Arts and Books Mixed Bag 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mary Poppins

There are eight original books relating the adventures of the Banks children and their magical nanny, Mary Poppins. Even if you have seen the film, the books are well worth reading as you will find plenty of new material.

Elsie Dinsmore was a creation of American teacher and children's writer Martha Finley in the mid-to-late 19th Century. William Brown, the protagonist of the 'Just William' stories, was created by British schoolteacher Richmal Crompton. The Mrs Pepperpot stories were written by Norwegian Alf Proysen.

Answer: As You Like It

Shapeskeare is a veritable goldmine for quiz questions, with almost endless trivia, but 'As You Like It' is one of the lesser-known plays. So here are a few nuggets for quizzers to store away for future use:
...The famous lines are spoken by Jaques (a relatively minor character who is described as 'a melancholy lord');
...The main characters in this 'pastoral comedy' include Rosalind, Celia, Oliver, Orlando and Jacques de Boys (not to be confused with Jaques, apparently);
...The jester's name is 'Touchstone' who, typically contrary of Shakespeare, is a wise fool;
...'As You Like It' was the first Shakespearean film in which Laurence Olivier played (in 1936).

Answer: 1986

Born in Castleford, Yorkshire in 1898, Moore is best remembered for his large, 'modernist' sculptures made from marble or bronze. His most famous creations are abstract depictions of people, usually women or families, often reclining. His trademark was the large hollows, or piercings, in the statues.
One of his most famous works can be seen outside the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, although there are many examples on display around the world.

Answer: South Pacific

'South Pacific' has the distinction of winning Pulitzer Prizes in two different categories... James A. Michener won in 1948 for the original book, 'Tales of the South Pacific'. Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan then shared the 'Drama' award two years later. The stage show also captured ten Tony Awards in 1950.

Answer: Jupiter

In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the father of Mars and, therefore, the grandfather of Romulus and Remus, the theoretical founders of Rome itself. Many Romans believed themselves directly descended from the Gods via this lineage.
Along with Juno and Minerva, Jupiter formed the 'Capitoline Triad'. Temples in many Roman cities were built either to this triad or to Jupiter.

Answer: The Mikado

'The Mikado', which is alternatively titled 'The Town of Titipu', is the most frequently performed of all 'Savoy Operas' (a style of Victorian comic opera pioneered by Gilbert and Sullivan). Although set in Japan, the opera was essentially a satirical dig at British politics of the time.
The best-known song from 'The Mikado' is probably 'Three Little Maids from School are We', which has been used in numerous TV shows as well as in the 1981 film 'Chariots of Fire'.
Famous players of 'Ko-Ko' include Groucho Marx (a lifelong G&S fan), Bill Oddie, Eric Idle and Dudley Moore.

Answer: Donatello

Born Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, Donatello was one of the early Renaissance artists and his work can still be seen in many parts of northern Italy.
His best known pieces include the equestrian statue of 'Gettamelata' in Padua, his bronze 'David' in the Bargello Palace in Florence (a copy of which is also in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London), his 7'9" statue of 'Saint Mark' in the Orsanmichele church in Florence, and his bronze sculpture of 'Judith and Holofernes' in Florence.
The other three options were all later than Donatello -- Bellini born 1429 in Venice, Michelangelo in 1475 and from Arezzo in eastern Tuscany, and Titian in 1485, another Venetian.

Answer: Allen Drury

Set and written at the height of the Cold War, the novel concentrates on the political storm that arises in Washington DC from the appointment of a Secretary of State who is perceived as a liberal and a Soviet appeaser.
The other three options were also winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction -- Wouk for 'The Caine Mutiny' in 1952, Mailer for 'The Executioner's Song' in 1980, and Faulkner twice, in 1955 for 'A Fable' and in 1963 for 'The Reivers'.

Answer: Edinburgh

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was born in 1850 and died relatively young, aged just 44, in Samoa. Even so, he produced numerous 19th-century classics including 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped' and 'The Strange Case of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde'.
James Boswell, the ninth Laird of Auchinleck, was born in 1740. He was a noted diarist, but is best known as the biographer of Samuel Johnson.
Sir Walter Scott was born in 1771 and a monument to him can be seen in the centre of his native Edinburgh. A novelist and poet, his most famous works include 'Ivanhoe', 'Rob Roy' and the poem, 'The Lady of the Lake'.
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, born in 1859, will always be best-remembered for creating 'Sherlock Holmes'. However, he was a prolific writer who produced plays, poetry and works of non-fiction as well as historical and sci-fi novels.

Answer: Hiawatha

Based on the legends of the Ojibway (or Chippewa) Indians, 'The Song of Hiawatha' was written in 1855 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of 'The Fireside Poets'.
We meet Hiawatha's grandmother early in the section that tells of his childhood, which is the most well-known part of the very long poem/song...
"By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis."

Gilgamesh's mother is also mentioned in the epic poem of his life, but she was the goddess Ninsun.