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Mark Twain Trivia

Mark Twain Trivia Quizzes

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As well as creating Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, Mark Twain brought us many memorable characters in his novels and short stories. Not to mention entertaining us with his memorable witticisms!
19 Mark Twain quizzes and 200 Mark Twain trivia questions.
1.
  The War Prayer   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on Mark Twain's parable of patriotism and death. The reader is left to ponder this 1904 short story's continued relevance.
Average, 10 Qns, stuthehistoryguy, Apr 18 08
Average
stuthehistoryguy gold member
435 plays
2.
  Tom Sawyer    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz contains questions about the book 'Tom Sawyer'.
Easier, 10 Qns, EQW1, Mar 03 19
Recommended for grades: 8,9,10
Easier
EQW1
Mar 03 19
3074 plays
3.
  A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court editor best quiz   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"A Connecticut Yankee," with its engaging mixture of humour, satire, pathos and tragedy, is my favourite Mark Twain work. Do join me on a noble quest - not for the Grail but that elusive perfect score! Spoilers throughout.
Average, 10 Qns, solan_goose, Jun 30 13
Average
solan_goose gold member
1611 plays
4.
  "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn's" Extras    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
What do you remember about some of the lesser-known, but no less vivid, characters and situations in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"? Compiled for the Amazing Trivia Race 2.
Average, 10 Qns, shorthumbz, Feb 23 17
Average
shorthumbz gold member
2110 plays
5.
  The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Also known as "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", the story was first published in 1865 and it is one of Mark Twain's most well-known short stories. Best of luck with the quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, Triviaballer, Jan 26 24
Average
Triviaballer gold member
Jan 26 24
909 plays
6.
  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I just reread this book and remembered why I enjoyed it so much when I read it back in high school. Tom and Huck are such lovable little rebels.
Average, 10 Qns, sarahmas, Jul 21 03
Recommended for grades: 8,9,10,11
Average
sarahmas
3016 plays
7.
  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Huck and Jim have amazing adventures as they travel down the Mississippi River. How much do you remember about this wonderful novel?
Average, 10 Qns, sarahmas, Feb 02 06
Average
sarahmas
3737 plays
8.
  'The Story of the Bad Little Boy' by Mark Twain   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz tests players' knowledge of Mark Twain's second published short story, 'The Story of the Bad Little Boy.' I hope to place a quiz on all 66 of Twain's short stories. Best of luck.
Average, 10 Qns, Triviaballer, Feb 23 09
Average
Triviaballer gold member
537 plays
9.
  Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A combination quiz on those great Mark Twain novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (henceforth shortened to "Tom Sawyer" and "Huck Finn").
Tough, 15 Qns, Contrarycon, Jul 31 10
Tough
Contrarycon
2716 plays
10.
  Huckleberry Finn the Word Wizard   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There are many words and phrases used in the text of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn", that are either local slang, colloquial, or generally unused in the 21st century. Grab your 'sweeps' and mount your raft as we sail past a few of my favourites.
Average, 10 Qns, maggotbrain, Jun 19 09
Average
maggotbrain
736 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who was the Shepherdson that Buck shot at from behind a bush?

From Quiz "Huck and the Grangerfords"




11.
  ' The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is for all of you who loved Mark Twain's wonderful novel. Have fun!
Tough, 10 Qns, LindaC007, Dec 18 16
Tough
LindaC007
1473 plays
12.
  The Diaries Of Adam And Eve   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This spoof of the Creation story is one of my all-time favorite works in the Twain canon.
Tough, 15 Qns, tjoebigham, May 15 06
Tough
tjoebigham
554 plays
13.
  The Prince and the Pauper    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"The Prince and the Pauper" By: Mark Twain (In a special adapted version by Shirley Bogart)
Average, 10 Qns, Hiju17, Oct 14 08
Average
Hiju17
726 plays
14.
  A Murder, A Mystery, and A Marriage    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In 2001, an unpublished story by the great Mark Twain finally saw light of day. Here's a quiz on it.
Tough, 10 Qns, tjoebigham, May 15 06
Tough
tjoebigham
249 plays
15.
  How Well Do You Know "Huckleberry Finn"?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a great book for all ages to read. Take this quiz to see how much you paid attention while reading the book.
Average, 10 Qns, jesse_fan125, Oct 23 11
Average
jesse_fan125
1639 plays
16.
  Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a basic quiz about Mark Twain's novel 'Pudd'nhead Wilson'. Simple stuff... nothing too hard!
Average, 10 Qns, SweetE830, Jun 30 03
Average
SweetE830
369 plays
17.
  When Tom Sawyer Grew Up    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Tom Sawyer may not be grown up but he and Huck and Jim are older than they were in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" or "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" when they appear in "Tom Sawyer Abroad" (1894).
Average, 10 Qns, bernie73, May 27 19
Average
bernie73 gold member
May 27 19
121 plays
18.
  Huck and the Grangerfords    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about the book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. Answer these questions about Huck's experience staying with the Grangerfords.
Average, 10 Qns, Worldbook14, Jun 24 11
Average
Worldbook14
229 plays
19.
  Mark Twain's 'Puddn'head Wilson'    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I had to read this book for school, and I enjoyed it very much. I hope you enjoy the quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, sexychick123, Jul 20 09
Average
sexychick123
276 plays
Related Topics
  Literature Before 1900 [Literature] (50 quizzes)

