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Quiz about New Zealand Authors
Quiz about New Zealand Authors

Test yourself! Take this New Zealand Authors Quiz | Literature


Ten questions on just a few of the notable authors New Zealand has to offer.

A multiple-choice quiz by ainenei. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
ainenei
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
239,338
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
494
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. During her lifetime, this author had only three books of short stories published. Within four years of her death, her husband had authorised the publication of another two collections of stories, an edited version of her journals, and a selection of her letters. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Trained as a librarian, this prolific author of children's and young adult fiction wrote her first story when she was seven years old. In 1968, upon reading her children's story "A Lion in the Meadow", a publisher brought the rights to all of her works. That same year, eight of her stories were published. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Although determined to become a professional painter in her younger years, this multi-talented woman wrote thirty-two detective novels and in her time was considered along with Agatha Christie to be one of the "Queens of Crime". Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In 1985 this author won the Booker Prize for a novel featuring a character she had first dreamt in 1965, and had been seeing, dreaming and writing about for over seventeen years. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The recipient of the 1951 Hubert Church Memorial Award had her lobotomy operation cancelled when the hospital she had been committed to heard of her success. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Sobran Jodeau and an angel named Xas are at the heart of this author's most well known work. She is one of New Zealand's most successful contemporary writers. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This author writes in both the adult and young adult genres. He has won New Zealand's most prestigious literary awards on several occasions, and been awarded the "Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement". In 2003 he was named as one of New Zealand's greatest living artists. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This author published his first novel in 1990. Although criticised for his attack on cultural sensitivities, the book made such an impact that four years later it was made into a film directed by Lee Tamahori. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This writer invited Janet Frame to live for no charge in a converted shed on his property shortly after her release from Seacliff and mentored her burgeoning talent. His short stories put him on a par with Katherine Mansfield on the world stage. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This Maori writer was the first to have both a novel and a book of short stories published. One of his novels was made into a movie that was released in 2003, and earned its young star an Oscar nomination. Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. During her lifetime, this author had only three books of short stories published. Within four years of her death, her husband had authorised the publication of another two collections of stories, an edited version of her journals, and a selection of her letters.

Answer: Katharine Mansfield

Mansfield first married in 1909, but within days of her wedding she left her husband and resumed a relationship with a former boyfriend. In 1918 she finally divorced her first husband to marry John Middleton Murry. That same year her continuing ill health was diagnosed as tuberculosis. She died five years later.
2. Trained as a librarian, this prolific author of children's and young adult fiction wrote her first story when she was seven years old. In 1968, upon reading her children's story "A Lion in the Meadow", a publisher brought the rights to all of her works. That same year, eight of her stories were published.

Answer: Margaret Mahy

Margaret is the winner of many national and international awards, the most notable being the Carnegie Medal, and the Hans Christian Anderson Author Award.
3. Although determined to become a professional painter in her younger years, this multi-talented woman wrote thirty-two detective novels and in her time was considered along with Agatha Christie to be one of the "Queens of Crime".

Answer: Ngaio Marsh

In New Zealand, Dame Ngaio Marsh is as well known for her theatrical endeavours as she is for her writing. The University of Canterbury named their theatre for her in 1967, and she was asked, in 1972, to come out of retirement to direct a play for the grand opening of the Christchurch Town Hall.

It was no surprise to her peers when she chose Shakespeare's "Henry V" to mark the occasion with.
4. In 1985 this author won the Booker Prize for a novel featuring a character she had first dreamt in 1965, and had been seeing, dreaming and writing about for over seventeen years.

Answer: Keri Hulme

The book was "The Bone People". Keri began dreaming of the character she named Simon Peter when she was eighteen and working as a tobacco picker. The completed novel was published in 1983.
5. The recipient of the 1951 Hubert Church Memorial Award had her lobotomy operation cancelled when the hospital she had been committed to heard of her success.

Answer: Janet Frame

"The Lagoon and Other Stories" was the "life saving" collection of short stories that saw the lobotomy's cancellation. Misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, Frame and her doctors decided on that extreme course of action after years of shock treatment had no effect.
6. Sobran Jodeau and an angel named Xas are at the heart of this author's most well known work. She is one of New Zealand's most successful contemporary writers.

Answer: Elizabeth Knox

"The Vintner's Luck" is being developed for film by Niki Caro, the director and screenwriter who successfully adapted "The Whale Rider".
7. This author writes in both the adult and young adult genres. He has won New Zealand's most prestigious literary awards on several occasions, and been awarded the "Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement". In 2003 he was named as one of New Zealand's greatest living artists.

Answer: Maurice Gee

Gee's young adult book "Under the Mountain" was made into a television series in 1982. In 2004, "In My Father's Den" was made into a feature film and enjoyed success on the independant film circuit worldwide.
8. This author published his first novel in 1990. Although criticised for his attack on cultural sensitivities, the book made such an impact that four years later it was made into a film directed by Lee Tamahori.

Answer: Alan Duff

Alan Duff set up the "Books in Home" scheme in New Zealand, a charity that provides books free to children in areas where economic constraints and low rates of adult literacy may mean that providing books at home has a low priority. As of 2006 there are over 90,000 children benefitting from the programme.
9. This writer invited Janet Frame to live for no charge in a converted shed on his property shortly after her release from Seacliff and mentored her burgeoning talent. His short stories put him on a par with Katherine Mansfield on the world stage.

Answer: Frank Sargeson

Sargeson wrote his short stories in the laconic voice of the typical "kiwi bloke". While he never came out publicly as a homosexual, since his death, and the acknowledgement of the fact that he was homosexual, critics have been reluctant to deal with the effects his sexuality may have had on his writing.
10. This Maori writer was the first to have both a novel and a book of short stories published. One of his novels was made into a movie that was released in 2003, and earned its young star an Oscar nomination.

Answer: Witi Ihimaera

The film was "Whale Rider" directed by Niki Caro, adapted from the book, "The Whale Rider". Keisha Castle-Hughes earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Source: Author ainenei

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