A Medley of Maids Trivia Quiz

Answer: Maid Marian

Before her name was linked to Robin Hood (somewhere during the 15th or 16th century), the name of Maid Marian was associated with May Day celebrations as a shepherdess whose lover was Robin, also a shepherd. The two names became conflated with the legend of an outlaw whose feats were celebrated in ballads.

The rough outlaw developed in time to be seen as a noble character who stole from the rich to give to the poor, who supported the king (popularly backdated to Richard I, although his reign was before the start of the Robin Hood legends) and fought against iniquity.

Answer: Rosie

George and Jane Jetson, their teenage daughter Judy, their son Elroy (whose age varied between six and ten) and their dog Astro lived in the Skypad Apartments in Orbit City. It featured a large number of space-age conveniences, apparently leaving their robot maid with little to do besides the cleaning - she always seemed to be rolling around waving a feather duster or pushing a vacuum cleaner around the apartment.

The character was voiced by Jean Vander Pyl, who was also responsible for Wilma Flintstone.

Answer: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden was formed in 1975 by Steve Harris, with a lineup that didn't last very long. There have been a number of arrivals and departures over the years; the lineup on the album 'Iron Maiden' was Paul Di'Anno (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass and backing vocals, as well as primary songwriter), Dennis Stratton (guitar and backing vocals), Dave Murray (guitar) and Clive Burr (drums).

The cover art included a somewhat demonic figure which was given the name Eddie, and in various guises has appeared on all their subsequent albums (and T-shirts, posters, etc.).

Answer: Hispanic

The comedy-drama series centres on five maids who work for wealthy families in Beverly Hills. The original premise was that the son of Marisol Suarez (Ana Ortiz) had been accused of murdering a maid named Flora Hernandez, so she posed as a maid in order to identify the real killer.

She and Flora's four friends Zoila (Judy Reyes), Rosie (Dania Ramirez), Carmen (Roselyn Sanchez) and Valentina (Edy Ganem) attempt to find the killer without revealing some of the less salubrious circumstances surrounding the murder. Of course, along the way there are plenty of shenanigans.

Answer: Maidenhair fern

Also known as walking ferns, the genus name for maidenhair ferns comes from a Greek word meaning "not wetting", because the ferns have fronds which are sleek - water rolls off them, rather than collecting on their surface. The English name maidenhair refers to their typically dark stalks and bright green fronds.

There are about 200 different species, including the five-fingered fern, the Venus-hair fern, and the California maidenhair.

Answer: Chamber maid

It is fascinating to read books of household management detailing what the tasks of the various types of servant were, and how this varied according to the size of the establishment. In smaller households a general housemaid might take on the roles of several specialists; in larger households there were management-level servants whose basic job was to make sure the underlings did their jobs efficiently. Each of these would focus their efforts on a particular part of the house.

The chamber maid (of which there could be several, in houses with lots of bedrooms) maintained the floors with sleeping chambers: kept the halls clean, tidied up the bedrooms each morning (and cleaned them thoroughly on a regular basis), drew baths, tended to any fireplaces in the bedrooms, laid out clothes as required, and got an afternoon and evening off once or twice a month.

Answer: The Help

When Skeeter Phelan returns home with a college degree, and tries to find out what happened to their maid Constantine, who has disappeared, she meets a number of Constantine's friends, and becomes aware of the manner in which they are treated. She encourages them to write a book (titled 'Help') describing their experiences as black servants for white families, a project that held significant personal danger for the women in that time and place.

A film adaptation of 'The Help' was released in 2011.

Answer: Wearing a designer coat

Hotel maid Marisa (played by Jennifer Lopez) is persuaded by a friend to model the designer coat she was supposed to be returning to the store, and in walks Chris (Ralph Fiennes), who promptly falls in love with her. The misunderstanding as to her identity leads to a number of humorous incidents, and (it's a romantic comedy) they end up together, reunited by the intervention of her cute ten-year-old son who had been responsible for Chris showing up in the hotel room in the first place.

Answer: Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

She earned this nickname for her role in lifting the siege of Orleans in 1429. Less than a year later she was captured at Compiegne by Burgundians who were allies of the English, to whom they handed her over. After being found guilty of a number of charges, she was burned at the stake, aged about nineteen, on 30 May 1431.

In 1456 she was cleared of the charges, and declared a martyr. In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte declared her to be a symbol of France, and she was canonized in 1920. St. Jeanne d'Arc is one of the Patron Saints of France, and has been the subject of a number of plays and movies over the years.

Answer: Rita

The other ladies were in the titles of Beatles songs, but it was 'Lovely Rita' whose job included handing out parking tickets. In the UK, she would normally have been called a parking warden, but the American term led to the much more singable opening lines, "Lovely Rita meter maid, Nothing can come between us.

When it gets dark I tow your heart away." The song (written and sung by Paul McCartney, although the writing credit was, as usual, given as Lennon/McCartney) was recorded between February and April of 1967, as part of the album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

It was track 10, appearing between 'When I'm Sixty-Four' and 'Good Morning, Good Morning' on Side Two.