Low-brow Parodies in Literature Quiz

Answer: The Dick Cheney Code

Henry Beard is a master of the spoof, having written or co-written such parodies as "The Dick Cheney Code" and "Bored of the Rings." He was also a co-founder of the "National Lampoon" magazine. In "The Dick Cheney Code," Beard describes how William Franklin, professor of American Popular History, Urban Mythology, and Supermarket Tabloid Science, is drawn into an attempt to expose an ages-old conspiracy.

Answer: A Workingman's guide to Productive Lovemaking, Illustrated with Pictures

"The Job of Sex" is another parody by the "National Lampoon". Those of you who read it will most likely remember the hilarious drawings of men and women, nearly fully-clothed in business suits, briefcase always in hand, performing various sex acts. Interestingly, some critics believe that the parody was more than simply humorous but also exposed the sex-as-job aspects of the book it spoofed, the huge best seller, "The Joy of Sex."

Answer: Giant pretzels

Spoofing Frank Herbert's enormously popular 1956 science fiction novel, "Dune," the "National Lampoon"'s version (1984) was set on the planet Arruckus. Replacing the sandworms are giant pretzels, which could be ridden and steered by mounting the pretzel, prying up a salt grain, and using it to control the pretzel's direction.

Answer: 1964 High School Yearbook

The "National Lampoon"'s parody of a typical United States high school yearbook was a best seller, hilariously funny, and touched memories in most of its readers with its eerily accurate spoofing of stereotypical classmates, teachers, and staff from high school. It was co-edited by two giants of low brow humor, Doug Kenney and P.J O'Rourke.

Answer: The "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the doorknob

David Macaulay's brilliant "Motel of the Mysteries" pokes fun at pretentious language and overwrought interpretation by historians and archeologists. From the interpretation of the interstate highway system as messages to celestial beings, to its description of a motel bathroom as the innermost sanctuary of religious practice, this book is just plain funny.

Answer: Ball Hog

Yes, the Ball Hog. "Dribble, dribble, fake, shoot!" Only through the powers of Goodgulf Greyteeth were Legolam, the Boggies, and the rest saved from its horrific, and selfish, ballplaying!

Answer: He thinks "if she only knew, she'd never wash her hair again."

In this parody of the "Harry Potter" series of books, Barry Trotter has become a young man a bit too self centered, and uses magic in undignified, but often very funny, ways, such as to impress women.

Answer: Sugar, and beer

Arruckus is known as the Dessert Planet, with nearly its entire surface covered with sugar. The natives, Freedmenmen, subsist on a diet rich in sugars and sweets but lacking...entrees. Beer is found on the planet in pools, including small ones known as beer-bellies, and is the highly prized export.

Answer: Animal House

Many of the film's memorable characters are drawn directly from the "Yearbook", including Larry Kroger, Mandy Pepperidge, and Doug Neidermeyer. As you might guess, Doug Kenney was a principal writer of the film, along with Chris Miller and Harold Ramis.

Answer: Dacron, Ohio

The "Sunday Newspaper Parody" is actually a sequel to the "1964 High School Yearbook," so naturally it hails from fictional Dacron, Ohio, home of Larry Kroger and the rest of them. The Dacron Republican-Democrat mirrors a typical Sunday paper, with metro, Living Life, sports, and other sections, as well as a main news section, color "advertising supplement," classified ads, and so forth. Typical of the spoof material was a full-page ad for "Great Book Edges of the Western World, for People Who Like Books But Don't Like to Read," in "Pomade Magazine" (instead of "Parade").