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Swinging on a Star Trivia Quiz

In the world of fantasy fiction, the fate of the characters can swing on the movement of a star; in fact, some of the characters may actually be stars!

A multiple-choice quiz by SBH. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
SBH

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
350,504

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
208

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" series, it's important for Pernese inhabitants to keep track of the movements of the Red Star. What happens when it passes close to the planet? Hint

It heralds the birth of a new ruler.

It awakens a sleeping dragon.

It causes abnormally high tides.

It brings a deadly threat to life on Pern.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, one of the pure-blood wizard families has a tradition of naming its children after stars. Which one? Hint

The Blacks

The Potters

The Malfoys

The Weasleys

3. In "Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers, Jane and Michael Banks help a girl named Maia go Christmas shopping for her family. As it turns out, Maia is one of a group of seven stars with what name? Hint

Corona Borealis

The Pleiades

Corona Australis

The Perseids

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In "Mary Poppins Comes Back" by P.L. Travers, the Banks children find themselves attending a performance in the night sky put on by all the stars and constellations. What kind of a spectacle is it? Hint

A ballet

A horse show

An opera

A circus

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Question 5 of 10

5. In "Prince Caspian" by C.S. Lewis, the young prince is given an astronomy lesson during which he witnesses the conjunction of two stars: Tarva, the Lord of Victory, and Alembil, the Lady of Peace. Who shows him this sight? Hint

A centaur

Aslan

Doctor Cornelius

Trumpkin

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, we encounter a star who has been sentenced for an unnamed crime to care for a race of one-legged dwarves. What is his name? Hint

Coriakin

Drinian

Ramandu

Octesian

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series, Aragorn's love interest Arwen is known by the second name of "Undomiel". What does this Elvish word mean? Hint

Star of the West

North Star

Evenstar

Star of the Morning

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Question 8 of 10

8. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series, Frodo is protected on his journey into Mordor by the light of a Star-glass given to him by Galadriel. Name the legendary half-Elvish mariner whose starlight was contained in the glass. Hint

Elwing

Earendil

Elladan

Elrohir

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In which book do Ronnie and his sister Gillian ride their apartment building elevator into the sky to watch an archery competition between Orion and Sagittarius, and get a tour of the celestial zoo led by Castor and Pollux? Hint

"Magic by the Lake" by Edward Eager

"Half Magic by" Edward Eager

"The Summer is Magic" by Joan Howard

"The Thirteenth is Magic" by Joan Howard

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which character from George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series expects that, when he dies, he will spend eternity as a star in the sky? Hint

Robert Baratheon

Khal Drogo

Eddard Stark

Viserys Targaryen

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" series, it's important for Pernese inhabitants to keep track of the movements of the Red Star. What happens when it passes close to the planet?

Answer: It brings a deadly threat to life on Pern.

Pern, third planet in the Rukbat system, resembles our planet Earth in many ways, and can support human life. However, every 250 turns (years), the Red Star (actually a planet) causes a 50-year intermittent bombardment of mycorrhizoid spores to the planet's surface.

These spores not only devour plant life, but also cause severe injury to any humans or animals they touch. (Luckily, this "thread" can be destroyed by fire-breathing dragons, which also happen to exist on Pern!)

2. In J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, one of the pure-blood wizard families has a tradition of naming its children after stars. Which one?

Answer: The Blacks

Sirius Black is named after the brightest star in the sky, which is also known as the Dog Star (this is funny because Sirius is an animagus who can turn into a dog). He is the brother of Regulus Arcturus Black, named after the brightest stars in the two constellations Leo (the Lion) and Bo�tes (the Herdsman). Their cousin Bellatrix is named after a star in the constellation Orion (the Huntsman). Other members of the family have the names of full constellations, such as Draco, Orion and Cygnus.

3. In "Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers, Jane and Michael Banks help a girl named Maia go Christmas shopping for her family. As it turns out, Maia is one of a group of seven stars with what name?

Answer: The Pleiades

The Pleiades cluster can be seen in the constellation of Taurus. They are also known as the Seven Sisters, for the mythical daughters of Atlas. In the story, Maia buys gifts for the other six stars: a toy oven for Electra, a skipping rope for Taygete, a book for Alcyone, a hoop for Celaeno, a top for Sterope, and a duck for Merope. Mary Poppins gives Maia something for herself too: her own gloves.

Answer: A circus

Orion the Huntsman takes their tickets, which are sparks. Among the other performers and participants are Draco the Dragon, Saturn the Clown and the Twins Castor and Pollux. The ringmaster, of course, is the Sun.

Answer: Doctor Cornelius

Doctor Cornelius has actually brought Caspian to the high tower so he can tell him the truth about the true nature of the kingdom of Narnia and the survival of its magical inhabitants, who were thought to be extinct. He also reveals that he himself is not a normal human, but a "half-Dwarf".

6. In "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, we encounter a star who has been sentenced for an unnamed crime to care for a race of one-legged dwarves. What is his name?

Answer: Coriakin

Ramandu is also a star: a retired one, who grows a little younger every day when he eats a fire-berry brought to him by a bird. Prince Caspian marries Ramandu's daughter. Drinian and Octesian are lost lords of Narnia.

7. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series, Aragorn's love interest Arwen is known by the second name of "Undomiel". What does this Elvish word mean?

Answer: Evenstar

Arwen is the daughter of Elrond. On her mother's side, she is also the granddaughter of Galadriel. She is known as Evenstar for her unusual beauty, but also because of her place in history, at the very end of the time of the elves.

Answer: Earendil

E�rendil sails through the sky on his ship Vingilot, with the light of the Silmaril shining on his brow. As the morning and evening star, the star of E�rendil is the equivalent of our planet Venus. (Elwing is E�rendil's wife. Elladan and Elrohir are the two sons of Elrond.)

Answer: "The Thirteenth is Magic" by Joan Howard

In the 1950 book "The Thirteenth is Magic", oddly magical adventures start to occur on the thirteenth of every month after a mysterious black cat named Merlin adopts Ronnie and Gillian, two children who live in a Manhattan apartment.

10. Which character from George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series expects that, when he dies, he will spend eternity as a star in the sky?

Answer: Khal Drogo

We are told in "A Game of Thrones" that, "When a horselord dies, his horse is slain with him, so he might ride proud into the night lands. The bodies are burned beneath the open sky, and the khal rises on his fiery steed to take his place among the stars. The more fiercely the man burned in life, the brighter his star will shine in the darkness." (It is known!)

Source: Author SBH

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