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Irving John Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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John Irving Trivia

John Irving Trivia Quizzes

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A number of John Irving's best sellers, which include "The World According to Garp" (1978), "The Cider House Rules" (1985), and "A Prayer for Owen Meany" (1989) have been adapted for film.
17 John Irving quizzes and 190 John Irving trivia questions.
1.
  The Hotel New Hampshire   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
General quiz on my favorite John Irving book, "The Hotel New Hampshire."
Average, 10 Qns, quiznerdsx2, Jan 05 07
Average
quiznerdsx2
532 plays
2.
  John Irving Books    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
This quiz is based on "the World According to Garp", "A Prayer for Owen Meany", "The Cider House Rules", "A Widow for One Year" and "The Hotel New Hampshire". These are the John Irving books I have read so far...
Average, 20 Qns, Roslyn, Oct 16 04
Average
Roslyn
1127 plays
3.
  John Irving    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This best-selling American author is highly praised - and still writing, too! How much do you know about John Irving and his books?
Average, 10 Qns, regroce67, Nov 03 13
Average
regroce67
164 plays
4.
  "Owen Meany" Symbolism   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving is rich in two things: symbolism and political commentary. This quiz discusses the former, all of the symbolism used by John Irving.
Average, 10 Qns, saintcmj, Mar 17 07
Average
saintcmj
523 plays
5.
  'Cider House' The Book    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on John Irving's great novel, 'The Cider House Rules'. This is my favorite of his, but I love them all.
Average, 10 Qns, jackolantern, Oct 21 11
Average
jackolantern
838 plays
6.
  The Ultimate A Prayer for Owen Meany Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is regarded as one of his finest novels. See how much you know about the relationship between the events in this book and the fields of entertainment and literature.
Average, 10 Qns, eyhung, May 25 13
Average
eyhung
147 plays
7.
  The Cider House Rules by John Irving    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The Cider House Rules is a fantastic book by John Irving. This quiz is based on the book...not the movie...the movie left out huge plot points that make the book so good.
Average, 15 Qns, hungreee, Jun 29 03
Average
hungreee
1132 plays
8.
  Widow for One Year    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How familiar are you with John Irving's novel of love across the generations?
Average, 10 Qns, lutefan, Mar 07 06
Average
lutefan
610 plays
9.
  The Bizarre World of John Irving   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz for true John Irving fans. It's a grab-bag of questions focusing on most of his major works. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, Joser01, Mar 11 04
Average
Joser01
698 plays
10.
  "A Widow for One Year" Part 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A romantic, tragic, emotional, erotic book by John Irving. This was turned into a movie called "The Door in the Floor" starring Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. This quiz contains spoilers.
Average, 10 Qns, dj457_2000, Dec 09 04
Average
dj457_2000
242 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who was Ruth's second husband?

From Quiz ""A Widow for One Year" Part 1"




11.
  A Prayer for Owen Meany Multiple Choice Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is the first of a series of quizzes on this excellent book by John Irving. Did you have to read this for school? Did you pay attention to all the details? There's only one way to find out.
Tough, 15 Qns, littlp, Mar 07 06
Tough
littlp
921 plays
12.
  John Irving's Women    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Well, not Mr. Irving's women personally, but the ones he created in his novels. In each instance, we're looking for the female character.
Average, 10 Qns, lutefan, Dec 22 04
Average
lutefan
531 plays
13.
  The Cider House Rules, Part 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is my first quiz on John Irving's "The Cider House Rules". The quiz covers the first part of the book, before Homer leaves St. Cloud's.
Tough, 10 Qns, Bheth, Jan 16 12
Tough
Bheth
181 plays
14.
  The Novel 'World According To Garp'    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
John Irving is one of the best literary talents in the world today, and 'The World According To Garp' is one of his best books, at least in my opinion. See how much you know about this great novel!
Average, 10 Qns, ressas, Jan 16 04
Average
ressas
1717 plays
15.
  John Irving's book- based Movies    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Several films based on works of John Irving have been released. This quiz is about characters in the books, who may or may not have made it to the screen. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, lutefan, Jun 23 06
Average
lutefan
521 plays
16.
  10 Question A Prayer For Owen Meany Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I had to read this book for school. Here's a quiz about it.
Average, 10 Qns, happygirl0278, Jan 25 12
Average
happygirl0278
498 plays
17.
  Prayer for Owen Meany    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about John Irving's wonderful novel. In my opinion one of the greatest books of all time. If you have not read the book more than once don't try this quiz.
Difficult, 10 Qns, anicamaj, Mar 07 06
Difficult
anicamaj
825 plays
Related Topics
  American Literature [Literature] (51 quizzes)

  Cider House Rules, The [Movies] (2 quizzes)

  Contemporary Literature and Fiction [Literature] (22 quizzes)

  World According to Garp, The [Movies] (2 quizzes)


John Irving Trivia Questions
1. New England and Austria are common settings in many of Irving novels. His "A Son of the Circus", however, is set in a complete different location. What is the primary setting of this story?

