Let Her Speak, Please! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mae West

Mae West (1892-1980) said this after learning that the inflatable life jacket had been named after her. Mae West was larger than life-brassy, buxom and sexy -- unlike the boyish waifs that populated the Silver Screen before her. Master of the double entendre, it was her movie 'She Done Him Wrong' (1933), based on her Broadway hit 'Diamond Lil' (1928), that helped bring about the Motion Picture Code.

Answer: William Congreve

English playwright and poet William Congreve (1620-1729) is one of the best writers of comedy of the Reformation. This quote is from his only tragedy, 'The Mourning Bride,' written in 1697. 'Heaven has no rage like love to hate turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.' Actually, a man scorned would be equally hellish, yes?

Answer: Emily Dickinson

American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was never published in her lifetime. Although remembered as reclusive and shy, Emily was actually a very well-educated woman for her times. She attended Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and was actually a high-spirited, active girl. Nobody really knows the cause of her withdrawal from life.

Some say it was a disappointment in love, but this is a subject of much among debate with Dickinson scholars. Over 2,000 poems and fragments of her poems were sorted and published after her death.

This thought holds well true today. Everybody, it seems, gets 15 minutes of fame.

Answer: Dorothy Parker

This quote comes from American Dorothy Parker (1893-1967). who was a well-known drama critic for 'Vanity Fair' and 'The New Yorker' magazines, and a very successful author. This is one of my favorite quotes listed--though I would apply it to the way I view politics.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College. His plays include 'Lady Windermere's Fan' (1892), 'The Importance of Being Ernest' (1895), and 'Salome' (1894) which was first performed in Paris by Sarah Bernhardt, and was later made into an opera by Richard Strauss. Wilde's only novel, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', was written in 1891.

He was known for his wit--and his controversial personal life.

Answer: Margaret Mead

Margaret Mead (1901-1978) was an American anthropologist best known for her studies of primitive societies and social anthropology. Her most notable research was done in New Guinea. Samoa Islands, and Bali. Much of her work was in the study of child rearing in various cultures.

She published many books including 'Coming Of Age In Samoa' (1928), and 'Male And Female' (1949). Her autography 'Blackberry Winter' was published in 1972. Please remember, that Ms. Mead's quote concerning what woman and men want are hers--and do not reflect the opinion of this quizmaker. Thank you.

Answer: false

No, this quote is from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). Obviously a man of small-mind as well as stature, wasn't he? Bonaparte first seized power in France in 1779. He had the French constitution revised twice to accommodate his love of power--in 1802 to declare him Consul for life, and again in 1804 to declare him emperor.

After his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, he was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena and died there in 1821.

Answer: Rudyard Kipling

This comes from 'The Female of the Species' by (Joseph) Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), English writer and Nobel laureate. Kipling is perhaps most famous for this two books of animal stories 'The Jungle Book' (1894) and 'The Second Jungle Book' (1895).' When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride, He shouts to scare the monster, Who will often turn aside.

But the female of the species is more deadly than the male'. Well, I think either sex could be equally deadly--in the right circumstances.

Answer: Billie Burke

Billie Burke (1885-1970) was 54 years old when she starred as Glinda the Good Witch in the 1939 MGM classic 'The Wizard Of Oz'. She was one of the few stars who crossed over gracefully into 'talkies', and her career spanned stage, movies, and televison. I used this quote in my quiz about Billie's life, but I really think in our youth conscious age that this quote bears repeating.

Answer: Ingrid Bergman

Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982) was the winner of two academy awards. The first for her performance in 'Gaslight' (1944). The role that she will always be remembered for is that of Elsa opposite Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca' (1942). Her popularity nose-dived after her affair with Roberto Rosselini (who became her second husband) was made public.

But Ms. Bergman's career survived and she came back to win her second Academy Award for 'Murder On The Orient Express' (1973). Her autobiography 'My Story' was published in 1980.