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Rumer Godden Trivia Quiz

The late British author Rumer Godden (1907-1998) wrote for both children and adults and has many rabid fans in America and the U.K. How much do you know about her novels?

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

Author
lanfranco

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
201,601

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
154

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In "The Greengage Summer," Cecil Grey and her siblings are taken under the wing of the mysterious Eliot while their mother is in a French hospital. What does Eliot turn out to be? Hint

A criminal

A famous artist

An intelligence agent

The children's uncle

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Question 2 of 10

2. Difficult Lovejoy Mason, a waifish, 10-year-old resident of a working-class London street, becomes obsessed with planting a garden in a churchyard. What is the novel called? Hint

"An Episode of Ravens"

"An Episode of Finches"

"An Episode of Wrens"

"An Episode of Sparrows"

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Question 3 of 10

3. In "In This House of Brede," elegant, 40-something executive Philippa Talbot makes a startling life change. What does she do? Hint

She takes a lover

She has a baby

She moves to India

She becomes a nun

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Question 4 of 10

4. Hugh and Caddie Clavering travel to a foreign country in order to persuade their adulterous mother to leave her lover and return home. What is this novel? Hint

"Breakfast With the Nikolides"

"The Kitchen Madonna"

"The Peacock Spring"

"The Battle of the Villa Fiorita"

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Question 5 of 10

5. In "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower," shy and lonely Nona Fell makes friends when she embarks upon a special project. What is it? Hint

Learning to write Haiku

Studying Japanese

Celebrating the Japanese Doll Festival

Building a Japanese doll 's house

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Question 6 of 10

6. Rumer Godden and her sister Jon, also a writer, collaborated on a memoir of their childhood in India called "Two Under the Indian Sun." What was the name of the town in which they lived? Hint

Narmada

Narayangunj

Nasik

Nicobar

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Question 7 of 10

7. Despite constant discouragement from his mother and jealous sister, Doone Penny, in "Thursday's Children," turns out to be a prodigy in what area? Hint

Violin

Gymnastics

Acting

Ballet

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Question 8 of 10

8. Rumer Godden's experiences in India inspired a novel later made into an acclaimed film by Jean Renoir. What was this book? Hint

"The Peacock Spring"

"Home Is The Sailor"

"Five For Sorrow, Ten For Joy"

"The River"

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Question 9 of 10

9. Another film was based on one of Godden's novels about nuns. What was it called? Hint

"Black Rose"

"Black Iris"

"Black Orchid"

"Black Narcissus"

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Question 10 of 10

10. In "China Court," Mrs. Quin leaves her estate to her granddaughter Tracy on condition that she do what? Hint

Never marry

Convert to Catholicism

Marry a local farmer

Never sell her rare books

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In "The Greengage Summer," Cecil Grey and her siblings are taken under the wing of the mysterious Eliot while their mother is in a French hospital. What does Eliot turn out to be?

Answer: A criminal

Though professional thief (and murderer) Eliot assumes a paternal responsibility for the Grey children while they are staying at the French hotel owned by his mistress, his motives are suspect and his interest in Cecil's beautiful older sister disturbing.

This is a fascinating coming-of-age novel, which deals with early sexual experience in the best manner -- obliquely and suggestively.

2. Difficult Lovejoy Mason, a waifish, 10-year-old resident of a working-class London street, becomes obsessed with planting a garden in a churchyard. What is the novel called?

Answer: "An Episode of Sparrows"

Lovejoy, virtually abandoned by her careless mother, who has parked her with an unsuccessful restauranteur and his put-upon wife, steals a packet of seeds and then becomes captivated by a hybrid rose she receives as a gift. With the help of other children, she tries to create some beauty in her uncertain life and is rewarded.

3. In "In This House of Brede," elegant, 40-something executive Philippa Talbot makes a startling life change. What does she do?

Answer: She becomes a nun

Oxford-educated and multi-lingual Philippa is a convert to Catholicism. In the novel's first chapter, she becomes a Benedictine postulant at Brede Abbey. Rumer Godden was also a Catholic convert, and she based Brede on distinguished Stanbrook Abbey, the nuns of which include many women of impressive education and accomplishment.

4. Hugh and Caddie Clavering travel to a foreign country in order to persuade their adulterous mother to leave her lover and return home. What is this novel?

Answer: "The Battle of the Villa Fiorita"

In this novel, set in northern Italy, the two Clavering children set about breaking up their mother's relationship with great determination, while also learning that life, and morality, are not quite as black and white as they once seemed. "The Battle of the Villa Fiorita" was made into a 1965 film starring Maureen O'Hara, Rossano Brazzi, and the young Olivia Hussey -- later Franco Zefferelli's Juliet.

5. In "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower," shy and lonely Nona Fell makes friends when she embarks upon a special project. What is it?

Answer: Building a Japanese doll 's house

Nona, raised in India and sent to live with her uncle, aunt, and cousins in England, receives a gift of two Japanese dolls. With her cousins' and new friends' help, she sets out to house them properly. This book has a sequel, "Little Plum," in which a celebration of the Japanese Doll Festival is the climax.

6. Rumer Godden and her sister Jon, also a writer, collaborated on a memoir of their childhood in India called "Two Under the Indian Sun." What was the name of the town in which they lived?

Answer: Narayangunj

Narayangunj became part of East Pakistan, today Bangladesh. Rumer and Jon Godden, whose father was the local agent for a British steamer company, had been sent to England for their schooling but were brought back in 1914 with the outbreak of the first World War.

They remained until they had reached adolescence. "Two Under the Indian Sun" is a lyrical memoir, redolent of both the Raj and children's observations and experience. It is at the later that Godden always excels.

7. Despite constant discouragement from his mother and jealous sister, Doone Penny, in "Thursday's Children," turns out to be a prodigy in what area?

Answer: Ballet

Like many of Godden's novels, "Thursday's Children" deals with a person whose special gifts are unrecognized or resented by ordinary people, until prominent and equally-special individuals take notice. Godden's resentments as a middle child and younger sibling of a beautiful and talented sister provided much of the inspiration for this oft-repeated theme in her books.

8. Rumer Godden's experiences in India inspired a novel later made into an acclaimed film by Jean Renoir. What was this book?

Answer: "The River"

"The River," an early work, is perhaps Godden's most well-known novel and is critically regarded as one of her best. Renoir's film was made in 1951.

9. Another film was based on one of Godden's novels about nuns. What was it called?

Answer: "Black Narcissus"

This edgy novel, set at a mission in the Himalayas, was filmed in 1947. The visually-spectacular movie starred Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons.

10. In "China Court," Mrs. Quin leaves her estate to her granddaughter Tracy on condition that she do what?

Answer: Marry a local farmer

"China Court" is a multi-generational saga with some unusual twists --such as the surreptitious acquisition of a library of extremely-rare books, which will help young Tracy and Peter, the farmer she agrees to marry, return Mrs. Quin's estate to prosperity.

Source: Author lanfranco

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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