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Quiz about Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz
Quiz about Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz

Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz


This quiz concentrates on the life of Oscar Wilde. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Flapjack44. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
Flapjack44
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
60,787
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
1316
Last 3 plays: Johnmcmanners (15/15), Guest 65 (7/15), Guest 82 (11/15).
- -
1. What was Oscar Wilde's full birth name? Hint


2. Who referred to Oscar Wilde as the 'Young Pagan'? Hint


3. While at Oxford, which Professor of Fine Art did Wilde desire to meet, to whom Wilde later wrote: 'The dearest memories of my Oxford days are my walks and talks with you...'? Hint


4. At which Oxford college did Wilde enrol? Hint


5. In what year did Wilde sail to the U.S. for a lecture tour? Hint


6. Whom did Wilde marry in 1884? Hint


7. Who did he meet in 1891, whose relationship with Wilde was later to be described as a 'fatal friendship'? Hint


8. Which of Wilde's plays was banned in Britain? Hint


9. What was 'Mr Whistler's 10 o'clock'? Hint


10. Which three famous writers did Wilde describe in the following terms: '...'s style was far too cumbrous, and ...'s too exaggerated.'... has influenced only journalism.'? Hint


11. What event prompted a newspaper of the day to write: 'The aesthetic cult, in the nasty form, is over' and was described in another as 'a dash of wholesome bigotry'? Hint


12. What was the sentence handed down to Wilde after the Court case? Hint


13. To what had Wilde changed his name by the time of his death? Hint


14. Wilde's last words were reputedly: 'This _________ is terrible - one of us will have to go!' What word falls properly into the blank?

Answer: (One word)
15. Who was the chief mourner at Wilde's funeral? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Jan 07 2025 : Johnmcmanners: 15/15
Dec 08 2024 : Guest 65: 7/15
Dec 06 2024 : Guest 82: 11/15
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 78: 1/15
Nov 29 2024 : Guest 169: 12/15
Nov 29 2024 : Guest 169: 12/15
Nov 28 2024 : Guest 169: 11/15
Nov 27 2024 : Guest 169: 7/15
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 169: 4/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was Oscar Wilde's full birth name?

Answer: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

He dropped the Fingal, O'Flahertie and Wills to become simply Oscar Wilde, and was quoted as saying at Oxford, 'Soon I shall discard another and be known simply as 'The Wilde' or 'The Oscar'.'
2. Who referred to Oscar Wilde as the 'Young Pagan'?

Answer: His mother

Wilde's mother, Jane Francisca Speranza Wilde was, like her son, a celebrated wit.
3. While at Oxford, which Professor of Fine Art did Wilde desire to meet, to whom Wilde later wrote: 'The dearest memories of my Oxford days are my walks and talks with you...'?

Answer: John Ruskin

Ruskin's aesthetic beliefs and dislike of city grime rubbed off on Wilde, who once commented 'I would give Manchester back to the shepherds and Leeds to the stockfarmers'.
4. At which Oxford college did Wilde enrol?

Answer: Magdalen

Other famous alumni from Magdalen College are the author C.S. Lewis, Sir Peter Medawar whose pioneering work in tissue transplants led to him winning a Nobel Prize for medicine, and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, David Souter.
5. In what year did Wilde sail to the U.S. for a lecture tour?

Answer: 1881

Wilde sailed in December 1881 for the 1882 tour. He was concerned that he did not have a talent for public speaking and was quoted as saying prior to the tour, 'I want a natural style, with a touch of affectation.'.
6. Whom did Wilde marry in 1884?

Answer: Constance Lloyd

They had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan.
7. Who did he meet in 1891, whose relationship with Wilde was later to be described as a 'fatal friendship'?

Answer: Lord Alfred Douglas

The relationship between them was passionate but stormy. Despite the troubles though, it lasted for many years.
8. Which of Wilde's plays was banned in Britain?

Answer: Salome

The play was refused a licence on the grounds that it depicted biblical characters on stage.
9. What was 'Mr Whistler's 10 o'clock'?

Answer: A lecture given in 1885 by Mr Whistler

The painter Whistler met Wilde many times, although the acquaintance was prickly. The lecture in question made a number of cutting criticisms about aestheticism and was largely held to be aimed at Wilde although his name was never expressly mentioned.
10. Which three famous writers did Wilde describe in the following terms: '...'s style was far too cumbrous, and ...'s too exaggerated.'... has influenced only journalism.'?

Answer: George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens

The criticisms were made in 1888 and 1889.
11. What event prompted a newspaper of the day to write: 'The aesthetic cult, in the nasty form, is over' and was described in another as 'a dash of wholesome bigotry'?

Answer: Wilde was found guilty of homosexual practices

The quotes were from 'The News of The World' and the 'St James's Gazette' respectively. The trial arose through Wilde's abortive libel action against (the now) Lord Queensberry.
12. What was the sentence handed down to Wilde after the Court case?

Answer: Two years with hard labour

Lord Queensberry, Charles Hawtrey and Charles Brookfield were reputed to have had a celebratory dinner that evening.
13. To what had Wilde changed his name by the time of his death?

Answer: Sebastian Melmoth

14. Wilde's last words were reputedly: 'This _________ is terrible - one of us will have to go!' What word falls properly into the blank?

Answer: wallpaper

15. Who was the chief mourner at Wilde's funeral?

Answer: Lord Alfred Douglas

Although Charles Lucas also attended.
Source: Author Flapjack44

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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