FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Names and Pseudonyms Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Names and Pseudonyms Quizzes, Trivia

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia Quizzes

  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. People Trivia
  6. »
  7. Writers & Authors

Fun Trivia
16 quizzes and 150 trivia questions.
1.
  When Two of Us Are One   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Many authors have published using different names for different works. Can you match the two names who are one person in disguise?
Easier, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Apr 29 23
Easier
looney_tunes editor
Apr 29 23
471 plays
2.
The Two of Us as One
  The Two of Us as One   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Authors Richard Marsten and Ed McBain, for example, are in fact the same person - Evan Hunter. Can you match these pseudonyms correctly?
Easier, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Sep 25 22
Easier
looney_tunes editor
Sep 25 22
390 plays
3.
  Opposite Gender Pseudonyms   best quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Sometimes female authors adopt male pen-names, and vice versa. Can you match the authors with their opposite gender pseudonyms?
Easier, 10 Qns, MotherGoose, Nov 02 22
Easier
MotherGoose editor
Nov 02 22
210 plays
4.
  Someday I'll Find the Write Job!   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A look at some great authors and their unlikely careers/background before they were famous. (Mainly 19th and early 20th centuries).
Easier, 10 Qns, skumma, Nov 11 16
Easier
skumma
1856 plays
5.
  Authors' Initials 2   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This authors' initials quiz is harder than the first, so I've given you a little help here and there. If you get them all you're a literature genius.... or you've looked them up! Just the last name in the answers.
Average, 10 Qns, minch, Feb 03 18
Average
minch gold member
Feb 03 18
5051 plays
6.
  Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Do you know what the 'J.K.' stands for in J.K.Rowling? How many other authors' initials are unknown to you? Try this quiz and find out. All authors are well known.
Average, 10 Qns, miss g, May 10 15
Average
miss g
2654 plays
7.
  Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on the nicknames and pseudonyms of English authors who became immortal by writing great literary works. The quiz has been written with an emphasis on the funny aspects of the authors and tries to be informative.
Average, 10 Qns, indranil49, Nov 14 19
Average
indranil49
Nov 14 19
594 plays
8.
  Name These Children's Authors    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
With homage to Minch's quiz called "Authors' Initials." I give you a children's author's first two (or three) names. You type in the writer's surname. For example, if the clue is "Joanne Kathleen," you type "Rowling."
Average, 10 Qns, robynraymer, Aug 03 18
Average
robynraymer
Aug 03 18
1805 plays
9.
  Authors' Initials   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some authors are generally known by their initials and last name. You are given their full first names. Give their last name. Start with a capital!
Average, 10 Qns, minch, Sep 25 19
Average
minch gold member
Sep 25 19
4286 plays
10.
  The Write Brothers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
These brothers (and sisters) couldn't fly, but they sure could write. What do you know about siblings who soared to great heights in Literature?
Average, 10 Qns, Caeiro, Dec 04 14
Average
Caeiro
471 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What does the 'E.M.' stand for in E.M. Forster?

From Quiz "Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials"




11.
  Author's Pseudonyms    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Quite a few authors write under other names. I will list the author's real name and you pick out the pseudonym.
Average, 5 Qns, mizlentz, Dec 11 06
Average
mizlentz
3838 plays
12.
  Given Names of Authors    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
You are given the penname, give the real name of the author.
Average, 10 Qns, finlady, Aug 07 15
Average
finlady
4775 plays
13.
  Author Anagrams    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
All of these anagrams are the names of authors. All are two words - first and last names (except for the last one).
Tough, 10 Qns, robert362, Mar 12 02
Tough
robert362
765 plays
14.
  Authors Behind Initials    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Guys seem to like to hide behind initialled first names. Sometimes we end up knowing the initials but no longer what first names were behind them. Have a try.Is J.R.R. Tolkien : John Ruben Romuald T. No, it's .. . Well hadn't you better try the quiz?
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, May 04 07
Average
flem-ish
1644 plays
15.
  Authors, also known as ....    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Famous authors, less famously known as......
Average, 5 Qns, Ruma, Feb 16 15
Average
Ruma
2294 plays
16.
  Literary Anagrams - Not Too Tough    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
You should get at least some of these - give it a try!
Tough, 10 Qns, robert362, Mar 12 02
Tough
robert362
1160 plays

Names and Pseudonyms Trivia Questions

1. Christopher Marlowe was a great Renaissance writer of tragedies.He introduced 'blank verse' in English. He had a nickname. Can you remember the nickname of Marlowe?

