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Quiz about Gilbert and Sullivans Iolanthe
Quiz about Gilbert and Sullivans Iolanthe

Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe" Quiz

If you've ever seen Gilbert and Sullivan's hilarious operetta "Iolanthe" (or "The Peer and the Peri") you should definitely try this quiz! I give you a taste of the lyrics, you give me the song!

A multiple-choice quiz by HogwartsHottie. Estimated time: 8 mins.
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Author
HogwartsHottie
Time
8 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
174,445
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
25
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
15 / 25
Plays
460
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Question 1 of 25
1. First of all, what is the play "Iolanthe" about? Hint


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Question 2 of 25
2. What song is this? "If you ask us how we live, lovers all essentials give. We can ride on lovers' sighs, warm ourselves in lovers' eyes..." Hint


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Question 3 of 25
3. What song is this? "Every heart and every hand in our loving little band, welcomes thee to fairyland!" Hint


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Question 4 of 25
4. What song is this? "With joy beyond telling, my bosom is swelling! So join in a measure expressive of pleasure, for I'm to be married today, today! Yes, I'm to be married today!" Hint


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Question 5 of 25
5. What song is this? "Shouldst thou be in doubt or danger, peril or perplexity, call us and we'll come to thee!" Hint


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Question 6 of 25
6. What song is this? "I prithee discover, steal purchase or borrow some means of concealing the care you are feeling and join in a measure expressive of pleasure..." Hint


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Question 7 of 25
7. What song is this? "Thou the tree, and I the flower; Thou the idol, I the throng; Thou the day, and I the hour; Thou the singer, I the song!" Hint


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Question 8 of 25
8. What song is this? "Bow, bow, ye lower middle classes! Bow, bow, ye tradesmen, bow ye masses!" Hint


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Question 9 of 25
9. What song is this? "The constitutional guardian I of pretty young Wards in Chancery, all very agreeable girls, and none over the age of twenty-one. A pleasant occupation for a rather susceptible Chancellor!" Hint


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Question 10 of 25
10. What song is this? "Of all the young ladies that I know this pretty young lady's the fairest: Her lips have the rosiest show, her eyes are the richest and rarest..." Hint


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Question 11 of 25
11. What song is this? "No, no, indeed high rank will never hurt you-- peerage is not destitute of virtue." Hint


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Question 12 of 25
12. What song is this? "When virtuous love is sought thy power is naught, though dating from the Flood, blue blood-- ah, blue blood!" Hint


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Question 13 of 25
13. What song is this? "'Tis I, young Strephon! Mine this priceless treasure! Against the world I claim my darling's hand!" Hint


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Question 14 of 25
14. What song is this? "I'll work on a new and original plan (Said I to myself said I), I'll never assume that a rogue or a thief is a gentleman worthy of implicit belief, because his attorney sent me a brief (Said I to myself said I)!" Hint


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Question 15 of 25
15. What song is this? "When tempests wreck thy bark, and all is drear and dark, if thou shouldst need an ark, I'll give the one!" "What was that?" "I heard the minx remark, she'd meet him after dark inside St. James's Park and give him one!" Hint


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Question 16 of 25
16. What song is this? "He exercises of his brains-- that is, assuming he's got any!" Hint


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Question 17 of 25
17. What song is this? "Strephon makes them shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Strephon makes them shake in their shoes, shake in their shoes!" Hint


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Question 18 of 25
18. What song is this? "It's true we sigh, but don't suppose a tearful eye forgiveness shows!" Hint


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Question 19 of 25
19. What song is this? "Because I fly in realms above, in tendency to fall in love, resemble I the am'rous dove? Resemble I the am'rous dove? Oh, am'rous dove! Type of Ovidius, Naso!" Hint


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Question 20 of 25
20. What song is this? "Oh many a man in friendship's name, has yielded fortune rank and fame! But no one yet, in the world so wide, has yielded up a promised bride!" Hint


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Question 21 of 25
21. What song is this? "He's a bit undersized and you don't feel surprised when he tells you he's only eleven. Well, you're driving like mad with this singular lad (By-the-by the ship's now a four wheeler). And you're playing round games and he calls you bad names when you tell him that 'ties pay the dealer'..." Hint


