Last Words & Epitaphs Trivia

1. In which movie does the epitaph "Here lies Dobby, a free elf" appear?

From Quiz Epitaphs on Famous Graves

Answer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Dobby originally belonged to the Malfoy family. The only thing that can free an elf is if their master presents them with an article of clothing. Harry frees Dobby in "The Chamber of Secrets" by slipping a sock into a book that Lucius Malfoy then tosses to the elf. Dobby remains grateful, and helps Harry and his friends in a future movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1". In the process of helping them escape from the Death Eaters, Dobby is killed. Harry buries him with a gravestone honouring the fact that he was a free elf.

From Quiz Grave Danger

Answer: Spike Milligan

Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan was born in India on April 16th 1918. He was co-creator and a cast member of the classic British radio show "The Goons" which aired on the BBC Home Service between 1951 and 1960. He also appeared in many other radio shows, TV programmes and films. He died in February 2002 and was buried at the church of St Thomas in Winchelsea, East Sussex, England. The epigraph had to be translated to Irish ("Duirt me leat go raibh me breoite") for the diocese to allow it to be included on the headstone.

From Quiz Pass it On

Answer: A red rose

Jack Benny died in 1974. He had been married to Mary Livingstone for over 40 years, but she outlived him by almost a decade. In a magazine shortly after his death, Mary wrote that Jack had paid the local florist to deliver a single rose to her every day for the rest of her life.

From Quiz The Last Few Moments

Answer: If his bowels had moved that day

Wyndham Lewis (1882-1957) was an English author whose novels include "The Human Age" trilogy, set in the afterlife, and the Parisian work "Tarr" which takes place prior to World War I. He was also known for his cubo-futuristic paintings, all of which look really peculiar to the unappreciative eye of this writer. His early literary works tended to be harsh assaults on various minorities, against the government's policies, extremely far right in their presentations, and very anti-Jewish. He also initially supported Adolf Hitler, looking on him as a "man of peace". The poet W.H.Auden once described Lewis as "that lonely old volcano of the Right". That pretty well sums up the first part of his life at least. He was however a brave soldier during World War I, revised many of his political opinions as he grew older, and developed his painting style to a high standard. He went blind in 1951 as a result of a tumour, and this put a halt to his painting career. He continued to write from that time until his death, and left the world with a total of forty strangely compelling books to his name. From the beginning of the 21st century, his works and his paintings are being re-evaluated and appreciated in a new light. Many photographs of Lewis reveal that he was a man very conscious of his image, somewhat of a fop and dignified in a dandy sort of way. He would most definitely not have appreciated the final few moments of his life with the question relating to the state of his bowels. Quotes used in this question were obtained from the following site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyndham_Lewis

From Quiz Unhappily Ever After

Answer: Mel Blanc

Melvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc passed away July 10, 1989 at the age of 81. The famous voice actor, known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices" gave a sound to other characters, like Daffy Duck, Speedy Gonzales, the Tasmanian Devil, Yosemite Sam, Pepé Le Pew, and Sylvester the Cat in "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies". Blanc later voiced Barney Rubble in "The Flintstones" and Mr. Spaceley in "The Jetsons" for Hanna-Barbera. Blanc stated in his will that he wanted the phrase "That's all Folks", to be engraved on his tombstone, the phrase trademarked to Porky Pig.

From Quiz Famous Last Words in History II

Answer: Karl Marx

Karl Marx' socialist philosophies formed the foundations of Communism, being an inspiration for individuals such as Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, Fidel Castro and Mao Zedong. A German by birth, Marx moved to London in 1849 and eventually died of bronchitis and pleurisy on 14 March 1883. Buried in Highgate Cemetery, his tombstone reads: "Workers of all lands, unite!" Of the other above named philosophers only the last words of Hegel are recorded: "Only one man has understood me, and even he has not!" Incidentally, it is believed that this one man was Hegel's fellow philosopher, Karl Marx.

From Quiz Famous Last Words in History

Answer: I'm bored with it all.

Sir Winston Churchill was not only an important British Prime Minister and a great wartime leader but is also well-known for his sarcastic and witty remarks and quotes. The three remaining last words are those of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, American politician Robert Kennedy and the American Old West gunslinger Doc Holliday.

From Quiz Dead Before You Know It

Answer: Alice Cooper

Cooper's heavy rock music has spanned over forty years. He's known for his bizarre concerts designed to shock and alarm people. Don't be deceived by the externals however. Cooper, who's a born again Christian, has been happily married since 1976 and he and his wife have three children. Perhaps the death notice scared him more than he realised. On reading of his demise, many music fans took it for fact, and great consternation was the result. So much so, that Cooper had to laughingly issue a denial which read in part, "I'm alive - and drunk as usual."