From Quiz
Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Kit

Christopher Marlowe was a great tragedian of the Elizabethan period. He was considered the prince in Elizabethan Theatrical world. He paved the way for Shakespeare. His nickname was 'Kit'. His friend Thomas Nashe regretted his untimely death with the words 'poor deceased Kit Marlowe'.

2. This great 19th century British author started out in a blacking factory while his family lived in a debtors' prison. Hard times, but this didn't stop him from having great expectations for his future! Who was he?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Charles Dickens

Dickens' father was in prison for debt and the young Charles (aged 12) was sent to work in a factory to help support his family. Dickens drew on these early experiences in his novels, most notably "Little Dorrit" and "David Copperfield".

3. What first names hide behind : L.P. Hartley?

From Quiz Authors Behind Initials

Answer: Leslie Poles

Author of 'The Go-Between'

4. What is the last name of the poet who is usually known by the initials of his first names Edward Estlin?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: cummings

Usually known as e. e. cummings with no capitals. Known for his typographically eccentric poetry.

5. What is O. Henry's given name?

From Quiz Given Names of Authors

Answer: William Sydney Porter

6. Shelley's first publication was entitled 'Original Poetry'. It was published under a pen-name. What was the pen-name that Shelley adopted in his first publication?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Victor and Cazire

In September 1810, a poetry collection entitled 'Original Poetry' by Victor and Cazire was published anonymously by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was his first published volume of poetry. He wrote the poems in collaboration with his sister Elizabeth. The volume consisted of sixteen poems and a fragment of a poem.

7. This American author was once the U.S. Consul in Liverpool. I'm not sure if his diplomatic bag contained scarlet letters, though. What was his name?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hawthorne started out in the Boston Customs House as a clerk. His later, political appointment took him to Liverpool, where he lived 'over the water' in Rockferry, next to Birkenhead.

8. What does the 'J.B.' stand for in J.B. Priestley?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: John Boynton

Priestley (1894-1984) a famous English writer and playwright penned such works as the play "An Inspector Calls." His other works are too numerous to list.

9. Who doesn't know Agatha Christie? Her books featuring detectives Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Tuppence and Tommy Beresford and Harley Quin, are famous. Do you know that she also tried her hand at gothic romances under this nom de plume?

From Quiz Authors, also known as ....

Answer: Mary Westmacott

Mary Westmacott's books include 'Unfinished Portrait','The Rose and the Yew Tree' and 'A Daughter's Daughter'.She didn't achieve an iota of Agatha Christie's fame, by comparison.

10. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names James Matthew?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Barrie

11. Sarah Burney was an English novelist, author of novels like "Clarentine" or "Traits of Nature". She was not as famous as her half-sister, though. Who was this novelist and playwright, the author of "Evelina", "Cecilia" and "Camilla"?

From Quiz The Write Brothers

Answer: Frances Burney

Frances Burney (1752-1840) was also known as Madame d'Arbley, after her marriage with the French General Alexandre d'Arblay. Her works also include journals and letters as well as several plays (both comedies and tragedies).

12. Shelley's 'Ozymandias' was published in the January issue of 'The Examiner' in 1818. It was published under a pen-name of the author. Can you say the pen-name that Shelley adopted?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Glirastes

Shelley adopted a number of pen-names in his early career. His famous poem 'Ozymandias' was published in John Hunt's famous magazine 'The Examiner' on 11 January, 1818 under the pen-name 'Glirastes'. Shelley chose the theme from the description of an Egyptian King Ramesses II. His friend, Horace Smith, also published a poem entitled 'Ozymandias' in the February issue of the same magazine (i.e. 'The Examiner'). Shelley wrote the poem in a friendly competition with his friend.

13. This Russian author was an aristocrat. During his early military career, he fought in the Crimean War, and later enjoyed peace with his family. Who was this prolific writer?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy had genuine concerns for the peasants living on his estates and introduced reforms. The character of Konstantin Dmitrich Levin, in the masterpiece "Anna Karenina" was based largely on himself, his views and his life. If you've never read any of his works, this compelling book is a wonderful way to discover him.

14. What does the 'D.H.' stand for in D.H. Lawrence?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: David Herbert

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is perhaps most famous for "Lady Chatterley's Lover", which told the story of a rich woman's affair with the gamekeeper. The full text was banned in Britain and America till 1960.

15. Ed McBain wrote the gripping series of police detective novels about the detectives of the fictional 87th precinct, and others about Matthew Hope. Few people know that he is also the writer named:

From Quiz Authors, also known as ....