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Question 22 of 25
22. What song is this? "If by chance we should be parted, broken hearted I should die. So I think we'll not tarry ere we marry, you and I." Hint


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Question 23 of 25
23. What song is this? "He dies! If fondly laid aside in some old cabinet, memorials of thy long dead bride lie dearly treasured yet. Then let her hallowed bridal dress--her little dainty gloves-- her withered flowers-- her faided tress--plead for my boy--he loves!" Hint


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Question 24 of 25
24. What song is this? "My doom thy lips have spoken-- I plead in vain!" "Forbear! Forbear!" "A vow already broken, I break again!" Hint


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Question 25 of 25
25. What song is this? "Though as a general rule we know, two strings go to every bow. Make up your minds that grief t'will bring if you've two beaux to every string!" Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. First of all, what is the play "Iolanthe" about?

Answer: A fairy who is forced to leave her mortal husband and their son's misadventures trying to marry his girlfriend.

 "Iolanthe" is about a fairy who was banished from her fairy band for marrying the Lord Chancellor. Iolanthe's son, Strephon, falls for the Lord Chancellor's lovely ward, Phyllis. But, the Lord Chancellor, not knowing of his son's existence, wants Phyllis for his own! Ay, me!
2. What song is this? "If you ask us how we live, lovers all essentials give. We can ride on lovers' sighs, warm ourselves in lovers' eyes..."

Answer: Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither

 Fairies: "Tripping hither, tripping thither, nobody knows why our whither! We must dance and we must sing round about our fairy ring!"

This is at the very beginning of the show, when the fairies bounce onstage to tell about how much they miss Iolanthe.
3. What song is this? "Every heart and every hand in our loving little band, welcomes thee to fairyland!"

Answer: Iolanthe! From Thy Dark Exile

 The Queen and Fairies: "Welcome to our hearts again, Iolanthe! Iolanthe! We have shared thy bitter pain, Iolanthe! Iolanthe! Every heart and every hand in our loving little band, welcomes the to fairyland, Iolanthe! Iolanthe!"

Here the queen and her band summon Iolanthe back from her stream, so she can rejoin their band.
4. What song is this? "With joy beyond telling, my bosom is swelling! So join in a measure expressive of pleasure, for I'm to be married today, today! Yes, I'm to be married today!"

Answer: Good Morrow, Good Mother

 Strephon and fairies: "Yes he's to be married today, today! Yes, he's to be married today!"

This song occurs when Iolanthe introduces her son, Strephon to her sisters and fairy brethren.
5. What song is this? "Shouldst thou be in doubt or danger, peril or perplexity, call us and we'll come to thee!"

Answer: Fare Thee Well

 The Queen and fairies: "Fare thee well, attractive stranger."

Here, the queen promises that Strephon will have the fairies' special protection no matter where he goes.
6. What song is this? "I prithee discover, steal purchase or borrow some means of concealing the care you are feeling and join in a measure expressive of pleasure..."

Answer: Good Morrow, Good Lover

 Strephon and Phyllis: "For we're to be married today, today! Yes, we're to be married today!"

We meet Phyllis in this song-- Strephon's one true love. They plan to be married today, even though the Lord Chancellor (Phyllis' guardian) forbids it.
7. What song is this? "Thou the tree, and I the flower; Thou the idol, I the throng; Thou the day, and I the hour; Thou the singer, I the song!"

Answer: None Shall Part Us From Each Other

 Phyllis and Strephon: "None shall part us from each other: one in life and death are we. All in all to one another; I to thee and thou to me."

They declare their undying love for each other... how cute!
8. What song is this? "Bow, bow, ye lower middle classes! Bow, bow, ye tradesmen, bow ye masses!"

Answer: Loudly Let the Trumpet Bray

 The peers: "Loudly let the trumpet bray! Tan-ta-ta-ra! (tzing-boom)Tan-ta-ta-ra! (tzing-boom)"

They basically just march in during this song. How exciting, huh?! But it is a hilarious song!
9. What song is this? "The constitutional guardian I of pretty young Wards in Chancery, all very agreeable girls, and none over the age of twenty-one. A pleasant occupation for a rather susceptible Chancellor!"