  Twain, Mark [For Children] (1 quizzes)


Mark Twain Trivia Questions

1. As the story begins, Tom and Huck have become minor celebrities in Hannibal, MO, with Tom Sawyer being particularly celebrated and known as "The Traveler". What was the role in town of Nat Parsons, previously known for his traveling?

From Quiz
When Tom Sawyer Grew Up

Answer: He was a postmaster.

Huck describes the effect of this praise on Tom as making him "just swelled ...up fit to bust". Tom's popularity seems to particularly irritate Nat Parsons, who for over thirty years had been considered the town's "traveller". As postmaster, Nat once had to return an undeliverable letter from Missouri to Washington, DC. Huck determines that Nat has the advantage of "Longitude" (East-West travel) but Tom, who has traveled up and down the Mississippi River, has the advantage of "Latitude" (North-South travel). Nat, for his part, is jealous of Tom's popularity and attempts to counter it by retelling his story, but unfortunately he has already told his story so many times that it no longer holds wonder for the people of Hannibal. Nat's journey involved almost eight weeks of travel to return a single letter. Was this really a good use of his time?

2. How does Huck realize that his father (Pap) has come to town?

From Quiz "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn's" Extras

Answer: Huck recognizes Pap's footprints in the snow

Pap had two nails in the heel of his shoe, bent into a cross to ward off The Devil. This was a giveaway that Pap had come looking for Huck, undoubtedly to get his hands on Huck's share of the treasure that Huck and Tom found. Huck responds by selling his whole fortune to Judge Thatcher for a dollar in order to keep it away from Pap.

3. What does the Warwick Castle tour guide offer as the most likely explanation for the bullet hole in Sir Sagramore's armour?

From Quiz A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court

Answer: Oliver Cromwell's troops ransacking the castle during the English Civil War

"Wit ye well, I saw it done..." whispers Hank. "I did it myself!" Twain here, of course, is poking gentle fun at historical researchers and the fanciful theories they come up with for the origins of artefacts based on scant evidence. In fairness to them, however, Cromwell was responsible for an incredible amount of vandalism against anything with links to the monarchy during his short time in power in the mid 17th century. Warwick Castle is one of the most visited attractions in England, partly no doubt because it's very close to Stratford-upon-Avon. It is very impressive, but the admission charges are eye-watering. I recommend that budget travellers view the exterior then go to see Kenilworth Castle a few miles away; it is less well preserved, but arguably more atmospheric.

4. When Huck's father appears for the first time in the novel, he states he will "make him pungle" when talking about Judge Thatcher. What is he claiming he will do?

From Quiz Huckleberry Finn the Word Wizard

Answer: make him pay

Pungle seems to come from the Spanish 'pongale' meaning to put it down. Used as a transitive verb, it is usually accompanied by the word 'up'. Huck's father uses it when he talks about trying to get Huck's money from the judge, who is looking after it.

5. Why does Huck end up at the Grangerford's house?

From Quiz Huck and the Grangerfords

Answer: He had to dive off the raft to avoid a steamboat

Jim, a runaway slave and Huck's friend, also jumped off the raft, but was not seen again for a while.

6. As the story begins, the country is raptly enthusiastic about the great war it is fighting and the glory of battles to be won. What does the author say about those who are against the war?

From Quiz The War Prayer

Answer: They were silent out of concern for their own safety

Specifically, according to Twain, "...the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way."

