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Quiz about The Television Series I Claudius

The Television Series 'I, Claudius' Quiz

Below you shall find various enticing questions about the 1976 BBC production of 'I, Claudius.'

A multiple-choice quiz by Lofgeornost. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Lofgeornost

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
55,108

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
12 / 15

Plays
1548

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: pughmv (13/15), Guest 136 (14/15), Cocobobo2 (15/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. 'I, Claudius' premiered in 1976 on BBC2. One year later how did it appear in the U.S.? Hint

on 'Masterpiece Theater'

on 'The Wonderful World of Disney'

as a CBS mini-series

on a double bill with 'Prisoner: Cell Block H'

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Question 2 of 15

2. The actor who portrayed Claudius continued as a phenomenal stage actor and also went on to be highly regarded for his film work. Who is he? Hint

Kevin Kline

Derek Jacobi

Alan Rickman

Denholm Elliot

3. While flying overhead a raptor drops a bloodied animal into young Claudius's arms. A visiting soothsayer interprets the event to mean that Rome will face great calamities, but Claudius will protect and heal it. What kind of animal did Claudius catch? Hint

a hare

a baby lamb

a wolf cub

a kitten

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Question 4 of 15

4. The opening of each episode had a creature moving across a mosaic picture of Claudius. What kind of creature was it? Hint

a serpent

an eagle

a wolf

a fox

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Question 5 of 15

5. Livia, the Emperor Augustus's wife, would stop at nothing to see that her son followed Augustus as the new emperor. Who was this son? Hint

Drusus

Caligula

Germanicus

Tiberius

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Question 6 of 15

6. Tiberius was forced to divorce his wife and marry Augustus's daughter, Julia. Julia was later banished for life to an isolated, lonely island. Why? Hint

for refusing to sleep with Tiberius

for plotting against her father

her extramarital affairs

for writing a family history

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Question 7 of 15

7. Among Claudius's few childhood friends is a youth from the East, named after a great Roman general. Throughout the series he frequently warns the sometimes gullible Claudius to 'trust no one.' Who is he? Hint

Herod Agrippa

Cassius

Abel Antonius

Gemellus

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which actor portrayed Caligula?

Answer: ('Alien' chest-bursting)

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Question 9 of 15

9. At his first wedding ceremony, Claudius's entire family breaks into uproarius laughter. Why? Hint

his bride is a foot taller than him

he drools at the altar

he faints at the altar

he cries during the ceremony

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Question 10 of 15

10. Brian Blessed, who played Augustus, many years later played which role in Kenneth Branagh's filmed version of 'Hamlet'? Hint

King Claudius

Hamlet's father (The Ghost)

Polonius

Osric

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Question 11 of 15

11. Livia is thwarted in her attempts to poison Augustus when he decrees that he will only eat the food he grows for himself, and which he alone has touched. How does she finally accomplish her vile task? Hint

she poisons him while he sleeps

she doesn't, she just gives up

she poisons her lips and kisses him

she poisons the fruit on the tree

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Question 12 of 15

12. It is revealed that Livia's covert goal in having Tiberius attain the throne is entirely self-aggrandizing: when she dies, she wishes to be officially decreed as a goddess, and thus become immortal. When she sees Tiberius will never honor her wish, she makes Caligula and Claudius promise to make it happen. Which one eventually does so?

Answer: (Caligula or Claudius)

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Question 13 of 15

13. Well before 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Patrick Stewert appeared as the duplicitous Sejanus, who attempted to usurp the Empire from which Emperor? Hint

Augustus

Tiberius

Caligula

Claudius

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Claudius married Agrippinilla and adopted her hefty son, who was called:

Answer: (one word - fire and a fiddle)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Finally, in the 30s there was a failed attempt to make a major motion picture of 'I, Claudius.' Which actor would've appeared as Claudius in this film? Hint

Charles Laughton

Errol Flynn

Ralph Richardson

Clark Gable

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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'I, Claudius' premiered in 1976 on BBC2. One year later how did it appear in the U.S.?

Answer: on 'Masterpiece Theater'

'I, Claudius' was probably one of the most daring shows PBS had ever aired at that point.

2. The actor who portrayed Claudius continued as a phenomenal stage actor and also went on to be highly regarded for his film work. Who is he?

Answer: Derek Jacobi

Kevin Kline is actually more known for ridiculing a stutterer (in 'A Fish Called Wanda') than for portraying one.

Answer: a wolf cub

The wolf cub, of course, represented Rome, founded by the twins who had been suckled by a she-wolf. The raptor represented Rome's upper-class, who would tear their empire to pieces.

4. The opening of each episode had a creature moving across a mosaic picture of Claudius. What kind of creature was it?

Answer: a serpent

I'm not up on my reptilian studies, but I always liked to think it was an asp.

5. Livia, the Emperor Augustus's wife, would stop at nothing to see that her son followed Augustus as the new emperor. Who was this son?

Answer: Tiberius

Tiberius actually wanted nothing to do with her plans, but she manipulated his life to the extent that he couldn't escape her will. Drusus was another of her sons, whom she had killed because he favored a return to The Republic.

6. Tiberius was forced to divorce his wife and marry Augustus's daughter, Julia. Julia was later banished for life to an isolated, lonely island. Why?

Answer: her extramarital affairs

Augustus is represented as a forefather of what we may call 'family values.' He was very interested in seeing young Roman nobles well-married and monogamous. When his daughter's promiscuous ways were revealed to him, he allowed himself no choice but to banish her.

Answer: Herod Agrippa

Herod Agrippa is an interesting companion to Claudius: Where Claudius is naive, Herod is worldly; where Claudius is ugly and crippled, Herod is handsome and suave. However, his end is hideous. He succumbs to madness, believing himself to be The Christ, and suffers a rotting body before finally dying.

8. Which actor portrayed Caligula?

Answer: John Hurt

Never have curly golden locks seemed so out of place.

9. At his first wedding ceremony, Claudius's entire family breaks into uproarius laughter. Why?

Answer: his bride is a foot taller than him

Poor Clau-Clau-Claudius.

10. Brian Blessed, who played Augustus, many years later played which role in Kenneth Branagh's filmed version of 'Hamlet'?

Answer: Hamlet's father (The Ghost)

A reunion of sorts for Jacobi and Blessed, since Jacobi played Claudius in Branagh's 'Hamlet.' Blessed and Jacobi were also in Branagh's 'Henry V.'

Answer: she poisons the fruit on the tree

Livia proves herself to be the quintessential ruthless schemer. She is involved in the deaths of Augustus, Drusus, Postumus, Marcellus, and others who stand in her way.

Answer: Claudius

Deification wasn't uncommon for the great Romans who had passed away. Augustus set a new precedent when he was named a god during his life, an act later copied by the mad Caligula, who believed himself to be Jove.

13. Well before 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Patrick Stewert appeared as the duplicitous Sejanus, who attempted to usurp the Empire from which Emperor?

Answer: Tiberius

Again, a full head of curly hair that seems to be out of place.

14. Claudius married Agrippinilla and adopted her hefty son, who was called:

Answer: Nero

It's a bit unnerving every time he holds a lighted taper near one of Claudius's scrolls.

15. Finally, in the 30s there was a failed attempt to make a major motion picture of 'I, Claudius.' Which actor would've appeared as Claudius in this film?

Answer: Charles Laughton

The complete series of 'I, Claudius' on video also contains a documentary on the never completed 1937 film starring Laughton. It contains enough footage to tantalize the viewer, but I've always been more than content with Jacobi's job.

Source: Author Lofgeornost

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