Answer: The Law is the True Embodyment

 The Lord Chancellor and peers: "The law is the true embodyment of everything that's excellent. It has no kind of fault or flaw, and I, my lords, embody the law!"

Here the Lord Chancellor introduces himself, and brags about his position to his peers.
10. What song is this? "Of all the young ladies that I know this pretty young lady's the fairest: Her lips have the rosiest show, her eyes are the richest and rarest..."

Answer: My Well-Loved Lord and Guardian Dear

 Phyllis, Lord Tolloler, Lord Mountararat, and peers: "My well loved lord and guardian dear, you summoned me and I am here!" "Oh rapture! How beautiful! How gentle, how dutiful!"

The peers are all in love with Phyllis, and want her for their promised bride. But, of course, we already know she loves Strephon.
11. What song is this? "No, no, indeed high rank will never hurt you-- peerage is not destitute of virtue."

Answer: Nay, Tempt Me Not

 Phyllis and peers: "Nay, tempt me not, to rank I'll not be bound. In lowly cot alone is virtue found."

Phyllis makes it quite clear that rank doesn't matter to her, and she'd rather marry a shepherd (like Strephon) she does love than rich peers whom she doesn't.
12. What song is this? "When virtuous love is sought thy power is naught, though dating from the Flood, blue blood-- ah, blue blood!"

Answer: Spurn Not the Nobly Born

 Lord Tolloler and peers: "Spurn not the nobly born with love affected, nor treat with virtuous scorn the well connected!"

Peers RULE! When I was in "Iolanthe", I played Iolanthe and a peer on my off-nights.
13. What song is this? "'Tis I, young Strephon! Mine this priceless treasure! Against the world I claim my darling's hand!"

Answer: My Lords, It May Not Be

 Phyllis, Lord Tolloler, Lord Mountararat, Strephon, Lord Chancellor, and peers: "My lords it may not be! With grief my heart is riven! You waste your time on me, for ah, my heart is given!"

Phyllis tells all the lords that she is already betrothed to Strephon. Let's just say that they are NOT happy.
14. What song is this? "I'll work on a new and original plan (Said I to myself said I), I'll never assume that a rogue or a thief is a gentleman worthy of implicit belief, because his attorney sent me a brief (Said I to myself said I)!"

Answer: I Went to the Bar As A Very Young Man

 Lord Chancellor: "Said I to myself said I!"
15. What song is this? "When tempests wreck thy bark, and all is drear and dark, if thou shouldst need an ark, I'll give the one!" "What was that?" "I heard the minx remark, she'd meet him after dark inside St. James's Park and give him one!"

Answer: Act 1 Finale: When Darkly Looms the Day

 Cast: "I worshiped him blindly, he worships another!" "Attend to my kindly, this lady's my mother!" "This lady's his WHAT?" "This lady's my mother!" "This lady's his WHAT?" "He says she's his mother!" "Hahahahahaha! Hahahahaha!"

Here, Strephon is caught getting cozy with his mother, Iolanthe, and everyone won't believe that she's his mom for the simple reason that she looks like she's 17. (She IS a fairy, after all.) Phyllis declares that she and Strephon must be parted, much to his dismay. The Queen also casts a spell, putting Strephon in charge of both political houses-- much to the peer's dismay!
16. What song is this? "He exercises of his brains-- that is, assuming he's got any!"

Answer: When All Night Long A Chap Remains

 Private Willis: "When all night long a chap remains on sentry go, to chase the monotony..."

Act 2: We're now in London at the house of peers.
17. What song is this? "Strephon makes them shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Strephon makes them shake in their shoes, shake in their shoes!"

Answer: Strephon's A Member of Parliment

 Fairies: "Strephon's a member of parliament! Carries every bill he chooses. To his measures all assent-- showing fairies have their uses."
18. What song is this? "It's true we sigh, but don't suppose a tearful eye forgiveness shows!"

Answer: In Vain to Us You Plead

 Fairies and peers: "In vain to us you plead-- Don't go! Your prayers we do not heed-- Don't go!"

After the peers sing a song about Britain, the fairies begin to warm up to their pompous behavior, but strongly refuse to take away Strephon's position in parliament.
19. What song is this? "Because I fly in realms above, in tendency to fall in love, resemble I the am'rous dove? Resemble I the am'rous dove? Oh, am'rous dove! Type of Ovidius, Naso!"