7. This book takes place in what country?

From Quiz The Prince and the Pauper

Answer: England

The whole story takes place in the birth country of both Tom and Edward, England.

8. What was the name of the main character in 'The Story of the Bad Little Boy'?

From Quiz 'The Story of the Bad Little Boy' by Mark Twain

Answer: Jim

In the story Twain wrote 'if you will notice, you will find that bad little boys are nearly always called James...It was strange, but still it is true, that this one was called Jim.'

9. Huck went to stay with whom while still in Missouri?

From Quiz How Well Do You Know "Huckleberry Finn"?

Answer: Widow Douglas

Huck was considered orphaned, and Widow Douglas "took him in." She lived strongly by her religion and expected Huck to live that way, also.

10. The story begins with an unnamed narrator requesting information from an old man about someone named Leonidas W. Smiley. What is the name of this old man with a proclivity for storytelling?

From Quiz The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Answer: Simon Wheeler

The narrator describes how a friend of the old man (Simon Wheeler) told him to inquire about Leonidas W. Smiley because his friend knew that the old man would talk about Jim Smiley.

11. Huck sees some track in the snow and knows that his father is back in town. He asks Jim to consult a magic trinket to find out what Pap would do and what Huck should do. What trinket does Jim consult?

From Quiz The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Answer: Magic hair ball

Jim had a huge hairball that was pulled from a cow's stomach. He believed that an imp lived inside the hairball and could tell the future. After payment of one counterfeit quarter, Jim gave Huck a very ambivalent answer. Some hairball!

12. At Sunday school, who does Tom say were the first two disciples?

From Quiz The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Answer: David and Goliath

Although Tom was not a stellar Scripture student, he traded with other boys and girls to collect enough tickets, which were given out on the memorization of Bible passages, to be rewarded with a Bible of his own. When pressed to recite a line or two, he couldn't think of a thing to say.

13. From both books, who is Tom Sawyer's half-brother?

From Quiz Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

Answer: Sid

"Tom's younger brother, (or rather, half-brother) Sid, was already through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a quiet boy and had no adventurous, troublesome ways." I had always thought he was a full brother to Tom.

14. What does Eve name the Garden of Eden?

From Quiz The Diaries Of Adam And Eve

Answer: Niagara Falls Park

Her constant naming of animals and places is one of the things about Eve that bugs Adam.

15. Is the story set after the year of 1865?

From Quiz Mark Twain's 'Puddn'head Wilson'

Answer: No & N

The story is set before 1865 because slavery is still going on, and it was not abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment until 1865.

16. When did Twain write it?

From Quiz A Murder, A Mystery, and A Marriage

Answer: 1876

The same year Twain published 'Tom Sawyer'.

17. When was 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' first published?

From Quiz ' The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'

Answer: 1885

"Tom Sawyer" was published in 1876, "The Prince And The Pauper, in 1882, and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", in 1889. Mark Twain actually started writing "Huck Finn" in 1876, soon after "Tom Sawyer", but it took him over seven years to finally finish it. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was first published on Feb. 18, 1885. This information comes from Wikipedia, Books published in 1885 found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1885_in_literature.

18. What is Pudd'nhead Wilson's real first name?

From Quiz Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson

Answer: David

David Wilson got the nickname 'Pudd'nhead' when he first moved to town.

19. In the St. Louis newspapers, Tom Sawyer hears about a form of transportation that is leaving from there on a long trip which he wants to see. Which type of transportation is it?

From Quiz When Tom Sawyer Grew Up

Answer: Balloon

Tom seems to be worried, at least in part, that Nat Parsons will see it if he does not, giving him bragging rights. Tom, accompanied by Jim and Huck, travel to see the "noble big balloon [that] had wings and fans and all sorts of things, and wasn't like any balloon you see in pictures", which was located at a vacant lot on the outskirts of St. Louis. Oddly enough the area where the balloon's pilot was located is described as looking like a ship.

20. Who allies with Judge Thatcher in order to prevent Pap from gaining custody of Huck?

From Quiz "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn's" Extras

Answer: Widow Douglas

Judge Thatcher and the kindly Widow Douglas try to retain custody of Huck, although the idealistic new judge in town believes that Pap's fatherly rights outweigh their interest. This despite the fact that Pap is a brutal, alcoholic reprobate whose only interest in Huck is to take his money. The new judge foolishly offers to take Pap into his home in an attempt at reforming him - an attempt that does not succeed.