Answer: Evan Hunter

..Very different. Do you know he had more pen-names, too? Including Richard Marsten, Curt Cannon and Ezra Hannon! And that his real name was neither McBain nor Hunter, but Salvatore Lombino!

16. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names Alfred Edward?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Housman

Author of 'A Shropshire Lad'.

17. Jacob and Wilhelm were German academics and scholars. They collected and published several folk tales, such as "Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel" or "Snow White", popularizing them in the 1800s. What was their last name?

From Quiz The Write Brothers

Answer: Grimm

Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859) were better known as "The Brothers Grimm". Their book "Children's and Household Tales", first published in 1812, introduced some of the most recognizable fairy tales, like "Cinderella" or "Rumpelstiltskin" to a wider audience. In addition, they began the "Deutsches Wörterbuch" in 1838. It is the nearest German counterpart to the "Oxford English Dictionary" and runs to 33 volumes. The first volume was published in 1854, the last 107 years later, in 1961.

18. Charles Dickens was a great novelist. He wrote under a pen-name in the early years of his career. Can you remember the pen-name of Charles Dickens?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: Boz

At the beginning of his career, Charles Dickens used the pen name 'Boz'. He borrowed it from Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield'. It was pronounced Bozes. He shortened it to 'Boz'. His 'Sketches by Boz' was published in 1836.

19. This American adventurer started off as a real life pirate! He went on to write some of the greatest stories about hardship and the human spirit ever written. Who was this man who answered the call of the wild?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Jack London

This is a direct quote from the author about his early life: "Alas for visions! When I was sixteen I had already earned the title of "prince." But this title was given me by a gang of cut-throats and thieves, by whom I was called 'The Prince of the Oyster Pirates.' After spending sometime as a drifter (and in prison) the young Jack decided to educate himself. His stories of the Alaskan Goldrush are still exciting reading.

20. What does 'P.D.' stand for in P.D. James?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: Phyllis Dorothy

P.D. James is a well-known detective fiction writer. Many of her books have been televised. In 1991, she was made a Life Peer by Queen Elizabeth II.

21. Stephen King is the Master of Suspense and Horror. His books include 'The Shining','The Dead Zone' and 'Salem's Lot' to mention just a few. But he has also written under pen names. Which pen name is the one he has used most often?

From Quiz Authors, also known as ....

Answer: Richard Bachman & Bachman

The Bachman books include 'The Long Walk', 'Rage', and 'The Running Man'. Tried them? He has also used the pen name John Swithen.

22. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of her first name, Joanne, and her grandmother's name, Kathleen?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Rowling

23. The novel 'Little Women' made Louisa May Alcott an author of international repute. But, at the beginning of her career she had to adopt a pen-name in order to get her works published. What was that pen-name?

From Quiz Nick-Names and Pseudonyms of English Authors

Answer: A. M. Barnard

Louisa May Alcott is a renowned name in the literary world. Her 'Little Women' is popular all over the globe. But she had to adopt a male pen-name, A. M. Barnard, at the beginning of her career.

24. This French King of Romance worked as a notary's clerk and then for the Duc d'Orléans (later King Louis Phillipe) before discovering the treasure of Monte Cristo. It might not have been twenty years after, but what was his name?

From Quiz Someday I'll Find the Write Job!

Answer: Alexandre Dumas

The creator of such unforgettable characters as Edmond Dantes and his insatiable search for revenge; D'Artagnan and his Musketeer friends fighting against Cardinal Richelieu and his desire for power - good, old-fashioned storty telling! Dumas wrote around 250 books in his lifetime and started the genre of romantic adventure stories.

25. What does the 'J.D.' stand for in J.D. Salinger's name?

From Quiz Famous Authors Best Known by their Initials

Answer: Jerome David

The American writer J.D. Salinger is perhaps best known for his novel "The Catcher in the Rye."

26. What is the last name of the author who is usually known by the initials of his first names Jerome David?

From Quiz Authors' Initials 2

Answer: Salinger

'Catcher in the Rye'.

This is category 4296
Last Updated Mar 23 2024 5:45 AM
play trivia = Top 5% Rated Quiz, take trivia quiz Top 10% Rated Quiz, test trivia quiz Top 20% Rated Quiz, popular trivia A Well Rated Quiz
new quizzes = added recently, editor pick = Editor's Pick editor = FunTrivia Editor gold = Gold Member

Teachers / educators: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under "fair use" for commentary and education.