The Classics of English Literature 1 Quiz

Answer: Walter Scott

Published in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott the novel was 'The Abbot' and it continued the story begun in Scott's earlier novel called 'The Monastery'. Curiously, the sequel was much better received by the public than had been the original novel.

Scott has become one of the giants of English Literature. As both writer and poet, he was an accomplished storyteller and one of the greatest historical novelists of al time. Scott wrote twenty-seven historical novels as well as plays and poetry.

Answer: The Alchemist

The playwright and poet Ben Jonson lived during the turbulent and exciting (in terms of English Literature anyway) times of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean period. He made something of a notorious reputation when in 1599 he was imprisoned along with other actors for his part in a scurrilous play, "Isle of Dogs", and later again for killing an actor in a duel.
Most critics agree that his particularly volatile nature was reflected in his poetry and plays, which are a combination of satire and classic references.

Answer: Almeria

William Congreve (1670-1729), although born at Bardsey near Leeds, was mainly educated in school in Ireland and at the University of Dublin where he was a contemporary and friend of Swift. His first play 'The Old Bachelor' (1693) was welcomed by Dryden and others as a work of comedic genius.

He was regarded by many as being out of the same literary stable as Sheridan and Wilde which is high praise indeed.

Answer: The History of Tom Jones

Henry Fielding was born in Glastonbury in Somerset in 1707 and died in Lisbon from poor health in 1754. He was educated at Eton and the University of Leiden before returning to England where he wrote a series of farces, operas and light comedies. He later formed his own acting company and managed the 'Little Theatre' in London's Haymarket. His trademark satirical plays upset the Government of the day and he was subject to intense legal scrutiny which eventually terminated his playwriting activities. He then turned to journalism and also began producing novels.
His novels include: "The Adventures of Joseph Andrews" (1742), "Abraham Adams" (1842) and "Jonathan Wild" (1743), Amelia (1751).

In 1749 Fielding's novel, "The History of Tom Jones" was published and widely appreciated by the public. Today most critics agree that it is one of the greatest comic novels in English Literature.

Answer: The American Senator

The prolific writer Trollope was born in London to a barrister and the successful travel writer Frances Trollope. He had an unhappy childhood being educated at various public schools and contemplated suicide at the age of twelve.

Following his father's death Trollope became employed by the British Post Office and was sent to work in Ireland in 1841. It was on the long train trips he had to take to carry out his duties that Trollope began writing. He was a very regular and methodical author having fixed times during which he would write. His methodology allowed him to produce a vast number of novels but also was to lead to later criticism by others who suggested that his creativity was compromised by his output.

To his credit are included 'The Chronicles of Barsetshire' (a series of six novels) and 'The Pallisers' (a further series of six novels).

Answer: Carinthia

George Meredith (1828-1909) was well known to his contemporary public as a novelist, playwright and poet though his reputation has diminished over time.
His was a working-class background of which he was not proud. He funded his early writings by working as a reader for the publishing house Chapman and Hall. He was known to have found writers and encouraged writers such as Thomas Hardy but also to have rejected such authors as George Bernard Shaw and Ellen Wood.

Answer: The Ambassadors

Henry James (1843-1916) was a British citizen though born and brought up in the USA. He established a reputation as novelist and literary critic in Victorian and Edwardian society. He was known for his novels and novellas which were mainly based on themes of consciousness and awareness of self.
All told he was credited with an impressive literary output of some twenty novels, one hundred and twelve stories, a dozen plays and a large number of essays of literary criticism.

Answer: Adam Bede

George Eliot (1819-1880) was the pseudonym for Mary Ann Cross, but she was also known as Marian Evans. During her early career she was presented with a problem unique to those authors who used pen-names when an impostor claimed responsibility for her books.

Eliot was a free thinker who had a well known long term liaison with the married writer and editor George Henry Lewes. This created much public indignation among the Victorians who were originally reluctant to read her books. As her literary output increased and with it her obvious merit more manifest she became more readily accepted.

Answer: The Alph

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was a famous English lyrical poet and literary critic whose anthology of poems 'Lyrical Ballads' which appeared in 1798 and co-written with William Wordsworth is widely regarded as starting the English Romantic Movement.

Answer: The Rivals

Richard Brinsley Sheridan was born in Dublin in 1751 and died in great poverty in London in 1816. He had a dramatic and chequered life gaining and losing fortunes on the way. He eloped with Elizabeth Linley and subsequently fought a duel, in which he was wounded, when her outraged father caught up with the couple. He later qualified as a lawyer and then was allowed to marry.

After an unpromising start to his play-writing career when his first offering 'The Rivals' was poorly received by public and critics alike. But his perseverance paid off and his output was soon widely and richly acclaimed. He turned to politics and quickly lost most of his money dying a virtual pauper.