Answer: Oh, Foolish Fay

 The Queen and fairies: "Oh foolish fay, think you, because his brave array my bosom thaws, I'd disobey our fairy laws?"

Here, the queen spots Private Willis who attracts her attention. However, to set an example for her subjects she "wrestles with" her "natural impulse to fall down and worship" him.
20. What song is this? "Oh many a man in friendship's name, has yielded fortune rank and fame! But no one yet, in the world so wide, has yielded up a promised bride!"

Answer: Though P'rhaps I May Incur Your Blame

 Phyllis, Lord Tololler, Lord Mountararat, and Private Willis: "Though p'rhaps I may incur your blame, the things are few I would not do in friendship's name!" "And I may say I think the same; Not even love should rank above friendship's name!"

Lucky Lord Tololler and Lord Mountararat are told by the Lord Chancellor that they must decide, out of the two of them, who gets to marry Phyllis. Both decide to decline, out of friendship's name, of course.
21. What song is this? "He's a bit undersized and you don't feel surprised when he tells you he's only eleven. Well, you're driving like mad with this singular lad (By-the-by the ship's now a four wheeler). And you're playing round games and he calls you bad names when you tell him that 'ties pay the dealer'..."

Answer: Love, Unrequited, Robs Me of My Rest

 Lord Chancellor: "Love, unrequited, robs me of my rest: Love, hopeless love, my ardent soul encumbers..."

The Lord Chancellor realizes that he, too, loves Phyllis. He decides to let himself marry her.
22. What song is this? "If by chance we should be parted, broken hearted I should die. So I think we'll not tarry ere we marry, you and I."

Answer: If We're Weak Enough to Tarry

 Strephon and Phyllis: "If we're weak enough to tarry ere we marry, you and I. Of the feeling I inspire, you may tire..."

Strephon explains to Phyllis that Iolanthe is indeed his mother, and that he is half a fairy. She doesn't mind and swears that she understands that if she ever again catches him with another woman, it will only be "an elderly relative". Their wedding is back on-- if only they can convince the Chancellor...
23. What song is this? "He dies! If fondly laid aside in some old cabinet, memorials of thy long dead bride lie dearly treasured yet. Then let her hallowed bridal dress--her little dainty gloves-- her withered flowers-- her faided tress--plead for my boy--he loves!"

Answer: My Lord, A Suppliant at Your Feet

 Iolanthe: "My lord, a suppliant at your feet I kneal! Oh, listen to a mother's fond appeal! Hear me tonight! I come in urgent need-- 'Tis for my son, young Strephon, that I plead!"

Out of love for her son and her daughter-in-law-to-be, Iolanthe approaches the Lord Chancellor (her husband who she had to leave when she was banished and who thinks her dead) in hopes of convincing him to let Strephon marry Phyllis.
24. What song is this? "My doom thy lips have spoken-- I plead in vain!" "Forbear! Forbear!" "A vow already broken, I break again!"

Answer: It May Not Be

 Iolanthe, Lord Chancellor, Queen, and fairies: "It may not be-- for so the fates decide! Learn thou that Phyllis is my promised bride!" "Thy bride? No no!"

The Lord Chancellor tells Iolanthe that he is to marry Phyllis. Iolanthe is shocked and hurt that he would betray her like this. She reveals herself as his wife, and he too is in shock. The fairy queen arrives, telling Iolanthe that she has broken another fairy law, and must be killed.
25. What song is this? "Though as a general rule we know, two strings go to every bow. Make up your minds that grief t'will bring if you've two beaux to every string!"

Answer: Soon As We May, Off and Away

 Cast: "Up in the air sky high, sky high, free from Wards in Chancery he will be surely happier for he's such a susceptible Chancellor!"

All the fairies confess that they, too, have married the mortal peers, so if the Queen is to kill Iolanthe, she must kill them all. The Queen can't very well kill (or banish) all of her fairy band! The brilliant Lord Chancellor advises that the queen tweak the law to say that all fairies who do NOT marry a mortal, will be killed. The queen agrees, and snags Private Willis for her husband... and everyone lives HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN FAIRY LAND!
Source: Author HogwartsHottie

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