of a city of learning

Firenze is the Italian name for Florence, a city known as a fount of learning and wisdom. As centaurs are very wise creatures, this is an appropriate name.

4. One potion ingredient is the bezoar, supposedly found in the stomach of a goat. Is this a real item?

Answer: Yes

There is even one wild goat, a species of ibex, known as the "bezoar goat."

5. Harry learns that the Grim, a huge black dog, is an apparition that foretells death. The Grim has been a part of Yorkshire tales for many years. What is it known as in Yorkshire?

Answer: Barghest

All over Great Britain, large black dogs are symbols of impending doom.

6. The grindylow, a water demon, is a part of Yorkshire folklore, like many of the creatures in the Potter series. In the Yorkshire tales, what was the grindylow known for?

Answer: Eating children

It would lurk near shore, grabbing any children that came to the water's edge.

7. The basilisk that Harry faced differed from the mythological portrayal of its kind in several respects. What was one of these differences?

Answer: Its size

In European and Middle Eastern mythology, the basilisk was a smallish creature.

8. From what literary work is the spider Aragog likely to have derived his name?

Answer: The Bible

While the "ara" portion of the name refers to a spider, Gog and Magog were Biblical giants who were allies of the Devil.

9. Beauxbatons Academy is probably located in France. What does its name mean?

Answer: Beautiful sticks

This may be a reference to wands.

10. Sirius Black is named after what dog-related object?

Answer: A star

Sirius, located in the constellation Canis Major, is also known as the "Dog Star."

11. The pus-filled bubotubers take their name from what deadly disease?

Answer: Plague

Plague victims break out in pus-filled blisters called buboes.

12. Dumbledore's phoenix is named Fawkes. What did the real Fawkes do?

Answer: Attempted bombing

Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the British House of Parliament in 1605. Guy Fawkes day is still celebrated with fireworks, bonfires and other fire-related activities, appropriate for a phoenix.

13. The caretaker of Hogwarts is named Argus Filch. Why is this name appropriate?

Answer: Argus had many eyes

Argus was a Greek giant with one hundred eyes.

14. Was there a real Nicolas Flamel?

Answer: Yes

Yes, and just as in the books, he was an alchemist. He lived from 1330-1418, was quite successful in business, and gave generous endowments to public works. There is a street named after him in Paris.

15. Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, is named after a what?

Answer: Saint

St. Hedwig was female. She lived from 1174-1243 in Germany (then Silesia.) She received sainthood for aiding and comforting victims of every kind of tragedy.

Source: Author crisw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor magpie8 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.