The Bard or The Bible? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Bible

This idea is mentioned when Jesus changes water into wine at a wedding feast.

"Then he told them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.'
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, 'Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.' " (John 2:8-10).

Answer: in one of Shakespeare's works

"King Henry IV, Part Two" - Act 2, Scene 1. Mistress Quickly explains to the Lord Chief Justice how Sir John Falstaff has treated her.

"Mistress Quickly:
It is more than for some, my lord; it is for all, all I have. He hath eaten me out of house and home; he hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his: but I will have some of it out again, or I will ride thee o' nights like the mare."

Answer: The Bible

"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

It also occurs in the Parable of the Rich Fool:
"And I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.' " (Luke 12:19).

Answer: The Bard

This phrase means that someone is in a difficult position. The imagery is of being stuck in a jar of brine and vinegar used for pickling.

"The Tempest" - Act 5, Scene 1.

"Alonso:
And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they
Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?
How camest thou in this pickle?"

Trinculo:
"I have been in such a pickle since I
saw you last that, I fear me, will never out of
my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing."

Answer: True

Salt was seen as something of great worth. The following passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount.

" 'You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men'. '(Matthew 5:13).

Answer: Both of these

This phrase refers to something cherished. Literally, it refers to the pupil of the eye. Sight is precious, and someone referred to by this phrase is equally precious.

"For the LORD's portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted inheritance.
In a desert land he found him,
in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him as the apple of his eye." (Deuteronomy 32:9-10).

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" - Act 3, Scene 2.
"Oberon:
Flower of this purple dye,
Hit with Cupid's archery,
Sink in apple of his eye!"

Answer: The Bible

This phrase refers to something that, even though it is small, ruins the whole thing.

"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour." (Ecclesiastes 10:1 KJV).
"The ointment of the apothecary" is translated as "perfume" in more modern versions.

Answer: The Bible

This phrase means to share something of value with those who don't appreciate it.

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6 KJV).

Answer: Neither of these

"Romeo and Juliet" - Act 2, Scene 4.

"Romeo:
Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match.

Mercutio:
Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have
done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of
thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five:
was I with you there for the goose?

Romeo:
Thou wast never with me for any thing when thou wast
not there for the goose."

Although this is found in works by William Shakespeare, it is highly probably that he borrowed the term, since it was a horseracing game at the time.

Answer: The Bard

"Macbeth" - Act 4, Scene 1. This is part of the famous incantation by the three witches.

"All:
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Second Witch:
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."

Answer: The Bible

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." (Jeremiah 13:23).

Answer: False

"King Lear" - Act 1, Scene 4.

"Lear:
It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!"

Answer: Both of these

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

"The Merchant Of Venice" - Act 2, Scene 2.
"I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye."

Answer: The Bible

This phrase is used when Samuel rebukes King Saul.
"'You acted foolishly,' Samuel said. 'You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command.'" (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

Answer: Neither of these

Once you are lovestruck, you can be blind to the faults of the one you love. This idea was based on the Roman god of love, Cupid, who was often portrayed wearing a blindfold.

"The Merchant of Venice" - Act 2, Scene 6.
"I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much asham'd of my exchange;
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit."

Shakespeare does indeed use the phrase "love is blind", it does not originate with him. It was used by Chaucer about 100 years earlier, in "The Merchant's Tale" ("For love is blynd alday, and may nat see") and is probably older than that, dating to Greek/Roman times (Eros/Cupid is sometimes depicted as blind).


Several characteristics of love are given in the Bible, but they do not include being blind.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).