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The Epic Poem Trivia Quiz

The narrative epic poem is one of the first forms of literature throughout the world. See if you can answer 20 questions about this genre.

A multiple-choice quiz by pericles34. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
pericles34

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
307,733

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
855

Last 3 plays: Guest 157 (4/15), Guest 152 (1/15), Guest 1 (6/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. This Sumerian epic follows the hero-king of Uruk on his adventures with friend Enkidu. Can you name the epic? Hint

Atrahasis

Enuma Elish

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Ramayana

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. Because of the events of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," how long is Odysseus away from Ithaka? Hint

3 years, 5 months and 2 days

9 1/2 weeks

15 years

20 years

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. From what great Hindu epic is the "Bhagavad Gita" taken? Hint

Yoga Sutra

Ramayana

Mahabharata

Upanishads

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Question 4 of 15

4. There are two epics titled "Argonautica." Both deal with the Greek hero Jason and his men, the Argonauts. In both epics, what are Jason and his men attempting to find? Hint

The Holy Grail

The Golden Fleece

The Golden Touch

Switzerland

5. In the great Latin national epic, "Aeneid," Aeneas escapes the destruction of Troy. Aeneas then proceeds to settle "sure succession in his line / From whence the race of Alban fathers come / And the long glories of majestic Rome." But, before landing in Italy, Aeneas stops and breaks Dido's heart. Of what is Dido the queen? Hint

Spain

Cyprus

Egypt

Carthage

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Question 6 of 15

6. The first great work of English literature is the Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf." But, who in the work is the main hero? Hint

Beowulf

Hrothgar

Unferth

Eric The Red

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Question 7 of 15

7. The oral "Epic of Manas" is the national epic of what Central Asian people? Hint

Uzbek

Tajik

Kyrgyz

Pashtun

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. What is the title of the French national epic and oldest surviving major work in French? Hint

The Testaments

The Life of Charlesmagne

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Song of Roland

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Question 9 of 15

9. The "Shahnameh," or Book of Kings, is the national epic of what country? Hint

Iran

Pakistan

Iraq

Kuwait

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Question 10 of 15

10. "Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise" is a literary epic written in what language/dialect? Hint

Catalan

Basque

Provencal

Occitan

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Question 11 of 15

11. The Japanese epic "The Tale of the Heiki" is set during the Genpei War (1180-1185 CE). In the epic the Heiki (or, Taira) clan are fighting for control of Japan against which rival clan? Hint

Ashikaga

Yamamoto

Minamoto

Tokugawa

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. In Dante's "Divine Comedy," what other famous epic writer guides the poet through hell? Hint

John Milton

Virgil

Homer

Ovid

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Question 13 of 15

13. The great Portuguese epic "Os Lusiadas" opens midway through which famous navigator's voyage? Hint

John Cabot

Vasco da Gama

Christopher Columbus

Ferdinand Magellan

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Question 14 of 15

14. What 16th Century CE epic by Torquato Tasso is set during the First Crusade? Hint

La Gerusalemme Liberata

Orlando Innamorato

Paradise Lost

El Cantar de Mio Cid

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. In the first book of "The Faerie Queene" by Edmund Spenser, who slays the dragon? Hint

Saint George

King Arthur

Saint Andrew

Sir Gawain

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This Sumerian epic follows the hero-king of Uruk on his adventures with friend Enkidu. Can you name the epic?

Answer: The Epic of Gilgamesh

"The Epic of Gilgamesh" was discovered in the 19th Century on tablets written in cuneiform alphabet.

2. Because of the events of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," how long is Odysseus away from Ithaka?

Answer: 20 years

In Book II of the "Odyssey", there is a council of the men of Ithaka. Halithersis comments at the council "How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams." Odysseus had spent ten years at war against Troy, "To shake with war proud Ilion's lofty towers." Then, the god of the sea, Poseidon, keeps Odysseus at sea another ten years before he can return home.

3. From what great Hindu epic is the "Bhagavad Gita" taken?

Answer: Mahabharata

The "Bhagavad Gita" is only 700 of the 74,000 verses in the "Mahabharata". The epic is ten times longer than the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" combined.

4. There are two epics titled "Argonautica." Both deal with the Greek hero Jason and his men, the Argonauts. In both epics, what are Jason and his men attempting to find?

Answer: The Golden Fleece

Apollonius of Rhodes wrote his "Argonautica" in Greek during the Third Century BCE. Valerius Flaccus wrote his in Latin in the First Century CE.

Answer: Carthage

Heartbroken Dido beseeches her people to eternal enmity with Aeneas' Trojans/Romans. This device is what the First Century BCE author of the "Aeneid", Virgil, uses to explain the Punic Wars.

6. The first great work of English literature is the Anglo-Saxon epic "Beowulf." But, who in the work is the main hero?

Answer: Beowulf

Okay, it was a trick question. "Beowulf" is one of the first works in "English." It was written between the Eighth and Eleventh Century CE in Great Britain but deals with events in Denmark and probably southern Sweden.

7. The oral "Epic of Manas" is the national epic of what Central Asian people?

Answer: Kyrgyz

The "Epic of Manas" is an oral epic that was composed anywhere from the Seventh to 15th Century CE. It was first written down in 1885. The epic is told at Kyrgyz festivals by bards known as Manaschi.

8. What is the title of the French national epic and oldest surviving major work in French?

Answer: The Song of Roland

"The Song of Roland" was written in the 12th Century CE and is set in 778 at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. However, the unknown author makes the battle more important and larger than the real battle's rearguard action against the Basques.

9. The "Shahnameh," or Book of Kings, is the national epic of what country?

Answer: Iran

The "Shahnameh" was written in the late Tenth to early Eleventh Century CE. It covers the history of the Persian people from the beginning of the world through the Arab Conquest of what is now Iran in the Seventh Century CE.

10. "Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise" is a literary epic written in what language/dialect?

Answer: Occitan

The "Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise" is set in the Albigensian Crusade of 1208 to 1219. It is interesting as it is written by two different authors; one of whom is pro-Crusader, the other pro-Cathar "heresy."

11. The Japanese epic "The Tale of the Heiki" is set during the Genpei War (1180-1185 CE). In the epic the Heiki (or, Taira) clan are fighting for control of Japan against which rival clan?

Answer: Minamoto

The last battle of the epic (and historical war) is the Battle of Dan-no-ura. The Minamoto defeat the Heiki and set up their own shogunate. Legend has it that Heiki who died in the battle became the Heiki crabs. Fisherman who find these crabs (that appear to have the face of a samurai) throw them back.

In the 1980 mini-series "Cosmos," Carl Sagan uses these crabs as an example of "artificial selection."

12. In Dante's "Divine Comedy," what other famous epic writer guides the poet through hell?

Answer: Virgil

The "Divine Comedy" is in three major parts, "Inferno," "Purgatory," and "Paradise."

13. The great Portuguese epic "Os Lusiadas" opens midway through which famous navigator's voyage?

Answer: Vasco da Gama

"Os Lusiadas" was written by Lu�s Vaz de Cam�es and was published in 1572.

14. What 16th Century CE epic by Torquato Tasso is set during the First Crusade?

Answer: La Gerusalemme Liberata

"La Gerusalemme Liberata" or "Jerusalem Delivered" was first published in 1581.

15. In the first book of "The Faerie Queene" by Edmund Spenser, who slays the dragon?

Answer: Saint George

"The Faerie Queene" is an epic in six parts. Each parts tells the story of a different knight. Spenser published the first three books in 1590.

Source: Author pericles34

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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