21. Which work did Twain use as his main source for the numerous tedious tales of knightly deeds in the book, sometimes quoting whole chunks verbatim?

From Quiz A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court

Answer: Malory's "Morte D'Arthur"

Twain was doing two things here. Firstly, he was attacking all romanticised tales of chivalry and medieval history for the effect they could have on people who believed them to be real. Twain hated this genre of literature intensely and particularly had it in for Sir Walter Scott, who he attacked several times in his work "Life on the Mississippi" for the debilitating effect he had on the American South: "Then comes Sir Walter Scott with his enchantments, and by his single might checks this wave of progress, and even turns it back; sets the world in love with dreams and phantoms; [...] with decayed and degraded systems of government; with the sillinesses and emptiness [...] He did measureless harm; more real and lasting harm, perhaps, than any other individual that ever wrote." Quite. The other answer choices also use tales of chivalry for satirical purposes or to make a political point. Malory was apparently serious. Secondly, Twain was obsessed with contrasting the grand high-faluting language of these tales with the very earthy and/or crude language he claimed people - even great kings and nobles - used in real life. His ultimate example of this is his very, very rude piece "1601: Conversation as it was by the Social Fireside, in the Time of the Tudors", so controversial that he originally had it published anonymously. In "Connecticut Yankee", though, he uses Hank to have yet another go at poor Scott: "Suppose Sir Walter, instead of putting the conversations into the mouths of his characters, had allowed the characters to speak for themselves? We should have had talk from Rebecca and Ivanhoe and the soft lady Rowena which would embarrass a tramp in our day."

22. Having convinced the new judge that he was going to be a reformed man, Huck's father slipped out in the night to trade his coat for "forty-rod". What was the inevitable outcome of this?

From Quiz Huckleberry Finn the Word Wizard

Answer: He got drunk

Forty-rod is described as whisky, powerful enough to throw a man forty rods. Never one to refuse a drink, it doesn't take Huck's father long to get back to his old ways. The evening's drink is so intoxicating that he rolls off the porch, breaks his arm in two places, and makes such a mess of his room they have to "take soundings before they could navigate it."

23. What is the name of the family that the Grangerfords have a feud with?

From Quiz Huck and the Grangerfords

Answer: The Shepherdsons

This feud started over thirty years ago. No one really even remembers why it was started.

24. Twain sets the stage with a Sunday church service for the new volunteers going off to war. What text does the minister quote to begin his great prayer?

From Quiz The War Prayer

Answer: "God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!" --from a hymn by Henry F. Chorley

This text is used to introduce a passionate supplication for success in battle, climaxing with "Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!" To be fair to Mr. Chorley, his hymn goes on to a less belligerent tone: "God, the All-merciful, earth hath forsaken Thy ways all holy and slighted Thy Word; Let not Thy wrath in its terror awaken; Give to us pardon and peace, O Lord. So shall Thy people, with thankful devotion, Praise Him who saved them from peril and sword, Singing in chorus, from ocean to ocean, Peace to the nations and praise to the Lord."

25. What season were the two boys born in?

From Quiz The Prince and the Pauper

Answer: Autumn

"One autumn day in the 1500s, two babies were born. Both were boys, both had the same birthday,..."

26. In what activity is the bad little boy's nefarious behavior in stark contrast to most other boys?

From Quiz 'The Story of the Bad Little Boy' by Mark Twain

Answer: Sunday School

The story does not mention the bad little boy being involved in Boy Scouts, Sunday School, Little League Baseball, or Choir, but if he was I'm sure he would have found ways to be troublesome.

27. Boggs usually came to town for what?

From Quiz How Well Do You Know "Huckleberry Finn"?

Answer: monthly drinking day

Boggs wasn't supposed to go into town until 1:00 one afternoon. When he went a few minutes before one, Colonel Sherburn shot him.

28. Instead of telling the narrator about Leonidas W. Smiley, the old man tells stories about a man named Jim Smiley. What addiction or bad habit do we learn that Jim Smiley has?

From Quiz The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Answer: Betting

Jim Smiley would bet on everything from a horse race to which bird on a fence would fly away first.

29. Why did Pap come looking for Huck?

From Quiz The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Answer: He heard Huck had money and he wanted to get his hands on it

Pap, the town drunk, had left town and rambled about without a care as to the well-being of his only son. He returned to get the money Huck and Tom Sawyer found in the cave (in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer").

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