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Quiz about Sonnets from the Portuguese
Quiz about Sonnets from the Portuguese

Sonnets from the Portuguese Trivia Quiz

'Sonnets from the Portuguese' is a collection of poems which chronicle the real love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Written in Victorian times, they are still read and quoted today. This quiz covers the sonnets and the story behind them

A multiple-choice quiz by luckycharm60. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
luckycharm60
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
298,331
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
406
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Question 1 of 10
1. How many poems make up the collection 'Sonnets from the Portuguese'? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. When was the volume first published? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. The Sonnets were written during 1845 and 1846 and the manuscript, together with all but one of 574 letters the Brownings wrote to each other still survive. They married in 1846 and left England to live where? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. The most recognisable poem in the collection, "Sonnet number 43", starts with a line familiar to most people, 'How do I love thee'. How does this first line finish? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. Elizabeth was initially reluctant to publish the sonnets due to their personal nature and it was Robert who suggested they be presented as though they were translated from another language, to preserve anonymity. What was the original suggestion for the volume title? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. At the time of the first contact with Robert, Elizabeth was suffering both physically and spiritually, and was stricken with grief over the untimely death of her brother. It is reported she had lost the will to live, and was a recluse, until Robert came into her life. The first sonnet, nowadays known as 'I thought once how Theocritis had sung..' was originally titled? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. One of my favourites of the sonnets is 'Number 14', which begins with 'If thou must love me, let it be for nought'. What is the next line of this sonnet?
 Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. 'Sonnet 33' begins "Yes, call me by my pet name!" What was the pet name that Elizabeth's family had used for her? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. 'Sonnet 38' is dedicated to the first time Robert kissed Elizabeth. Which part of Elizabeth was kissed? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. The last sonnet, 'Number 44', was written two days before Elizabeth and Robert's secret marriage. How does this Sonnet begin? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. How many poems make up the collection 'Sonnets from the Portuguese'?

Answer: 44

 The 44 poems were written circa 1845-46, in the period leading up to the marriage of Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning. It is believed that Elizabeth did not share the sonnets with Robert until three years after their marriage.
2. When was the volume first published?

Answer: 1850

 Elizabeth was, at first, reluctant to publish the sonnets, due to their personal nature, and it was Robert who insisted that the poetry should be shared, stating them to be the finest written since Shakespeare's time.
3. The Sonnets were written during 1845 and 1846 and the manuscript, together with all but one of 574 letters the Brownings wrote to each other still survive. They married in 1846 and left England to live where?

Answer: Italy

 Elizabeth's father was strongly against any marriage for her, and so the couple married secretly on 12th September 1846 and moved to Italy.
4. The most recognisable poem in the collection, "Sonnet number 43", starts with a line familiar to most people, 'How do I love thee'. How does this first line finish?

Answer: Let me count the ways.

 "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace."
5. Elizabeth was initially reluctant to publish the sonnets due to their personal nature and it was Robert who suggested they be presented as though they were translated from another language, to preserve anonymity. What was the original suggestion for the volume title?

Answer: Sonnets from the Bosnian

 Elizabeth wanted to call the volume 'Sonnets from the Bosnian', once she had been persuaded to publish at all. It was Robert who suggested Portuguese, perhaps after his nickname for her, 'My Little Portuguese'.
6. At the time of the first contact with Robert, Elizabeth was suffering both physically and spiritually, and was stricken with grief over the untimely death of her brother. It is reported she had lost the will to live, and was a recluse, until Robert came into her life. The first sonnet, nowadays known as 'I thought once how Theocritis had sung..' was originally titled?

Answer: Death or Love

 Elizabeth wrote excitedly to a friend to tell of receiving a letter from 'Browning the Poet..king of the mystics.' Through frequent correspondence and ultimately that first meeting, the sonnets and the letters between the pair show Elizabeth gaining strength and no longer facing that fateful choice between Death or Love. The last lines of that first sonnet read:-

'Guess now who holds thee?' - 'Death!' I said, But there
The silver answer rang..'Not Death, but Love.'
7. One of my favourites of the sonnets is 'Number 14', which begins with 'If thou must love me, let it be for nought'. What is the next line of this sonnet?

Answer: Except for love's sake only.

 'If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only.'

Here Elizabeth seems to be saying, don't love me for how I look, or talk as these things may change with time.

'But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity'
8. 'Sonnet 33' begins "Yes, call me by my pet name!" What was the pet name that Elizabeth's family had used for her?

Answer: Ba

 Elizabeth's family called her Ba, and this Sonnet describes how Robert came to also call her by that name. Bro was the pet name for her brother, Edward.
9. 'Sonnet 38' is dedicated to the first time Robert kissed Elizabeth. Which part of Elizabeth was kissed?

Answer: Her hand

 "First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;"
10. The last sonnet, 'Number 44', was written two days before Elizabeth and Robert's secret marriage. How does this Sonnet begin?

Answer: Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers

 ...and it ends with

"Instruct thine eyes to keep their colours true,
And tell thy soul, their roots are left in mine."

I hope you enjoyed the quiz, and a little glimpse into the romantic world of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.
Source: Author luckycharm60

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Referenced Topics
Literature   World   People   Languages   Shakespeare   England   Poetry   Names   Italy Geography   English People   Poets   Portuguese Language   Robert Browning   Elizabeth Barrett Browning  

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