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Quiz about Survey of Great Plays and Playwrights
Quiz about Survey of Great Plays and Playwrights

Survey of Great Plays and Playwrights Quiz


Here's a look at some great (non-musical) plays and playwrights of the last hundred or so years.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
robert362
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
173,644
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1445
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Eugene O'Neill wrote "Long Day's Journey Into Night". Which statement is NOT true of the father in this autobiographical play? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Arthur Miller wrote "All My Sons". Which statement is true of the storyline? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. William Inge wrote "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs". Which statement is most descriptive of the play? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which play by George Bernard Shaw was the basis for the musical "My Fair Lady"? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Tennessee Williams wrote "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof". What is the real name of the "cat"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which play is NOT by Edward Albee? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Who wrote "The Playboy of the Western World"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which play by Henrik Ibsen is said to be a turning point in women's rights? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which play is NOT by Anton Chekhov? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which statement is true of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Eugene O'Neill wrote "Long Day's Journey Into Night". Which statement is NOT true of the father in this autobiographical play?

Answer: He is battling his own drug addiction

O'Neill's autobiographical masterpiece was never performed in his lifetime (at his request). Drug addiction was a problem for his mother, not for his father. America's greatest playwright had a tough life.
2. Arthur Miller wrote "All My Sons". Which statement is true of the storyline?

Answer: One brother is in love with the other brother's girlfriend

One brother loves the girlfriend of the other brother (who is missing in action and presumed dead). The "infidelity" answer refers to "Death of a Salesman". The "sale of the house" question refers to "The Price". The reference to "marriage to a star" is based on "After the Fall" (loosely suggested by Miller's marriage to Marilyn Monroe - although I've taken liberties in describing the plot). All were written by Miller.
3. William Inge wrote "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs". Which statement is most descriptive of the play?

Answer: A family's struggle to make a living during hard times

"Stardom" refers to "Bus Stop". The "romantic triangle" plot refers to "Picnic". The "growing old" reference describes "Come Back, Little Sheba". All were written by Inge (who apparently was not the happiest of people. He committed suicide.)
4. Which play by George Bernard Shaw was the basis for the musical "My Fair Lady"?

Answer: Pygmalion

All of the choices were written by Shaw, but "Pygmalion" was the inspiration for the musical.
5. Tennessee Williams wrote "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof". What is the real name of the "cat"?

Answer: Maggie

She refers to herself in the play as "Maggie, the cat". . Blanche and Stella are from "Streetcar Named Desire". Rosalie was Williams' sister. Williams also had a hard life.
6. Which play is NOT by Edward Albee?

Answer: Six Characters in Search of an Author

All three were critical successes for Albee. "Six" was by Luigi Pirandello.
7. Who wrote "The Playboy of the Western World"?

Answer: John Millington Synge

Synge also wrote "Riders to the Sea". Hellman wrote "The Children's Hour", Anderson wrote "I Never Sang For My Father", and Wilde wrote "The "Importance of Being Earnest".
8. Which play by Henrik Ibsen is said to be a turning point in women's rights?

Answer: A Doll's House

The slamming of the door as Nora walks out is famous. "Anna" was by O'Neill, "Girl" was by Clifford Odets (who also did "Golden Boy"), "Julie" was by August Strindberg (who authored many plays in his lifetime).
9. Which play is NOT by Anton Chekhov?

Answer: The Good Woman of Szechuan

That one is by the equally prolific Bertolt Brecht.
10. Which statement is true of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town"?

Answer: It is set in a small town

The story takes place in a small town in New England.
Source: Author robert362

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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