Authors' FAQs on Writing Trivia Quiz

Answer: J. R. R. Tolkien

Many reading J. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" in the first ten years after its publication found parallels with World War II and speculated that it might be an allegorical tale. Tolkien's long association with C. S. Lewis, author of the admittedly allegorical "Narnia" series, could only have strengthened this speculation.

However, Tolkien, in the forward to the 1966 edition of "Lord of the Rings", stated flatly of his book, "It is neither allegorical nor topical." Tolkien went on to point out that, although much of the book was written under the shadow of World War II, the seminal chapter, on which the narrative ultimately depended, had been written prior to 1939.

Answer: Mature poets steal

Thomas Stearns Eliot, known both for a caustic wit as well as complex poetry, wrote "The Hollow Men". The last lines of this poem are well known and oft quoted:

"This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."

T.S. Eliot was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize for literature. Some have perceived a paradox in the Christian Eliot's conventional views on society and his innovations in poetic form. T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" became the basis for the musical "Cats". "Mature poets are mad" is an "allusion" to Robert Burton's well-known assertion, "All poets are mad."

Answer: Is a fish

Of "The Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway said, "There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish." He went on to indicate that "All the symbolism that people say is" dung (utilizing a word for dung not appropriate for this site.) However, Hemingway cautioned that the absence of defined symbolism did not mean that the story was without transcendent meaning.

He also added, "What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know".

In responding to what he felt was criticism of his writing by William Faulkner, Hemingway said, "Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don't know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use."

Answer: Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy's novels require an attention to detail and plausibility that is seldom mirrored in real life. Many credit Tom Clancy with the creation of a genre: the techno-thriller. His first novel, "The Hunt for Red October" became a best-selling novel, as have all of his subsequent efforts. "Clear and Present Danger" was the top selling novel of the 1980s.

His riveting books lend themselves to successful movie adaptation.

Answer: Erasmus

Erasmus was a critic of the practices of the Catholic clergy and desired reform. He did not, however, join the Reformation. He predicted that the Reformation would bring about just the kind of schism and warfare that did, in fact, develop. His collection of New Testament Greek manuscripts became the basis for the New Testament portion of the King James translation of the Bible and for many other translations into a wide range of languages.

Answer: Albert Camus

Curiously, the much-commented-upon William Faulkner was one of Camus' two favorite American authors (the other being Herman Melville). Albert Camus' best-known views are, perhaps, those on suicide. Some are willing to speculate that Camus' own death in 1960 in a motor vehicle accident, just three years after receiving the Nobel Prize for literature, was a suicide.

However, Camus was sitting in the back seat, and it would have to be supposed that he grabbed the steering wheel to force the collision.

This being the case, we would also be assuming that Camus was indifferent to the safety of the others riding in the car with him.

Answer: ... for I intend to write it.

Winston Churchill's views on all aspects of his life and the history of his time (and many other times) have been duly recorded. Apart from his personal and political motivations, writing was also a major source of livelihood for Churchill.

Answer: Carl Sandberg

Carl Sandburg's work as a biographer came to overshadow his poetry, journalism and novels - bringing him a Pulitzer Prize in 1940. However, in 1951, Sandburg's poetry brought him his second Pulitzer Prize.

Answer: G. K. Chesterton

G. K. Chesterton flirted with diabolism early in life after a period of depression before returning to the Anglican faith. He later converted to Catholicism. A prolific writer, Chesterton's character Father Brown ultimately appeared in 50 books. In addition to fiction he wrote poetry and biographies, including a highly regarded biography of Charles Dickens.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's understated yet caustic witticisms are an irresistible lure for this quotation quiz maker. Wilde seems to be able to state sweeping and poignant truths in single compact sentences. His best-known novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", includes this: "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them." I find that I must both read and see his plays since I am slow on the uptake and some of his humor is well worth savoring. Consider the well-known line from "The Importance of Being Earnest". "To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."