Père Lachaise Cemetery - I was Buried Here! Quiz | World

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I was from Poland, but spent my entire artistic life in France. I played the piano very well and fell in love with a writer who went by the pen name George Sand ... even though she was female. Who was I?

Answer: Chopin

Frédéric Chopin was the lover of George Sand. She used this pseudonym in order to avoid the prejudice against female authors.

Chopin lived a short life, was filled with illness. At his funeral, his most famous funeral march was performed. The piece is Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor. This piece is closely related to the "Imperial March" composed by John Williams for the movie "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back". It is also the basis of traditional renditions of New Orleans style funeral marches.

2. I was a rock and roller from the 1960's. I liked to "Break on Through to the Other Side". I bought the farm at 27 years of age. Who was I?

Answer: Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain all died at the age of 27. Kinda weird, huh? :)

Jim Morrison's grave is one of the leading tourist attractions of the cemetery. His grave has been desecrated many times with (positive) graffiti. The cemetery staff continually clean off the spray paint, but loyal fans continue to add their respects.

3. I was into writing operas. "Carmen" was my best known. Who was I?

Answer: Bizet

Georges Bizet was French by birth making him one of the native interred people of the cemetery. His grave features an obelisk with his bust atop.

Bizet was a heavy smoker and often worked up to 16 hours a day. He struggled in his artistic life, winning mild to moderate success and critical acclaim. "Carmen" is his best-known work and could possibly earn him the title of 'one hit wonder'.

4. I wrote poetry and plays. I was from Ireland but I died in France. I was imprisoned in England for my homosexuality. Who was I?

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's grave is perhaps the most provocative of the cemetery. As Jim Morrison's grave has been desecrated by fans, Wilde's grave has been desecrated by vandals removing certain parts of the original design of the stone (genitalia).

5. I lived what some call an alternative lifestyle. But I also hung out with such "greats" as Ernest Hemingway. You could also say I was apart of "the lost generation" of Americans. And I also thought there was "no there there" in Oakland, California. Who was I?

Answer: Gertrude Stein

Although Gertrude is credited with creating the term "lost generation", it is still unclear whether she is the original source. Ernest Hemingway could possibly be the source.

She was godmother to Ernest's son, Jack.

She was also portrayed by Kathy Bates in Woody Allen's movie "Midnight In Paris". Many other prominent artists of Stein's era were featured in the film. The movie earned Woody Allen an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

6. I wrote plays and was interred here in 1817, but I actually died in 1673. My bones were controversial and were moved a few times over the years. My best known work is "Le Misanthrope". Which French playwright was I?

Answer: Molière

Molière's remains were transferred twice due to the fact that his original burial was in unconsecrated ground because (1) he was an actor and (2) had not received the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church. (In many parts of Europe, including France, there were laws in force at the time of Molière's death prohibiting the burial of actors in consecrated ground. Actors were generally considered immoral).

7. I was a diplomat. My name was William Temple Franklin. My grandfather, Benjamin Franklin, was a founding father of The United States of America. Can you tell me upon which denomination of U.S. currency you can see my grandfather's face?

Answer: 100 Dollar Bill

Though William Temple Franklin was related to very prominent people, and was one of the signatories of the Treaty of Paris, he died a pauper in 1823 after finding no useful life in America or France.

Ulysses S. Grant is on the 50 dollar bill. Andrew Jackson is on the 20 dollar bill, and Alexander Hamilton is on the 10 dollar bill.

8. My native country moved my bones back home and re-buried me in Florence, Italy. I was a great composer of operas which still delight the ears of millions world-wide. My works included "The Barber of Seville" and "William Tell". Which Italian composer was I?

Answer: Rossini

Rossini's "Barber of Seville" is very recognizable and can be most notably heard in pop culture as the soundtrack of a Bugs Bunny cartoon and a "Seinfeld" episode entitled "The Barber".

The overture of "William Tell" and the overture of "The Thieving Magpie" are also very recognizable and are most notably associated with such well known movies as "A Clockwork Orange", "Once Upon a Time in America" and "Kick Ass".

9. I was a painter who used a system of dots, called "pointillism". I created a very beautiful and well-known painting of a park filled with people on a certain afternoon. It was a lovely day with parasols, and dogs, and children, and a river abounding. Which day of the week completes the name of my painting? "A ______ on La Grande Jatte". Oh, and, by the way, my name was Georges Seurat.

Answer: Sunday

The Sunday afternoon painting was based on and borrowed from another Seurat work named "Bathers at Asnières" featuring bathers in the same river.

The painting took approximately two years to complete. It is composed of oil on canvas. In 1923 it was acquired by Art Institute of Chicago.

It can be seen as a pop culture and movie reference in the John Hughes film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". The camera zooms so closely on the canvas that each dot can be seen individually.

10. I worked word by word ... and also with my own illustrations. I created the character of "Babar" the children's book elephant. I lived to the ripe old age of 37. I lived and died a Parisian. Who was I?

Answer: Jean de Brunhoff

Jean de Brunhoff wrote a total of seven books about the beloved Babar. Since the initial success of the books, Babar has become as recognizable as Mickey Mouse and is known in several languages worldwide.

Babar has been parodied in "National Lampoon" and was referenced by Chevy Chase in the movie "Fletch". Babar was also parodied in a Season 4 episode of "Robot Chicken".

Source: Author spoonable

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Père Lachaise Cemetery - I was Buried Here! Quiz

Avoiding all morbidity, I adore cemeteries. They are nice, peaceful places to visit. Can you name some of the most famous people buried in this Paris landmark?

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