His Own Write Quiz | Authors

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. You know that the title of the book is "In His Own Write", but do you know what the contents include?

Answer: Poetry, line drawings, short stories

Whimsical and nonsensical only begin to describe the contents of Lennon's first published book. It contains short stories, poetry, prose and line drawings. This slender book comes in both hardback and paperback. Just from the title, you can see his use of homonyms in place of words that most people would think were better English. Instead of "In His Own Right", John's title "In His Own Write" gives a clue into the humor of John Lennon.

A little about John Lennon:

John Winston Lennon was born on the ninth of October, 1940, in Liverpool, England. One of the monikers that he liked to use was "Dr. Winston O. Boogie" along with "Mel Torment", "Rev. Thumbs Ghurkin" and many more.

2. In Lennon's prose, and oftentimes in his song lyrics, he showed his adeptness at free association and also improvisation. What was his writing style?

Answer: Narrative

Lennon's book is filled with puns and images that are quite strange. His use of disconnected narrative threads, and creative misspellings of words and conclusions, leave the reader with the challenge of finding a meaning to what they read. It has been concluded that John Lennon's intention was not to portray any deep meaning within his work but to show his humor along with his creative side and to leave the reader wondering what it all means. He speaks to the reader through his narrative style and is not the least concerned about whether or not the reader "get's it".

A little about John Lennon:

After John's parents split up he lived with his Aunt Mimi. John's father was a seafaring man so he was not around very much. John's mother Julia visited him often and actually taught John to play the banjo and the piano. She bought John his first guitar.

3. "No Flies on Frank" is a short story in John Lennon's book. What gruesome thing did Frank do that brought about flies on his wife?

Answer: He killed her

Frank so happened to kill his wife because "'She shouldn't see me like this,' he mubbled, 'not all fat and on her thirtysecond birthday.'" He eventually realizes he has no flies on him but his wife, who was still dead on the floor, three weeks later, had a lot of flies on her. Frank brought his dead wife, in a small sack, to her mother's home and placed her on the doorstep. Mrs. Sutherskill, Frank's mother-in-law, didn't want her deceased daughter because of the flies. Still, Frank had no flies on himself.

This strange story does show a lot of creativity of misspellings along with the typical nonsense that John Lennon enjoyed writing.

A little about John Lennon:

At the age of sixteen, John created a skiffle band called the "Quarry Men". When Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957, he invited Paul to join the group. Together they became a highly successful songwriting pair.

4. In the pages of the John Lennon book, "In His Own Write", you will come across a short prose tail/tale about a dog. What kind of a dog is it?

Answer: Wrestling

The dog is a wrestling dog. I will include the odd story, for your pleasure or confusion, whichever comes first.

"The Wrestling Dog

One upon a tom in a far off distant land far across the sea miles away from anyway over the hills as the crow barked 39 peoble lived miles away from anywhere on a little island on a distant land.
When harvest time came along all the people celebrated with a mighty feast and dancing and that. It was Perry's (for Perry was the Loud Mayor) job to provide (and Perry's great pleasure I might add) a new and exciting (and it usually was) thrill and spectacular performer (sometimes a dwarf was used), this year Perry had surpassed himselve by getting a Wrestling Dog! But who would fight this wondrous beast? I wouldn't for a kick off."

A little about John Lennon:

The first recording made by Lennon and his band, which consisted of himself, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, was a Buddy Holly song, "That'll Be The Day" in 1958. John was known to joke and say that he had a vision when he was a boy of 12 years old. He envisioned a man who appeared on a flaming pie and said to him "From this day on you are Beatles with an 'A.'"

Obviously the humor was a great part of John from his early years.

5. Is "A Surprise for Little Bobby", in the John Lennon book "In His Own Write", a drawing?

Answer: No

"A Surprise for Little Bobby" is a short story. Although Bobby is thirty-nine, he finally gets a hook as a gift, which he's always wanted. Strangely (or not really strange at all), the story is yet another nonsensical work but fun to read. Go ahead and give it a try.

