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The poetry of W.B. Yeats Trivia Quiz

The 1923 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Yeats wrote poetry which chronicled both Ireland's rise to independence and its legend and myth. His poems have also found their way into more modern settings.

A multiple-choice quiz by kevinatilusa. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
kevinatilusa

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
68,319

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1210

Last 3 plays: Guest 157 (1/10), Guest 157 (3/10), Guest 49 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which poem of Yeats provided the title for a book by Chinua Achebe? Hint

Easter 1916

The Second Coming

Leda and the Swan

Sailing to Byzantium

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Question 2 of 10

2. Complete the line from 'Easter 1916': All changed, changed utterly, a _________
________ is born?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which 2001 movie featured prominently a line from Yeats' Poem 'Stolen Child'? Hint

A.I.

A Beautiful Mind

Lord of the Rings

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

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Question 4 of 10

4. Yeat's tombstone contains the concluding lines of which of his poems?

Answer: (Three Words)

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Question 5 of 10

5. One of Yeats' later poems, 'Gather Around Me, Parnellites' dealt with the memory of Charles Stuart Parnell. Who was Parnell? Hint

A Leader of the Easter Rebellion

A contemporary poet of the time.

Yeats' Father in Law

A 19th century political revolutionary

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which bird completes the titles of 'Leda and the _____' and 'The Wild _____ at Coole'?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these is not a dated title of a Yeats poem? Hint

Coole Park, 1929

November 1918: Reflections

September 1913

Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which Irish folk hero and Red Branch leader's 'Fight With the Sea' was the subject of an early Yeats' poem? Hint

Finn Maccool

Cuchulain

Finian

Countess Cathleen

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Question 9 of 10

9. Complete the opening line of 'Sailing to Byzantium': 'That is no country for ____
____'

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 10 of 10

10. In a poem by Yeats, he catches a fish which turns into a beautiful woman who promptly runs away from him. Hint

Cuchulain

Aengus

Finn Maccool

Fenian

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 01 2024 : Guest 157: 1/10
Mar 31 2024 : Guest 157: 3/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 49: 5/10
Mar 21 2024 : Vinoanand: 1/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 59: 3/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 117: 0/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which poem of Yeats provided the title for a book by Chinua Achebe?

Answer: The Second Coming

'Things Fall Apart' was the title of Achebe's work.

2. Complete the line from 'Easter 1916': All changed, changed utterly, a _________ ________ is born?

Answer: terrible beauty

This served as the end of several stanzas of that poem.

3. Which 2001 movie featured prominently a line from Yeats' Poem 'Stolen Child'?

Answer: A.I.

'Come Away oh Human Child, with a Fairy Hand in Hand' is on Professor Hobby's office door, as well as a quote by Dr. Know.

4. Yeat's tombstone contains the concluding lines of which of his poems?

Answer: Under Ben Bulben

'Cast a cold eye On Life, on death Horseman, pass by!'

5. One of Yeats' later poems, 'Gather Around Me, Parnellites' dealt with the memory of Charles Stuart Parnell. Who was Parnell?

Answer: A 19th century political revolutionary

Parnell's work led to land and political reforms. After a nasty divorce case where he was named as the lover of Kitty O'Shea, he was forced to resign. He died in O'Shea's arms only a few months after marrying her.

6. Which bird completes the titles of 'Leda and the _____' and 'The Wild _____ at Coole'?

Answer: Swan

Coole was the estate of Lady Gregory, a friend of Yeats.

7. Which of these is not a dated title of a Yeats poem?

Answer: November 1918: Reflections

Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen was a series of reflections on the Irish Civil War. September 1913 was a call for Irishmen to live for the revolutionaries of the 1798 rebellion. Coole Park, 1929 was rather more sedate.

8. Which Irish folk hero and Red Branch leader's 'Fight With the Sea' was the subject of an early Yeats' poem?

Answer: Cuchulain

Needless to say, Cuchulain did not win, though he did fight to a draw.

9. Complete the opening line of 'Sailing to Byzantium': 'That is no country for ____ ____'

Answer: old men

One of Yeats' later poems, one can see Yeats already trying to set down his place in history in this poem.

10. In a poem by Yeats, he catches a fish which turns into a beautiful woman who promptly runs away from him.

Answer: Aengus

The poem is 'The Song of Wandering Aengus'. Aengus has spent the rest of his life searching for this woman, never to find her again.

Source: Author kevinatilusa

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