Classic Gothic Literature Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mary Shelley

"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus", to give the book its full title, was written by Mary Shelley while spending a summer near Lake Geneva in Switzerland in 1816. She was staying there with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Claire Clairmont, as well as Lord Byron and his physician John William Polidori. Due to particularly heavy rain during their stay frequently keeping them house bound, Lord Byron proposed a challenge that they all write a ghost story and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. The novel was published in 1818 and there have been numerous film versions made from the silent era through to the present day.

Answer: John William Polidori

John William Polidori was also part of the group that was staying near Lake Geneva with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley when Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein", following a challenge from Byron for everyone to write a ghost story. "The Vampyre" was Polidori's effort, and is regarded as the first book that took the vampire from folklore and created the beginnings of the modern vampire story that is known today. Published in 1819, it enjoyed great success, however it has been largely overshadowed by subsequent vampire stories.

Answer: Washington Irving

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was contained in Irving's collection of short stories and essays "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" (as was "Rip Van Winkle"), which he wrote during a tour of Europe and published in 1820. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" reaches a climax with the pursuit of Ichabod Crane by a ghostly headless horseman, and parts of the story were likely influenced by the tales of headless horsemen that feature in German, Norse, Irish and Scottish storytelling and legends.

Answer: Victor Hugo

"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" (original French title: "Notre-Dame de Paris") was published in 1831, and the story revolves around the hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo and the beautiful Esmeralda, who is a street dancer that lives with gypsies. The book has more of a darker edge than is portrayed in several less than faithful Hollywood film versions of the story.

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

Published in 1842, "The Masque of the Red Death" is a short story that is centred on Prince Prospero's attempt to avoid succumbing to the Red Death, a plague that is sweeping across the land killing everyone who comes in contact with it. It was made into a film in 1964 with Roger Corman directing and Vincent Prince in the role of Prince Prospero. Corman was a great fan of Edgar Allan Poe's work, and this was one of eight films he made based on his stories. Amongst the others were "House of Usher", "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Raven".

Answer: J Sheridan Le Fanu

"Carmilla" is a novella written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, and is about a female vampire who preys on young women from the local village. It was published in 1872, thereby predating Bram Stoker's "Dracula" by 26 years and from similarities between the two stories it seems certain that Stoker was influenced by the work.

Although ultimately overshadowed by "Dracula", it has been the inspiration for several films in its own right, including Roger Vadim's "Blood and Roses" and the "Vampire Lovers" produced by Hammer Film Productions.

Answer: Robert Louis Stevenson

The focus of Robert Louis Stevenson's story is on the conflict created when scientist Dr Jekyll attempts to separate two sides of his personality, resulting in his transformations into Mr Hyde. Hyde is an alter ego with no conscience and little self-control who commits several violent acts and, as the duration of the transformation increases, begins to gradually overpower and subvert Jekyll's own personality.

The book was published in 1886 and over the years has been a favourite of Hollywood, leading to numerous film adaptions of varying quality.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

The eponymous Dorian Gray wishes to sell his soul so he can retain his youth and vigour while leading a hedonistic lifestyle. The wish is granted, and while he remains unaffected by his debauched lifestyle the full length painting he has of himself ages in his place. Wilde's book was published in 1890, and although it wasn't initially well received, its reputation has grown and it continues to be adapted for film on a regular basis.

Answer: Bram Stoker

Although not the first book about a vampire, Bram Stoker's "Dracula" has ultimately eclipsed all others to become the inspiration for subsequent vampire stories and films - of which there have been many. These include several versions by Universal Studios (1930s to early 1940s) and Hammer Film Productions (late 1950s to early 1970s). Stoker's "Dracula", published in 1897, introduces the charismatic and evil Count Dracula, and his adversary Professor Van Helsing, with whom we have become so familiar.

The book itself revolves around Count Dracula's attempt to move to England from his Transylvanian castle in an effort to find fresh victims, and his pursuit by Van Helsing which finally ends back in Transylvania.

Answer: Henry James

Written by Henry James, and published in 1898, "The Turn of the Screw" is a ghost story set in a desolate estate that is haunted by a sense of impending evil. The story is told by a narrator, and written from the point of view of the governess who was hired to look after the niece and nephew of the estate's owner.

Although both the governess and her wards can see the ghosts, the children refuse to acknowledge their presence, which leads to ever an increasing sense of foreboding for all present.