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Wild Lives of Famous Poets Trivia Quiz

Here's a look at some French and German poets who lived hard and wild lives. This quiz will probably be difficult for most, but will (hopefully) be interesting and informative.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
robert362

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
117,864

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
501

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This poet abandoned his writing at approximately age 20, moving on to adventures in Africa (and other places). Hint

Valery

Rimbaud

Baudelaire

Mallarme

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. This poet tried to shoot one of his fellow poets - a man for whom he had abandoned his wife. Hint

Mallarme

Nerval

Valery

Verlaine

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Question 3 of 10

3. This author was an almost certain suicide by hanging. Hint

Verlaine

Mallarme

Rimbaud

Nerval

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. This poet lived the wild life, despite some earlier training to become a priest. Hint

Rimbaud

Verlaine

Valery

Baudelaire

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Question 5 of 10

5. This poet endured the death of his fiancee at an early age. Hint

Holderlin

Heine

Novalis

Rilke

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Question 6 of 10

6. This poet underwent Jungian analysis in an attempt to resolve some of his profound personal problems. Hint

Heine

Novalis

Hesse

Rilke

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Question 7 of 10

7. This poet struggled somewhat in life due to his Jewish family background. Hint

Heine

Holderlin

Novalis

Hesse

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This poet was raised as a girl for several years. Hint

Novalis

Holderlin

Hesse

Rilke

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This author apparently had a pet lobster. Hint

Heine

Nerval

Verlaine

Novalis

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which author states that "stupidity, delusion, selfishness and lust torment our bodies and poison our minds"? Hint

Rimbaud

Rilke

Baudelaire

Hesse

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This poet abandoned his writing at approximately age 20, moving on to adventures in Africa (and other places).

Answer: Rimbaud

Arthur Rimbaud abandoned his writing at age 19 or 20 - unusual for most famous writers. He later had adventures in Africa, suffering amputation of a leg along the way. His relationship with Verlaine was quite dramatic - (see comments to the following question).

2. This poet tried to shoot one of his fellow poets - a man for whom he had abandoned his wife.

Answer: Verlaine

Paul Verlaine's life was apparently the wildest of the wild. He eventually abandoned his wife for a relationship with Rimbaud - then tried to shoot him.

3. This author was an almost certain suicide by hanging.

Answer: Nerval

Gerard De Nerval was a colorful, but less-than-stable fellow. He ended his life at the end of a rope.

4. This poet lived the wild life, despite some earlier training to become a priest.

Answer: Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire's life was filled with dissipation. He was at times enrolled to study law (as were many of these poets) and to become a priest. The word "moderation" was not in his vocabulary. In addition to his writings, he translated Poe.

5. This poet endured the death of his fiancee at an early age.

Answer: Novalis

The writer known as Novalis was engaged to marry early in his teens - but lost his fiancee at an early age.

6. This poet underwent Jungian analysis in an attempt to resolve some of his profound personal problems.

Answer: Hesse

Hermann Hesse may be more well-known for his novels and stories, but he was also the author of some interesting poetry. Unhappy at school, suicidal at times, and a participant in some failed marriages, Hesse
attempted to find some peace via Jungian analysis.

7. This poet struggled somewhat in life due to his Jewish family background.

Answer: Heine

Heinrich Heine was Jewish at a time (and place) when that background posed significant obstacles to advancement.

8. This poet was raised as a girl for several years.

Answer: Rilke

Rainer Maria Rilke was apparently dressed as a girl and called by a girl's name by his parents for the first several years of his life in order to compensate for the parents' loss of a baby girl.

9. This author apparently had a pet lobster.

Answer: Nerval

I guess lobsters can live out of water for a while - he used to take the pet for walks.

10. Which author states that "stupidity, delusion, selfishness and lust torment our bodies and poison our minds"?

Answer: Baudelaire

This is the opening of "The Flowers of Evil", Baudelaire's influential book of poems. Happy camper, wasn't he?

Source: Author robert362

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