From Quiz John Irving

Answer: India

Main character Dr. Daruwalla travels from his Canadian home to his native land of India, where he writes scripts for popular suspense movies and even attempts to solve crime himself.

2. Similar but not identical to a novel by Wilkie Collins, what is Tabby's stage name when singing in Boston?

From Quiz A Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: The Lady in Red

Tabby chooses the name because it allows her to be "totally out of character" one day a week. Her wardrobe mostly consists of only black and white, but she buys a red dress to wear while singing. The famous novel by Collins is, of course "The Woman in White".

3. Why did Homer's first foster family return the boy to the orphanage?

From Quiz The Cider House Rules, Part 1

Answer: He never cried; they thought there was something wrong with him.

Since Homer never cried, the foster parents complained that they would awaken to the same silence that prompted them to adopt a baby in the first place.

4. What was the original name of the first bear belonging to the Berry family?

From Quiz The Hotel New Hampshire

Answer: State O' Maine

This was the bear's name given to him by Freud. The Berry family later changed his name to Earl.

5. Why is Johnny "doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice"?

From Quiz A Prayer For Owen Meany

Answer: He is the reason Johnny believes in God.

"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice-not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever know, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God." All the other answers are things that are true about Owen.

6. Who does Irving use as the subject for Johnny's thesis?

From Quiz "Owen Meany" Symbolism

Answer: Thomas Hardy

John Irving uses Thomas Hardy because Hardy often wrote books and poems dealing with the theme of predestination and theme. Irving also often writes about these themes, and they play such a huge part in Owen's life. It is only sensible that Irving chooses an author with such similarity to himself.

7. In Irving's first novel, "Setting Free the Bears," what food does Siggy enjoy eating in the Rathaus Park while writing his poetry?

From Quiz The Bizarre World of John Irving

Answer: Radishes

Every day at noon, he would bring the radishes in a brown paper bag upon which he would scribble whatever thoughts came to him.

8. In the "World According to Garp", what is Garp's wife's name?

From Quiz John Irving's Women

Answer: Helen

She's the daughter of the wrestling coach. They meet in the wrestling practice room, where Helen's reading, and that's where they see each other for the last time as Garp dies...Helen was reading while Garp was coaching.

9. Eddie's father was known to his students as

From Quiz Widow for One Year

Answer: Minty

For his predilection for sucking on mints while teaching.

10. In "The World According to Garp", what do the initials "T.S." stand for in "T.S. Garp"?

From Quiz John Irving Books

Answer: Technical Sergeant

Garp's mother, Jenny, never knew the first name of Garp's father. She met him when he was on his death bed in the hospital where she worked. In the 1982 film of "The World According to Garp", Garp was played by Robin Williams, and his mother was played by Glenn Close.

11. The film "Simon Birch" is loosely based on which Irving novel?

From Quiz John Irving's book- based Movies

Answer: A Prayer for Owen Meany

The film doesn't touch at all upon the war issues raised in the novel and is not as comic as the novel.

12. What is the name of the fictional town in which the orphanage, where Homer spent his childhood, is situated?

From Quiz 'Cider House' The Book

Answer: St. Cloud's

13. What is the first chapter titled?

From Quiz A Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: 'The Foul Ball'

'I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice-not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in {God;} I am a Christain because of Owen Meany.'

14. While in school Owen Meany writes for what paper?

From Quiz Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: The Grave

Owen and John are attending Gravesend Academy, when Owen starts writing for the school newspaper. He consistently uses his column to express his disdain for the school rules.

15. The orphanage and the town it sits in pretty much share a name. What is the name?

From Quiz The Cider House Rules by John Irving

Answer: St. Cloud's

Throughout the book the orphanage is referred to as St. Cloud's...which is the same name as the old lumber town is sits in.