From Quiz "Oh, Just Before I Go"

Answer: King Henry VIII

During the course of his reign, Henry VIII had closed down or destroyed hundreds of monasteries, nunneries and friaries throughout his kingdom in order to avail himself of their vast accumulated wealth. Edward VI, his son, died young in 1553, at the age of 15. Henry VII, father of Henry VIII, died in 1509 after securing the throne for the Tudor dynasty. James I of England was Henry VIII's great-great nephew, descending through the Scottish line into which Henry's sister had married. He died in 1625.

From Quiz Famous Last Words (Mainly American)

Answer: Ethan Allen

These words were said by Ethan Allen when told by a doctor, "General, I fear that the angels are waiting for you." Allen died on February 12, 1789.

From Quiz Bizarre Bequests and Weird Wills

Answer: Her Maltese dog, Trouble

Does this seem strange to you? It shouldn't. There's a reason Leona Helmsley has been dubbed "the Queen of Mean." Though Leona's will stated that the dog receive 12 million dollars a judge reduced the sum to two million after Trouble's caretaker testified that that would be more than enough money to support the dog's lavish lifestyle until the end of its life.

From Quiz Bizarre Last Wills and Testaments

Answer: Insisted his coffin be left open for 48 hours after his death

Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, (June 2nd 1740 - December 2nd 1814) was French writer noted for his erotic novels and short stories, many of which had violent aspects. In his last well, he demanded that his corpse should be kept in an open coffin for 48 hours, "at the end of which period the said coffin shall be nailed shut."

From Quiz Famous Last Words : II

Answer: Sir Thomas Gainsborough

Most people remember Gainsborough for 'The Blue Boy', probably his most famous painting. My art history prof. always asserted that Gainsborough painted young Jonathan Buttall wearing blue to demonstrate that blue could be a foreground colour, rather than a recessive colour. Gainsborough (1727-1788) was born in Sudbury, Suffolk, studied in London, and finally settled in Bath. King George III much preferred Gainsborough's work to that of Sir Joshua Reynolds who was the official court painter (and Gainsborough's chief rival), and commissioned a portrait of himself and his queen by Gainsborough. Although Gainsborough is best known for his wonderful portraits (the portrait he painted of the actor David Garrick is especially fine), he was also a gifted landscape artist. He was much influenced by the Dutch School, and even more so by the work of Anthony Van Dyck, court painter to King Charles I (hence the mention of Henrietta Maria). William Hogarth was a contemporary of Gainsborough's (although he was some 30 years older) and is best known for his series called 'The Rake's Progress'.

From Quiz Famous Last Words : I

Answer: Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was the second wife of Henry VIII. Henry and Anne were married in 1533, and, having failed to give the king his longed-for son, Anne fell victim to Henry's wrath. (Henry obviously didn't know about X and Y chromosomes and that it is the father who determines the sex of the child.) A tissue of trumped up charges - including one of committing incest with her brother George, Lord Rochford - was filed against Anne, and she met her end, gallantly, on Tower Green. Little did Henry know it, but the daughter Anne bore would grow up to be Elizabeth I, one of the greatest monarchs ever to occupy the English throne. Henry made at least one concession in the manner of Anne's execution; he sent for a swordsman from France to carry out the deed, rather than subjecting that slender neck to the axe. Both Lady Jane Grey's and Mary Queen of Scots' last words were, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." While Catherine (the fifth unfortunate wife of Henry VIII), who died accused of adultery, said, "I die a queen, but I would rather die the wife of Thomas Culpepper." (Which rather served to prove the charge against her, I think.)

From Quiz The Mind Before Death: I

Answer: Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler committed suicide with his wife, Eva Braun. He used a pistol to end his life while his wife swallowed a cyanide pill. There are conflicting reports as to how Hitler died, however this is the most widely accepted version. There were reports from multiple sources of eyewitnesses seeing Hitler years after the war, but none were confirmed, and the reports have many skeptics.

From Quiz And Then They Died

Answer: Humphrey Bogart

One of the most popular American actors of all time, Humphrey Bogart appeared in more than 70 feature films, including Academy Award winning performances in "Casablanca" and "The African Queen". 'Bogie', as he was dubbed by Spencer Tracy, died of cancer on January 14, 1957 with his wife, Lauren Bacall, by his side.

From Quiz Here Lies .... Who?

Answer: Wallace Beery

Born in 1885, Wallace Fitzgerald Beery joined the circus and trained elephants! In 1913 he moved to Hollywood and acted in over 200 films throughout his career alongside the likes of Gloria Swanson (whom he married and divorced) and died from a heart attack in 1949!

