Sampling the Humanities Trivia Quiz

Answer: French

Born in 1875 in France near the Spanish border, Ravel is associated with Impressionist music, a form of classical music. He is perhaps best known for his orchestral piece "Boléro", which was commissioned as a ballet. The Torvill and Dean use of the piece therefore seems apt.

Answer: Theseus

Ariadne was daughter of Minos, King of Crete. Minos had this labyrinth built to house the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and body of a man. Human sacrifices were given to the Minotaur to appease a wrong. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus, who had come to slay the Minotaur. She supplied a sword and a ball of string so that Theseus could retrace his steps out of the maze once the Minotaur was dead. There are other elements to the story as well as variants.

Answer: Kipling

Rudyard Kipling is probably best known for "The Jungle Book", a collection of short stories, however his writings included poems (such as the still controversial poem "The White Man's Burden") and novels (such as "Kim", a 19th century spy tale set in India during 'the Great Game'). He was a popular writer, producing his works at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Answer: Canaletto

His full name was Giovanni Antonio Canal. His father was also a painter, which explains why he was known as 'Canaletto', meaning 'little canal'. As well as Venice landscapes, he was also an important printmaking etcher.

Answer: Robert M Pirsig

Although it became a best-seller, the manuscript was rejected by 121 publishers before getting into print, an achievement recorded in the "Guinness Book of Records". Philosophy would appear to be a difficult sell, at least as far as publishers are concerned. The book follows a 17-day journey across a large chunk of the US with philosophical discussions along the way and the occasional bit of motorcycle maintenance thrown in as well.

Answer: The Glass Menagerie

The play had its premier in Chicago during 1944. Enthusiasm from a couple of Chicago critics led to Broadway and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945, which launched his career. It features characters based on his mother, sister and himself and portrays some of his own life story.

Answer: 14th century

Chaucer played a key role in legitimizing the use of the spoken English language in literature. Up to that point, the standard written languages of books in England were French and Latin. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, being the first poet in what is now known as Poets' Corner. Apparently it was his role as Clerk of Works for the Houses of Parliament, rather than as a poet, that secured his burial spot.

Answer: Ian Fleming

The book was "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car". Ian Fleming was best known as the author of the James Bond series of spy novels. There was an airport in Jamaica named after him, near his 'Goldeneye' estate where Fleming wrote many of his Bond stories. Fleming named his estate after the wartime Operation Goldeneye, which he organised.

The Bond movie 'GoldenEye', however, was not based on a story by Fleming. It was written by Michael France.

Answer: Wren

Sir Christopher Wren, born in 1632, started out as a scientist and astronomer. It is, however, the rebuilding of St Paul's cathedral that he is remembered for. His involvement with the cathedral lasted 36 years. He also provided direction in projects such as the Royal Observatory, Chelsea Hospital, and the royal residences Kensington Palace and Hampton Court.

Answer: Haka

The haka is a traditional dance or challenge of the Maori people of New Zealand. Normally performed by men, the haka is not necessarily a war dance. It is also used by New Zealanders as a welcome, at funerals and other significant occasions.