16. Garp's mother's name is:

From Quiz The Novel 'World According To Garp'

Answer: Jenny

Garp is known as the 'bastard son of Jenny Fields' instead of the writer that he wants to be known as.

17. A particular animal has been notably present in some of Irving's books, both symbolically and as characters. Which animal is this? (Take a second to think about it, and you'll be "setting free" the answer.)

From Quiz John Irving

Answer: Bear

Used metaphorically to indicate base and unrefined masculinity, bears are found in "The World According to Garp", "The Hotel New Hampshire", and (of course) "Setting Free the Bears".

18. News of which famous Hollywood actress's off-screen antics ends up bursting Owen's naivete?

From Quiz A Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

Owen is a fervent supporter of JFK and ends up greatly disillusioned when he finds out that his hero is having an affair with Monroe. When Monroe's death is announced by the news, Owen compares Monroe to the USA: "not quite old but not quite young, maybe just a little stupid, and possibly used by the powerful and influential members of society."

19. To what substance was Dr. Larch addicted?

From Quiz The Cider House Rules, Part 1

Answer: Ether

Dr. Larch contracted gonorrhea from the prostitute Mrs. Eames. He became addicted to sniffing ether when he discovered that the "light, tasty vapor was an effective killer of his pain."

20. Where was Johnny baptized?

From Quiz A Prayer For Owen Meany

Answer: The Congregational Church

"I've been a pretty regular churchgoer. I used to be a Congregationalist-I was baptized in the Congregational Church."

21. What is the name of Owen's hometown?

From Quiz "Owen Meany" Symbolism

Answer: Gravesend

Irving uses Gravesend because the name can be broken up into two separate names. "Graves end" deals with the theme of death, and also deals with the theme of religion and the afterlife. The other version of the name, "Grave send", deals with the question of Owen Meany being a Christ figure, being sent from the grave.

22. What did Ruth hit Scott with?

From Quiz "A Widow for One Year" Part 1

Answer: Her Squash Racket

Ruth did this because Scott forced himself on her (while she was on the phone with her current boyfriend!)and after Ruth showed her anger, Scott gave her a quick, solid hit to the floor. Ruth got up and gave him a taste of his own medicine.

23. In "The Hotel New Hampshire" (my personal fave), one of the terrorists' names is "Schraubenschlussel." What does this mean in English?

From Quiz The Bizarre World of John Irving

Answer: Wrench

"Wrench" plants the bomb in the ill-fated car that is meant to blow up the Austrian opera house, until Freud selflessly sacrifices his own life to cause the explosion before the car reaches the opera, thus saving hundreds of lives.

24. In The "Widow for One Year", who is Ruth's best friend?

From Quiz John Irving's Women

Answer: Hannah

Hannah's sexual adventures are a source of amusement and amazement for Ruth until they involve her father. Hannah insists she turns up as a regular character in Ruth's novels, usually as the "bad girl."

25. Who autographs Ted Cole's book for Mr. and Mrs. O'Hare?

From Quiz Widow for One Year

Answer: Truck driver

And he got to keep the pen in the process!

26. In "A Prayer for Owen Meany", who turned out to be Johnny Wheelwright's father?

From Quiz John Irving Books

Answer: Rev. Lewis Merrill

Rev. Lewis Merrill was the pastor at the congregational church. The 1998 film "Simon Birch" was very loosely based on this book.

27. In "Hotel New Hampshire", the family comforts each other with the phrase "Sorrow floats". Who/what was/is Sorrow?

From Quiz John Irving's book- based Movies

Answer: The family dog

The flatulent dog (who also happens to have been stuffed after his unfortunate demise) is lost in a plane crash over the Atlantic.

28. Dr. Larch keeps a journal. How does he begin a number of his entries?

From Quiz 'Cider House' The Book

Answer: In other parts of the world...

The other even more common start to an entry is "Here in St. Cloud's...".

29. Where was Johnny baptized ?

From Quiz A Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: Congregational Church

He was confirmed in the Episcopalian Church. He joined the Anglican Church when he moved to Canada.

30. What does Owen hide in his coat pocket at the wedding of Tabitha and Dan?

From Quiz Prayer for Owen Meany

Answer: Hester's underwear

John, Owen, Noah and Simon tease Hester about having to wait in line to go to the bathroom. They can pee outside and not have to wait. Hester is determined to do the same.

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