From Quiz Morbid Curiosity: Famous Last Words

Answer: Frank Sinatra

His family quoted him as saying "I'm losing it." In truth, they were all supposedly stunned that 'Old Blue Eyes' was thinking of his deceased mother rather than any of them on his deathbed.

From Quiz Whose Final Phrase Is This?

Answer: Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford, whose name was 'created' through a contest in a magazine, liked to be called 'Billie' in private (an early nickname from when she performed in vaudeville). She was married five times and died in 1977 from cancer.

From Quiz Famous Last Words

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born, in 1854, into a celebrated Dublin family. He took after his mother, Lady Jane, and was often referred to as a "snob", but his life did not match his aspirations in so many ways and he died in poverty in a Paris hotel room in 1900. The dying words "Either this wallpaper goes or I do" have also been attributed to Oscar Wilde.

From Quiz Famous Last Wills and Testaments

Answer: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (died 1616). The fact that his will omitted any mention of his literary works is believed by some to be evidence that he did not write the plays attributed to him.

From Quiz Ten Famous Epitaphs

Answer: Hillaire Belloc

Hood loved puns, but it's Belloc who penned the phrase.

From Quiz Last Words and Epitaphs

Answer: Archimedes of Syracuse

Well, do you remember the greatest mathematician and inventor of Hellenistic Age? Sure, it's Archimedes, the citizen of Syracuse. That's how he died: Second Punic War. Roman army blockades Syracuse for two years, but even Archimedes' catapults and flame throwers do not save the city. The Roman soldiers get in, and one of them fids an old man, working on some project on the ground. Then Archimedes proclaims his last words: 'Don't disturb my circles!'. (There has been also recorded other version, like 'Stand away, fellow, from my diagram. . . . Somebody give me one of my engines.').

From Quiz Last Words Of Famous People

Answer: John Adams

When Washington became the first President of the United States, Adams was the first Vice President. He was instrumental in proposing American Independence.

From Quiz Famous Epitaphs

Answer: Shakespeare

From Quiz Writers' Final Stroke of The Pen

Answer: William Shakespeare

Grave-robbing was popular in Shakespeare's time and this may have influenced the Bard's decision to include a curse on his tombstone. The full curse is as follows: "Good friend for Jesus sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones." His grave can be found in Holy Trinity Church (Shakespeare's local parish church) in Stratford-upon-Avon.

From Quiz Epitaphs on Famous Graves

Answer: Don Knotts

Knotts' gravestone is mostly etchings of him in six of his most famous roles. Likenesses include Barney Fife from "The Andy Griffiths Show", Roy Fleming in "The Incredible Mr. Limpet", and Mr. Furley from "Three's Company". Don Knotts died in 2006 and is buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

From Quiz Grave Danger

Answer: Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10th 1830. She was a prolific poetry writer although few of her poems were published in her lifetime. In her poetry she used her personal observations to explore themes of self-identity, nature, love and death. She died of liver disease on May 15th 1886 and was buried in her family plot at West Cemetery in Amherst.

From Quiz Pass it On

Answer: £1.5 trillion

The anonymous donation could only be spent when its value could cover the whole sum of the country's national debt. Even though the interest gained since 1928 brought the total to over £350 million, unfortunately the UK was £1.5 trillion in debt in 2015. The generous donation didn't even come close. Barclays managed the fund and was trying to find a way around the clause preventing its use. The fund was so immense that in 2013, it was one of the country's largest charities.

From Quiz The Last Few Moments

Answer: He jumped out a window

General Erskine (1770-1813) was a member of the British army, and the son of another famous soldier. Erskine inherited the title on his father's death in 1795. Over time his behaviour on the field of battle became increasingly erratic, and the great Duke of Wellington was noted to have remarked that he thought Erskine was a madman. On complaining about Erskine's transfer to Portugal on another bout of duty, Wellington was informed by those in authority that Erskine was " ...sometimes a little mad, but in his lucid intervals he is an uncommonly clever fellow; and I trust he will have no fit during the campaign, though he looked a little wild as he embarked". To add to Erskine's woes he was very near-sighted and once became lost in a fog during an engagement with the enemy. Following this and other misadventures, Wellington tried to put Erskine into a position where he could do as little damage as possible. By 1812, Erskine had gone completely insane and was cashiered from the army. In 1813, he jumped out a window to fall to his death below. Perhaps the poor man mistook it for a door. Quotes used in this question were obtained at the following site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_William_Erskine,_2nd_Baronet

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