Literary Letters Quiz / Test | Mixed Literature

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which book supposedly written for children would you find the following epistle? "GON OUT BACKSON BISY BACKSON"

Answer: The House at Pooh Corner

This is the first letter taken from the chapter 'In which Rabbit has a busy day, and we learn what Christopher Robin does in the mornings'. The second letter reads: 'GONE OUT. BACK SOON' - Christopher Robin goes to school in the mornings to learn to spell. As Rabbit so wisely says: 'You can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right'.

2. What is the title of the book from which the following letter is taken? 'Give them all of my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted. I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women'.

Answer: Little Women

This letter is from chapter 1, and is written by the father, who is at that point an army chaplain, to his family.

The work is semi-autobiographical, but the character of the father is 'improved'. In the book he loses the family money by helping a friend. In real life, the author's father lost his money by running a disaster-prone commune which he refused to admit was a failure until it was too late to salvage their finances.

3. Which Shakespeare play contains the following letter? 'This policy and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny, who sways not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar'

Answer: King Lear

The letter is from the sub-plot (which is far more entertaining than the main plot), in which Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Gloucester, plans to murder his father and frame his legitimate half-brother Edgar for the crime. Edmund (the baddy) reads this letter to Gloucester (the daddy), claiming it has been written by Edgar (the goody). And that is just the sub-plot, which may give you some idea of why the play is so long: so very, very long.

My secret theory [well, rather a public theory now] is that this play's reputation is so strong because the main character is so very old that the actor almost always receives a standing ovation merely for not being dead yet.

4. Which book contains this message on the back of a postcard of Lake Windermere: 'Visiting Granny in St Annes and touring the Lakes. Weather a bit mixed but super factory shops. Daddy has bought a sheepskin gilet! Could you call Una and check she's put the timer on? Love, Mum'

Answer: Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason

This is the only communication Bridget receives from her family while she is being held in gaol in Thailand on trumped up charges. In fact, this postcard turns out to be a smokescreen: Bridget's parents are actually in rehab, her father for a drink problem, and her mother for an 'addiction to fun'.

5. This puzzle is not actually a letter, but is a message written down. However, I intend to stretch the point and include this extract from which book? 'My first displays the wealth of pomp and kings Lord of the earth! Their luxury and ease. Another view of man, my second brings, Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! But, ah! united, what reverse we have! Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown; Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave And woman, lovely woman reigns alone.'

Answer: Emma

The solution to the riddle is 'Courtship'. See if you can work it out. I couldn't. Praise be for the editor's notes at the back of classic novels.

Written by the slimy Mr Elton; Emma believes he is suggesting courtship to her friend, Harriet, but he has Emma and her �30,000 in mind. However, ultimately he only manages to marry a woman with 'so many thousands as would always be called 10'. Definitely my favourite Austentatious line.

6. In which book can the following philosophical advice be found within a letter? 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind'

Answer: The Bible

Paul's letter to the Romans ch 12 v 2 New International Version. The letter was probably written from Greece to the church in Rome (whom Paul had not met) in 57AD. It is one of his longer letters, and gives a detailed overview of Christian doctrine, particularly justification by faith ie humans cannot prevent themselves from wrong-doing, and can only be acceptable to God through Jesus' crucifixion which acted as a sacrifice to cover all sin for ever.

Paul had a formidable brain and a formidable faith, but I think he may have been hard work as a dinner guest. I also think he would not have enjoyed being confused with Oscar Wilde.

7. Not a novel this time, but part of a personal letter published by a public figure: "For these reasons I am certain that our love will last and increase day by day, for she does not love me for my age or body, which will gradually die and grow old, but for my fame."

Answer: Pliny the Younger

How things change. I suspect few people would want to admit to being loved for their fame now. However, Pliny does come across as a slightly strange man in many of his letters, and it is possible that he was the only man in 1st century AD Rome who would consider this letter in good taste.

It becomes even more nauseating in consideration of the fact that Pliny was in his forties, his wife, just 14.

8. The following letter was written on black edged paper: 'Dearest ------ I found a box of this paper at the back of a bureau so I must write to you as I am mourning for my lost innocence. It never looked like living. The doctors despaired of it from the start. Soon I am off to Venice to stay with Papa in his palace of sin. I wish you were coming. I wish you were here. I am never quite alone. Members of my family keep turning up and collecting luggage and going away again but the white raspberries are ripe...'

Answer: Brideshead Revisited

Written by Sebastian Flyte to his university friend Charles Ryder. The book is usually remembered in 'Friends' speak as 'The One with the Teddy Bear'. Waugh actually intended "Brideshead Revisited" to be a Christian novel, showing divine grace in the lives of all the main characters in the story, turning them to the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, he fails to carry this off, and the relationship between Charles and Sebastian dominates the tale, while God comes across as a cold-hearted spoil-sport.

It's an excellent book, just not the book he meant to write.

9. Which book gives the following advice on mind control? 'Of course there is no conceivable way of getting by reason from the proposition "I am losing interest in this" to the proposition "This is false". But, as I said before, it is jargon, not reason, you must rely on. The mere word phase will very likely do the trick. I assume that the creature has been through several of them before-they all have-and that he always feels superior and patronising to the ones he has emerged from, not because he has really criticised them but simply because they are in the past. (You keep him well fed on hazy ideas of Progress and Development and the Historical Point of View, I trust, and give him lots of modern Biographies to read? The people in them are always emerging from Phases, aren't they?)'

Answer: The Screwtape Letters

Originally written for radio, the book takes the form of letters from a senior devil, Screwtape, to his young nephew Wormwood on how to tempt his 'patient' away from a good life. It is unusual in that the book is very readable, yet very thought-provoking: light, but deep. Whether or not you agree with CS Lewis' standpoint, you will certainly recognise many of the scenarios, and the power small irritations can have over your life. If you have never read it, make sure you do.

10. This letter is dictated from a wife to her husband in which book: '"Before quitting the country and commencing a campaign which very possibly may be fatal-" "What?" said Rawdon, rather surprised, but took the humour of the phrase, and presently took it down with a grin. "Which very possibly may be fatal, I have come hither-" "Why not say come here, Becky? come here's grammar" the dragoon interposed'.

Answer: Vanity Fair

This is a letter supposedly written by Rawdon Crawley to his wealthy Aunt, begging for a reconciliation. However, his aunt realises it has been dictated by his wife Becky, as there are no spelling mistakes.

Source: Author teadrinker

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Literary Letters Trivia Quiz

Many books include sections in correspondence or exchanges of letters. I give you an extract of a letter, you give me the book.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>