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The Opposite of Darkness Trivia Quiz

A quiz on 'The Light Fantastic', Terry Pratchett's sequel to the first 'Discworld' novel, 'The Colour of Magic'. Contains spoilers.

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

Author
JasonOgg

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,878

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
218

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. This novel focuses mainly on two sets of characters - Rincewind and his companions, and the wizards of Unseen University. Who is the head of Unseen University at the start of 'The Light Fantastic'? Hint

Mustrum Ridcully

Ymper Trymon

Alberto Malich

Galder Weatherwax

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Question 2 of 15

2. At the beginning of 'The Light Fantastic' which magical book, chained down in a magic-proof room, only contains seven spells? Hint

'The Book of Going Forth Around Elevenish'

'The Bumper Fun Grimoire'

'The Octavo'

'The Necrotelicomnicon'

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Question 3 of 15

3. Which of the following items were not in Death's hands - his having just come from a fancy dress party - when summoned by the wizards? Hint

A few cubes of cheese

A scythe

Some pineapple on a stick

A mask

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Question 4 of 15

4. Rincewind and Twoflower go to a number of places on their journey around the Discworld, one of which being the Forest of Skund. What is the direct translation of the word "Skund"? Hint

"Stop Pointing You Silly Man"

"Just A Mountain"

"Your Finger You Fool"

"Who is this Fool who does Not Know what a Mountain Is"

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Question 5 of 15

5. Whilst inside the Forest of Skund, Rincewind and Twoflower come across a gnome, who shows them to a house constructed in the style of the "Confectionery School of Architecture" - in other words, a gingerbread cottage. What are the logs in the fireplace made of? Hint

Liquorice

Toffee

Barley sugar

Nougat

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which ruler of Ankh-Morpork objected to inaccurate descriptive writing? Hint

Mad Lord Snapcase

Homicidal Lord Winder

Havelock Vetinari

Olaf Quimby II

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Question 7 of 15

7. Flying along on a broomstick, Rincewind and Twoflower hit a big rock in the sky, apparently inhabited by a druid named Belafon. What was Belafon's occupation? Hint

Builder

Astronomer

Computer hardware consultant

Weather analysis officer

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Question 8 of 15

8. What star sign was Rincewind born under? Hint

Wezen the Double-headed Kangaroo

The Flying Moose

The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars

The Knotted String

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Question 9 of 15

9. According to 'The Light Fantastic', is the "real" reason Unseen University does not allow women to enroll there because they do not tend to have a mindset serious enough to wear robes?

Yes

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Question 10 of 15

10. In 'The Light Fantastic' novel, who tries to prevent Rincewind and Twoflower leaving Death's home?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 11 of 15

11. "When the red star lights the sky Rincewind the Wizard will come looking for" - what? Hint

Mushrooms

Onions

Potatoes

A fish

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Question 12 of 15

12. In shock after actually casting a spell, what does Rincewind threaten to turn Twoflower into? Hint

A badger

An orangutan

A statue

A rosebush

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Question 13 of 15

13. Bethan realises that Rincewind must have mispronounced one of the words of one of the Octavo's spells. Written in Cupumuguk Snow Runes, how was the word supposed to be pronounced? Hint

"zph"

"zsff"

"sph"

"tsff"

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Question 14 of 15

14. At the end of the novel, who does the Luggage belong to?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Is light itself the opposite of darkness?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Galder Weatherwax

In this book, Galder Weatherwax is referred to as the "304th Chancellor of Unseen University", whereas in later books the head of the University is generally referred to as the "Archchancellor". Galder is succeeded later on in 'The Light Fantastic' by Ymper Trymon.

As for the other two options, Mustrum Ridcully is a later Archchancellor of Unseen University and Alberto Malich (also known as Albert, Death's servant) was the founder of Unseen University.

2. At the beginning of 'The Light Fantastic' which magical book, chained down in a magic-proof room, only contains seven spells?

Answer: 'The Octavo'

The eighth spell 'The Octavo' previously contained had planted itself inside Rincewind's mind, and constantly tries to get itself said in difficult situations. He evicts it near the end of 'The Light Fantastic', making it go back inside the book.

3. Which of the following items were not in Death's hands - his having just come from a fancy dress party - when summoned by the wizards?

