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Basic Charles Bukowski Trivia Quiz

This is about the American author and poet Charles Bukowski.

A multiple-choice quiz by geeklove12. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
geeklove12

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
256,544

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
406

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was Charles Bukowski's pseudo name in his novels? Hint

Charles Chinaski

Charlie Bernaski

Hank Chinaski

Hank Bukowski

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was the name of the publishing company that was involved in early Charles Bukowski poetry readings? Hint

HarperCollins

New York City Lights

City Lights

Delta Books

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Question 3 of 10

3. Where was Bukowski born? Hint

Los Angeles, California

Burbank, California

St. Petersburg, Russia

Andernach, Germany

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Question 4 of 10

4. Where did Bukowski spend a large portion of his life working? Hint

The U.S. Military

He never held a steady job

SEARS Department Store

The U.S. Post Office

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Question 5 of 10

5. What statement best explains Charles Bukowski? Hint

A family man.

An observing loner with a penchant for alcohol.

The life of the party.

A deeply religious writer.

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the name of the woman Bukowski had a child with? Hint

Barbara Fry

Frances Smith

Linda Lee Beighle

Jane Cooney Baker

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Question 7 of 10

7. At the end of "Ham on Rye", what game does the main character play with the young boy? Hint

Darts

Skeet Ball

A mechanical boxing game

Texas Hold'em

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Question 8 of 10

8. In "Factotum", the main character is at a driving lesson and the teacher asks, "When is the only time you lose control of the car?" The main character supplies what answer? Hint

"When you sneeze."

"When it is raining at night and your headlights don't work."

"When you have to go to the bathroom."

"When you are driving drunk."

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the name of the paper that published Bukowski's weekly column "Notes of a Dirty Old Man"? Hint

The Onion

The Underground City

The Voice

Open City

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is the name of Bukowski's last book that published before he died in 1994? Hint

Run with the Earthquake

Women

Pulp

Three Poems

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was Charles Bukowski's pseudo name in his novels?

Answer: Hank Chinaski

Charles Bukowski's nickname growing up was Hank. Most of his novels center around his life, and it was this voice and candidness into his decrepit loneliness that caught people's attention and made him a cult phenomenon.

2. What was the name of the publishing company that was involved in early Charles Bukowski poetry readings?

Answer: City Lights

City Lights is a small publishing company and bookstore located in San Francisco, California. They are responsible for such books as "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. Though City Lights helped Bukowski with readings, they never published any of his books. Black Sparrow Press published him with the help from his manager John Martin.

3. Where was Bukowski born?

Answer: Andernach, Germany

Bukowski moved with his family from Germany to Los Angeles when he was three-years-old. He lived with his parents in Los Angeles, but moved out of the house in 1940, when his father threw all his possessions and manuscripts onto the lawn.

4. Where did Bukowski spend a large portion of his life working?

Answer: The U.S. Post Office

Bukowski worked on and off at the post office for eleven years and wrote a novel based on his experiences there. This was the longest of all his blue-collar jobs, most of them he didn't last for more than a week. Another profession of Bukowski's could easily be considered horse racing, as he sent a majority of his time betting on the tracks.

5. What statement best explains Charles Bukowski?

Answer: An observing loner with a penchant for alcohol.

Bukowski loved to drink while doing most things, especially during his public readings. It was common to bring beers to Bukowski's readings and pass them up to him as the night went on. Some venues even went so far as to put a refrigerator on stage for him.

6. What was the name of the woman Bukowski had a child with?

Answer: Frances Smith

Bukowski had many women in his life, but only one child. Jane was Bukowski's first wife, though he claims they were never really married. Barbara was Bukowski's second wife; they were married in 1955 and divorced by 1958. By 1963 he had met Frances, and by 1964 Marina Louise Bukowski was born.

In 1970, he fell for Linda, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship and was eventually married to in 1985. They were together still at the time of his death in 1994.

7. At the end of "Ham on Rye", what game does the main character play with the young boy?

Answer: A mechanical boxing game

The little boy beats Hank twice, despite the broken arm of his boxer.

8. In "Factotum", the main character is at a driving lesson and the teacher asks, "When is the only time you lose control of the car?" The main character supplies what answer?

Answer: "When you sneeze."

Directly proceeding his correct answer, Hank is fired for lying about his criminal record, which includes such discrepancies as drunk driving.

9. What was the name of the paper that published Bukowski's weekly column "Notes of a Dirty Old Man"?

Answer: Open City

"Notes of a Dirty Old Man" was the beginning of Bukowski's public fame in 1978. His columns were short candid pieces about lust and alcohol, the Bukowski we know and love.

10. What is the name of Bukowski's last book that published before he died in 1994?

Answer: Pulp

"Pulp" is a detective novel not starring his character Hank Chinaski.

Source: Author geeklove12

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