The Year of the Pig Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dick King-Smith

'The Sheep-Pig' was published in the UK in 1983 and was adapted into the film 'Babe' in 1995. It tells the story of a piglet who is won by a farmer and brought up by a sheepdog named Fly. He learns to herd sheep, eventually winning a prize at the sheepdog trials.

His skill saves his life, as he was originally destined to be eaten. Enid Blyton wrote many children's books, including the 'Famous Five' series. Maurice Sendak's best known work is probably 'Where the Wild Things Are' and Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote 'The Secret Garden', among others.

Answer: Empress of Blandings

The Empress of Blandings made her first appearance in 'Pig-hoo-o-o-o-ey', and featured in ten books, including 'Pigs Have Wings', where she was stolen (or pignapped). Her proud owner was Lord Emsworth (there was no Lady Emsworth, let alone a Duchess). Lord Worplesdon was Bertie Wooster's uncle and Mrs. Trotter was also created by Wodehouse, but was human. Bertie Wooster and his valet, Reginald Jeeves, are probably Wodehouse's most famous characters.

He is also remembered for coming up with fantastic names, such as Gussie Fink-Nottle and Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright.

Answer: Lord of the Flies

'Lord of the Flies' was written by William Golding and first published in 1954. It tells the story of a group of boys stranded on an island and their descent into savagery, including murder. It was written partly in response to 'The Coral Island', by R M Ballantine, which appeared in 1857.

In this, three boys are also stranded on an island, but work together co-operatively - pigs also make an appearance in this book. 'Treasure Island' was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1883 and 'The Wind in the Willows' appeared in 1908, authored by Kenneth Grahame.

Answer: Boxer

The novel is a satire on the Russian revolution. Old Major leads the initial revolution against the rule of the human owner of the farm, Mr. Jones, and represents Karl Marx and the idealism of communism. After Old Major's death, a struggle for power develops between Napoleon (Stalin) and Snowball (Trotsky), which is won by Napoleon. Boxer is a carthorse, and represents the proletariat, who believe what the pigs tell them. Napoleon is corrupted by greed and becomes power hungry, eventually becoming a dictator, which leaves the other farm animals no better off than in the days of Mr. Jones.

Answer: Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle is taught how to speak to animals by Polynesia, his parrot. He can also talk to his dog, Jip, a monkey, duck and owl. The books also introduced the 'pushmi-pullyu', a two headed creature. Edith Nesbit wrote many books, including 'The Railway Children'. Captain Frederick Marryat wrote 'The Children of the New Forest' and 'The Water Babies' is one of Charles Kingsley's works.

Answer: The Peppermint Pig

The book was published in 1975 and tells the story of Poll and Theo, whose father has gone to America to seek his fortune, leaving his family to live on the charity of others. The 'peppermint pig' is the runt of the litter, so cheap to buy and fatten up. Nina Bawden is also the author of 'Carrie's War' and many other books. As far as I know, there are no books with the other titles.

Answer: Wilbur

Wilbur is another runt, taken to be fattened up for Christmas. He is befriended by Charlotte the spider, who persuades the farmer to spare Wilbur's life by writing messages in her web. Wilbur eventually wins a prize at the county fair, where Charlotte dies, but not before leaving an egg sac. Wilbur brings this back to the farm, where the spiders hatch and three of them become Wilbur's new friends.

Answer: Bong

'They sailed away for a year and a day to the land where the Bong-tree grows. And there in a wood, a Piggy-wig stood, with a ring at the end of his nose.' The pig sells the ring for one shilling to enable the marriage to take place. The tree is fictional, but was used by James Ramsey Ullman in his book 'Where the Bong Tree Grows' which describes his travels in the South Pacific.

The other options are all real trees.

Answer: Beatrix Potter

The full title is 'The Tale of Little Pig Robinson', but that would have been a giveaway. It tells the story of the pig in Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussycat' and how he arrived in the land where they found him. Beatrix Potter also wrote about Pigling Bland, Pig Wig and Aunt Pettitoes. Arthur Ransome is best known for the 'Swallows and Amazons' books and Lynne Reid Banks wrote about 'The Indian in the Cupboard'. Richard Adams wrote 'Watership Down'.

Answer: Red Riding Hood

'The animal I really dig, above all others is the pig. Pigs are noble, pigs are clever.' are the opening lines. The poem appears in 'Revolting Rhymes' which retells several tales in Dahl's inimitable style. Snow White uses the magic mirror to find out the winners of racehorses, and then place bets on them. Goldilocks is a criminal and Red Riding Hood is a pistol packing mamma. 'The Three Little Pigs' ends with Red Riding Hood acquiring a new wolfskin coat, which is good, and a pigskin travelling case, which is not so good.