What Did I Ever See in Him? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The fox

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) published "Le Petit Prince" ("The Little Prince") in 1943, the most famous work of this aviator, poet, writer and aristocrat. In the story, an adorable little prince with golden hair falls to earth from an asteroid, after visiting other asteroids inhabited by foolish adults. On Earth the little prince meets a fox, who begs to be tamed. "I cannot play with you, because I am not tamed", the fox tells the prince. "But if you tame me, then we shall need each other". Charming little fox, unique in all the world, he longs to be special to someone.

But what was I thinking? He is Vulpes vulpes, an opportunistic carnivore.

Answer: Dr. Zhivago

In 1957 Boris Pasternak created the Russian physician and poet Dr. Yuri Zhivago. When the USSR refused to publish "Dr. Zhivago", smugglers took it to Italy, and Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. Pasternak details both personal and national tragedy through the Russian Revolution and civil war. Be still my heart, that Zhivago is romantic and beautiful. On the other hand, he's usually covered with snow and frost, he succumbs to a heart attack, and his lover Lara is arrested and dies in the Gulag.

Not much promise there. Egyptian Omar Sharif starred in the 1965 film adaptation.

Answer: Phantom of the Opera

"The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantome de l'Opera)" was written by Frenchman Gaston Leroux, published as a series in 1909-1910. It did very poorly in literary form. A famous musician tells his young daughter tales about the "angel of music", a muse. When Christian later joins the chorus at the Paris Opera House she begins to hear a stirring spoken and singing voice, the unseen angel of music. One could swoon for a guy like that.

But what was I thinking? Erik is a disturbed and deformed stalker who kidnaps Christine and threatens to blow up the opera house! The story became a favorite in film and musicals.

Answer: Leonidas

Born in 484 B.C., Herodotus was perhaps the first historian to produce methodical historical narrative, and his is the earliest Greek prose to survive in whole. Outside his tale of the great King Leonidas, you can't find a more virile, courageous and masterful man, ladies, or a finer man to follow into battle. Learning that the Persian self-proclaimed god Xerxes was invading, and despite the Oracle predicting his death, Leonidas took 299 Spartan warriors and became the stuff of legend, blocking thousands of cutthroat Immortals, and King Xerxes.

The Spartans trained all their lives to kill, and thought nothing of wading into fresh blood and guts. If that doesn't turn you off, he dies on day three, with all save one of his men.

Answer: The gunslinger

The term "gun slinger" was first used in a 1920 Western movie, but became common in Western film and literature. In Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series, heroic Roland Deschain, the "last gunslinger" has trained much of his life to follow his ka, or destiny--to find and climb the dark tower.

A true knight, Roland is loyal, protective, and streetwise, the strong and silent type. But wait! Before you give your heart away, Roland has seen too much death. He's weary with fighting, and loss, and seeking.

He can be callous, throwing a loved one to the lions if his quest calls for it. He's your real heartbreak cowboy, with a lot of magic and horror thrown in, and the very gross Crimson King may seal his fate! Run away! Run.

Answer: Phillip Marlowe

We first met Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe in "The Big Sleep" published in 1939. This private eye is a new kind of detective, distinct from the elegant Englishman Sherlock Holmes. Marlowe is wise cracking, hard drinking, and immune to seductive charm. One might be tempted to soothe the beast in this lonely and sensitive rescuer--after all he enjoys poetry, shuns unnecessary violence, and plays a reflective game of chess. Still, he drinks a ton of whiskey and brandy.

He pushes others away with his deep mistrust and crusty remarks, and he was fired from earlier work. Envision a life of lonely nights waiting for him, and not a few surly barbs, if you hook up with this tall drink of water.

Answer: Heathcliff

"Wuthering Heights" was published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, written by Emily Bronte. Heathcliff is a homeless gypsy-like boy adopted by a gentleman, who grows up with Mr. Earnshaw's children Hindley and Catherine. Heathcliff tries to fit into a gentlemen's world, but Hindley is jealous and thwarts it. Catherine loves Heathcliff deeply, but can't "degrade" herself by marrying so uncouth a person. Crushed, Heathcliff runs away, and returns a wealthy man.

He seeks his revenge, and all come to ruin. Sigh.

Here's an exciting, exotic man your daddy should shut the door on.

Answer: Lady Chatterley's Lover

All options were banned books, but D.H. Lawrence wrote "Lady Chatterley's Lover" in 1928. Here Oliver Mellors, an earthy and self-possessed gamekeeper, has an affair with Lady Chatterley. Her aristocrat husband is disconnected and emotionally neglectful, while Oliver is a natural man, with unbridled and tender sexuality. Lawrence stresses respect and the importance of both mind and body, as well an emphasis on class.

The book was published privately in Italy, as the English thought it scandalous to depict a working-class man with an aristocratic lady, and to write a "man apart" as superior to a gentleman. Never mind the steamy sex, some foul language and their affair.

In the end, Oliver is scorned, and destroyed. What was I thinking? Romance with him, if tender and wild, was doomed.

Answer: Odysseus

Known to the Greeks as Odysseus, "Ulysses" is a blank verse poem by Victorian Alfred, Lord Tennyson, published in 1842. "I cannot rest from travel; I will drink life to the lees" is from Tennyson's work, though Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" (about 700-700 B.C.) were first to record these adventures. Brave explorer, fierce leader, clever with wit, I could sail away with that one! Yet, when Ulysses returns home from "the drunk delight" of war, he finds life in Ithaca tiresome and the crown a burden.

He did abandon his kingdom, his wife Penelope and his loyal dog, drawn instead to wandering. Note to self: Ulysses might swoop in and save you, but he's not going to stick around! Interesting that as Tennyson wrote "Ulysses" he too felt burdened by demands of family, looking after many siblings.

Answer: Siam (Thailand)

According to her memoirs and a 1944 novel by Margaret Landon, "Anna and the King of Siam", Indian-English born writer, educator and activist Anna Leonowens was governess and language secretary in the Royal Palace of Bangkok from 1862 to 1867. She was hired by Mongkut, the revered King of Siam (Thailand). King Mongkut wanted a modern education for his 39 wives and 82 children, and he did much to modernize Siam.

The story of Leonowens and the King was deemed "lese majeste" in Siam, though, a criminal violation of majesty. For instance, he was well-educated and spoke fluent English, but in her story he struggles with both.

Despite his desire to open Siam to Western ideas, Mongkut considered Leonowens, an independent lady, to be "difficult". This story inspired the popular Broadway musical "The King and I", as well as two award-winning films.