John Updike Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pennsylvania

John Updike was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1932. Perhaps he inherited his literary talent from his mother, who was a part-time writer. Updike's father worked as a math teacher.

Answer: Harvard

John Updike graduated from Harvard summa cum laude in 1954, majoring in English. While attending Harvard, he was president of the college's "Harvard Lampoon" magazine.

Answer: The New Yorker

John Updike wrote articles in the "The New Yorker" on a full-time basis for about two years. He also contributed essays and furnished literary reviews for the magazine.

Answer: Ted Williams

John Updike wrote an essay about The Splendid Splinter entitled, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu." In the article, Updike described Ted Williams' final at bat as follows: "He ran as he always ran out home runs- hurriedly, unsmiling, head down, as if our praise were a storm of rain to get out of."

Answer: The Poorhouse Fair

"The Poorhouse Fair", published in 1959, takes place in a public home for the aging. The characters engage in philosophical conversations about such topics as growing old, death, and religion. "Of the Farm" appeared in 1965, "Marry Me" was published in 1977, and "Gertrude and Claudius" came out in 2002.

Answer: basketball

Rabbit Angstrom was an all-star basketball player for his Mt. Judge, PA, high school team, setting numerous scoring records. However, as an adult, Rabbit cannot recapture the glory years of his youth. In "Rabbit, Run" he is 26 years old and selling kitchen gadgets. Unhappily married, he decides to flee from his wife.

Answer: suburban Pennsylvania

"Rabbit, Run" takes place near Brewer, Pennsylvania. Rabbit Angstrom, the main character, feels trapped in his small town environment and seeks to run away from his marital responsibilities.

Answer: James Buchanan

"Buchanan Dying" was a play by John Updike about James Buchanan, the U.S. president from 1857 to 1861. The play takes place during the final days of Buchanan's life.

Answer: The Witches of Eastwick

"The Witches of Eastwick", published in 1984, concerns the lives of three women living in a small Rhode Island town. All three females are witches in search of the perfect man, when Darryl Van Horne, a devilish character, arrives in town to seduce them. Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer co-starred with Nicholson and Sarandon in the film version of the novel.

Answer: The Nobel Prize for Literature

John Updike received many honors during his career. He won two Pulitzers for his books about Rabbit Angstrom and also was given two National Book Awards. In addition, Updike received the National Medal of Art from President George H.W. Bush in 1989. However, he never received a Nobel Peace Prize for his literary efforts. Updike passed away in 2009.