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Head Hunting Trivia Quiz

Schools feature prominently in many literary works. The head teachers vary from benevolent to distinctly malevolent. Take this short test and find out how many you know!

A multiple-choice quiz by MaggieG. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
MaggieG

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
222,016

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
317

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Dr Thomas Arnold (1795-1842) is one of the most famous headmasters in 19th century Britain with the added distinction of appearing in a famous novel written at that time. What was the name of the school over which he presided? Hint

Rugby

Harrow

Eton

Winchester

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Question 2 of 10

2. In Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' a cruel and sadistic headteacher gets her come-uppance through Matilda's remarkable telekinetic powers. Who was this horrific creation? Hint

Miss Trunchbull

Miss Transom

Miss Trumpton

Miss Truncheon

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Question 3 of 10

3. At which school created by Enid Blyton was Miss Theobald the wise and kindly headmistress? Hint

St. Clare's

Gaylands School

Malory Towers

Grange Hill

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who is the harsh and vulgar headteacher who treats David Copperfield so badly during his time at Salem House school? Hint

Wackford Squeers

Mr Creakle

Thomas Gradgrind

Mr M'Choakumchild

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Question 5 of 10

5. Miss Jean Brodie, that charismatic and artistic character created by Muriel Spark, frequently found herself at loggerheads with the principal of the school in which she taught, because of her dangerously progressive attitudes. What was her name? Hint

Miss Marcia Blane

Miss MacKay

Miss Mary MacGregor

Miss Monica Douglas

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Question 6 of 10

6. The name of the Rev. Herbert Henry Locke, D.D. is not nearly as well known as one of his pupils. Of which school was he the head, given that his most famous pupil was sometimes known as 'the Owl of the Remove'? Hint

Charterhouse

Greyfriars

Rugby

Harrow

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Question 7 of 10

7. In this literary school the head is nameless, but has a great fondness for tea and biscuits, and always wears his gown and mortarboard. Some of the pupils of the school are named Wilfred, Smiffy and Cuthbert Cringeworthy. What is this famous school? Hint

Fenn Street

King Street

Rosamund Street

Bash Street

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Question 8 of 10

8. The eponymous villain in 'The Demon Headmaster' is a terrifying creation who hypnotises his pupils. Who created this monster? Hint

Jacqueline Wilson

Helen Cresswell

J.K.Rowling

Gillian Cross

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Question 9 of 10

9. Algy Herries was the head of Bamfylde school in a novel by R.F. Delderfield. Played by Frank Middlemass in a hugely popular television adaptation in 1980, what was the name of the novel? Hint

To Serve Them All My Days

Lucky Jim

Goodbye, Mr Chips

The History Man

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Question 10 of 10

10. Another victim of a cruel and autocratic head was Jane Eyre in the Charlotte Bronte novel. Sent away to school by her aunt, Jane suffers greatly at Lowood school at the hands of which headteacher? Hint

Miss Scatcherd

Mr Paul Emmanuel

Mr Brocklehurst

Dr John Bretton

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Rugby

'Tom Brown's Schooldays', set in Rugby School, was written by Thomas Hughes. Thomas Arnold was a great reforming educator, although his ideas were not widely accepted at first. His son was Matthew Arnold the poet.

2. In Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' a cruel and sadistic headteacher gets her come-uppance through Matilda's remarkable telekinetic powers. Who was this horrific creation?

Answer: Miss Trunchbull

Played by Pam Ferris in the film version of the book, Miss Trunchbull is one of the most loathsome characters to come from the pencil of Roald Dahl (and he certainly created a few!)

3. At which school created by Enid Blyton was Miss Theobald the wise and kindly headmistress?

Answer: St. Clare's

Featuring the exploits of the O'Sullivan twins and their friends, Miss Theobald made an appearance in the six books written about the school by Enid Blyton between 1941 and 1945. Miss Grayling was the head of Malory Towers. Gaylands School was that attended by Anne and George from the "Famous Five" series, whereas Grange Hill was the name of the school in a popular children's television series.

4. Who is the harsh and vulgar headteacher who treats David Copperfield so badly during his time at Salem House school?

Answer: Mr Creakle

Dickens was very outspoken about the harsh treatment meted out to children by authoritarian head masters. In 'David Copperfield' Mr Creakle (in his own words) is a 'tartar'. Wackford Squeers was the even more cruel and unscrupulous head of Dotheboys Hall in 'Nicholas Nickleby' while Mr Gradgrind and the delightfully named Mr M'Choakumchild appear in 'Hard Times'.

Answer: Miss MacKay

Played by Celia Johnson in the 1969 film, Miss McKay is yet another unsympathetic headteacher. Marcia Blane was the name of the school in which Miss Jean Brodie taught, Mary MacGregor was the hapless character who ran away to join the Spanish Civil War and was killed, while Monica Douglas was just another of Miss Jean Brodie's famous 'gairls'.

Answer: Greyfriars

The pupil was, of course, Billy Bunter, the creation of Frank Richards.

Answer: Bash Street

The comic strip story 'Bash Street Kids' has appeared in 'The Beano' since February 1954. Although it was originally entitled 'When the Bell Rings' by its creator Leo Baxendale, the name 'Bash Street Kids' was soon adopted informally by readers of the comic, and officially changed in 1956.

8. The eponymous villain in 'The Demon Headmaster' is a terrifying creation who hypnotises his pupils. Who created this monster?

Answer: Gillian Cross

There are six books in the series featuring the Demon Headmaster which was filmed for television in 1995 and terrified children in much the same way as the Daleks from "Doctor Who" had thirty years before. Interestingly it was Helen Cresswell, also a well known children's author, who adapted Gillian Cross's book for the screen.

9. Algy Herries was the head of Bamfylde school in a novel by R.F. Delderfield. Played by Frank Middlemass in a hugely popular television adaptation in 1980, what was the name of the novel?

Answer: To Serve Them All My Days

The novels of R.F. Delderfield became very popular following the success of the television programme, and several other of his books were televised as a result.

Answer: Mr Brocklehurst

The hypocritical Mr Brocklehurst preached a spartan lifestyle for his poor pupils while maintaining an opulent lifestyle himself at their expense. Following an outbreak of typhus at the school, Mr Brocklehurst was forced to depart and was replaced by a much kinder head who made Jane's later years at the school much happier. Lowood was based on the school which Charlotte Bronte attended as a child, and at which her two eldest sisters died.

Source: Author MaggieG

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