Answer: A mask

The scythe is Death's favourite weapon, the second being - according to the 'Discworld' book 'Hogfather' - his sword. Death didn't really need a mask, considering he was a skeleton.

4. Rincewind and Twoflower go to a number of places on their journey around the Discworld, one of which being the Forest of Skund. What is the direct translation of the word "Skund"?

Answer: "Your Finger You Fool"

So named because explorers completed their maps by "grabbing the nearest native... and writing down whatever the bemused man told them." "Who is this Fool who does Not Know what a Mountain Is" is the direct translation of Mt. Oolskunrahod, also to be found on the Disc.

Answer: Liquorice

The windows were made of barley sugar, the beds of toffee, and when Twoflower touches a wall he finds out it is made of nougat. The table was made of marzipan and the mattresses of meringue.

6. Which ruler of Ankh-Morpork objected to inaccurate descriptive writing?

Answer: Olaf Quimby II

Vetinari is the Patrician in most of the Discworld novels and has an objection to mime artists, but it was Olaf Quimby II who objected so much to inaccuracies in descriptive writing that he would have offenders executed.

7. Flying along on a broomstick, Rincewind and Twoflower hit a big rock in the sky, apparently inhabited by a druid named Belafon. What was Belafon's occupation?

Answer: Computer hardware consultant

The big rock was a replacement for part of a stone circle. The stone circle could tell you things like what season it was and so on. Belafon was somewhat unimpressed when Twoflower informed him that they had a book ('The Almanac') that could do the same thing, much more simply.

8. What star sign was Rincewind born under?

Answer: The Small Boring Group of Faint Stars

"Not a wizard's sign at all" according to an astrologer at Unseen University. Maybe that explains why Rincewind isn't particularly adept at wizardry (or wizzardry, as his hat might indicate).

9. According to 'The Light Fantastic', is the "real" reason Unseen University does not allow women to enroll there because they do not tend to have a mindset serious enough to wear robes?

Answer: No

No, apparently the real reason is that women might be "embarrassingly good" at magic. On the Disc, magically-inclined women tend to become witches - such as Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Agnes (Perdita) Nitt and (Queen) Magrat in Lancre.

10. In 'The Light Fantastic' novel, who tries to prevent Rincewind and Twoflower leaving Death's home?

Answer: Ysabell

Ysabell, with both silver hair and eyes, is later seen in the 'Discworld' novel 'Mort'. The adopted daughter of Death, she ends up marrying Mort and they have a daughter - Susan Sto-Helit.

11. "When the red star lights the sky Rincewind the Wizard will come looking for" - what?

Answer: Onions

So said a troll prophecy. Rincewind tried to attract the onions by whispering, "Onions? Any onions here?" At one point he did try to find out whether a toadstool was edible (it wasn't, because it was a gnome's home) and potatoes are one of Rincewind's favourite foods. I'm not sure about the fish.

12. In shock after actually casting a spell, what does Rincewind threaten to turn Twoflower into?

Answer: A rosebush

"I'll turn *you* into a rosebush."
As far as I know, no badgers were mentioned in 'The Light Fantastic'. Some of the wizards were turned into statues by Trymon, though, and the Unseen University Librarian was turned into an orangutan near the start of the novel.

13. Bethan realises that Rincewind must have mispronounced one of the words of one of the Octavo's spells. Written in Cupumuguk Snow Runes, how was the word supposed to be pronounced?

Answer: "zsff"

Rincewind, known for his skill with languages - which allowed him to be the only person in Ankh-Morpork to be able to communicate effectively with Twoflower - got it wrong. Twoflower provided the correct pronunciation.

14. At the end of the novel, who does the Luggage belong to?

Answer: Rincewind

The Luggage is a chest - with legs - made out of the magical sapient pearwood. It has a tendency to defend its master rather violently (occasionally luring potential villians by displaying Twoflower's golden Agatean money). Twoflower gives it to Rincewind, saying that it wouldn't fit in his own wardrobe anyway.

15. Is light itself the opposite of darkness?

Answer: No

According to the novel, light is only the absence of darkness. 'The Light Fantastic' - "a rather disappointing purple colour" - is the opposite of darkness, hence the name of this quiz.

Source: Author JasonOgg

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