"'A Surprise for Little Bobby'

It was little Bobby's birthmark today and he got a surprise. His very fist was lopped off, (The War) and he got a birthday hook!
All his life Bobby had wanted his very own hook; and now on his 39th birthday his pwayers had been answered. The only trouble was they had send him a left hook and ebry dobby knows that it was Bobby's right fist that was missing as it were.
What to do was not thee only problem: Anyway he jopped off his lest hand and it fitted like a glove. Maybe next year he will get a right hook, who knows?"

A little about John Lennon:

Lennon wrote the Beatles' single, "Please Please Me", which was inspired by another great singer, Roy Orbison. John was also infatuated with the play on words in Bing Crosby's "Please, lend your little ears to my pleas." This gives some insight into why Lennon applied puns into his writing style, he truly enjoyed it.

6. In John Lennon's line drawing titled "I Sat Belonely", where is the man sitting?

Answer: Under a tree

The sketch named "I Sat Belonely" shows a sad, naked, pot-bellied man seated and leaning against a tree. He is alone and sports a "Beatle"-type haircut.

A little about John Lennon:

When John Lennon made the remark "we're more popular than Jesus now", it created a lot of strain for the Beatles. They gave up touring after a concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park which took place on August 29, 1966. Considering Lennon's quirky humor, it was obvious to many that he meant no harm by the remark, however, not everyone understood that and the remark was harmful to the career of the Beatles.

7. What was wrong with the man in John Lennon's poem that finished with "I'm a humble Joe"?

Answer: He was moldy

The poor man in this entertaining poem was a moldy fellow.

"'The Moldy Moldy Man'

I'm a moldy moldy man
I'm moldy thru and thru
I'm a moldy moldy man
You would not think it true
I'm moldy til my eyeballs
I'm moldy til my toe
I will not dance I shyballs
I'm such a humble Joe."

A little about John Lennon:

Just before the Beatles broke up, Lennon and his second wife Yoko Ono became the Plastic Ono Band in 1969. The solo album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" was released in 1970. This had a rather raw sound that was based on "primal-scream" therapy. By 1971, John released "Imagine" (October 11, 1971). It became the most commercially successful John Lennon song. It was also the most critically acclaimed song by John after the break up of the Beatles.

8. "I Can See Quite Clearly" is written on a sign around the neck of whom or what in one of the sketches in the book "In His Own Write" by John Lennon?

Answer: A trumpet player

In this line drawing there is a sign hanging around the neck of a man playing the trumpet. The man has a cane and he has a little dog on a leash. There is also a cup at his feet for people to toss coins into. The man is smiling.

A little about John Lennon:

Lennon and Ono separated but eventually they reconciled. To add a little "typical" onto John's life, when it was his thirty fifth birthday, Yoko gave birth to their son Sean. This was not considered "typical" to many but the unexpected things that John did continued. John decided to leave the music business, at this time, so he could raise his son and become a house husband.

9. Who was the original publisher of the first edition of "In His Own Write" in 1964?

Answer: Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster, from New York, were the original publishers of Lennon's book in March, 1964. The credit of publishing the first issue goes solely to Simon & Schuster even though Jonathan Cape, of Great Britain, published the book at the same time. Simon & Schuster was eventually bought by Macmillan.

A little about John Lennon:

John Lennon eagerly returned to the music world with his release of his "Double Fantasy" (1980) album. The album featured "(Just Like) Starting Over" which was released as a single on October 24, 1980.

10. Did John Lennon ever write a second book?

Answer: Yes

"A Spaniard in the Works" was John Lennon's second book, published by Simon & Schuster on June 24, 1965. This book was very similar to his first book, "In His Own Write". The title was a pun based on the American English expression of "throw a monkey wrench" into it. Of course, a British wrench is a spanner, therefore, with the humor and pun abilities of Lennon, "A spanner in the works" became "A Spaniard in the Works".

A little about John Lennon:

A few short weeks after the release of "Double Fantasy" (1980), Lennon was shot in front of his apartment complex in New York. Grief was felt worldwide when it was announced that John Lennon, aged forty, died at the Roosevelt Hospital on December 8, 1980.

The talents of John Lennon have touched many lives and though he is missed, his works live on for us to enjoy.

Source: Author funnytrivianna

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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His Own Write Trivia Quiz

John Lennon, a brilliant songwriter, also had a book published in 1964 titled "In His Own Write". The interesting information will include bits and pieces of Lennon's life to help to explain his quirky personality a little.

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