FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about  Dramatic Lives of Literary People
Quiz about  Dramatic Lives of Literary People

Dramatic Lives of Literary People Quiz


This is another in my series of quizzes about the dramatic lives of creative people. It's difficult, perhaps, but (hopefully) interesting and informative.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. People Trivia
  6. »
  7. Writers & Authors

Author
robert362
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
170,670
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
639
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This man wrote fine poetry, despite intervals of both poverty and mental illness. Sadly, he outlived five of his children. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This author destroyed part of a manuscript that he had written, then more-or-less starved himself to death in "preparation" for doing more writing. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This author was married to the sister of the legendary Baron Von Richthoffen. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This author suffered the loss of his daughter "Susy" to spinal meningitis at the age of 24. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which of these poets committed suicide? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This author wrote a suicide note that began: "I am certain that I am going mad again ..." Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The writing Bronte sisters all died relatively young. They all died of tuberculosis.


Question 8 of 10
8. This playwright was investigated during the McCarthy period because of membership in the American Communist Party. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Charles Nordhoff (along with James Hall) wrote the "Bounty" trilogy. What happened to him? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This author's "horror fiction" was said to be partially the product of his struggle with mental illness later in his life. Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This man wrote fine poetry, despite intervals of both poverty and mental illness. Sadly, he outlived five of his children.

Answer: John Clare

Clare lost one child in infancy and several others as young adults (mostly due to tuberculosis). His "I Am" is a fine poem - written from an asylum.
2. This author destroyed part of a manuscript that he had written, then more-or-less starved himself to death in "preparation" for doing more writing.

Answer: Gogol

He wrote "Dead Souls". Then, he wrote a second part - and destroyed it. He fasted in order to get ready to write another segment ... but apparently went too far and destroyed his health.
3. This author was married to the sister of the legendary Baron Von Richthoffen.

Answer: D.H. Lawrence

D.H. Lawrence had a dramatic life; he shocked and scandalized much of society with some of his writing. Being related by marriage to "the Red Baron" was just incidental.
4. This author suffered the loss of his daughter "Susy" to spinal meningitis at the age of 24.

Answer: Mark Twain

For all his wit and satirical humor, Twain took some hits from life along the way. This was a big one. (She was called "Susy", but it was, I believe, a middle name).
5. Which of these poets committed suicide?

Answer: Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton was not a happy camper; her life was marred by several unsuccessful suicide attempts. Finally, one attempt succeeded.
6. This author wrote a suicide note that began: "I am certain that I am going mad again ..."

Answer: Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf wrote that she could not bear to go through the ordeal one more time, so she wrote this note to her husband, Leonard, and ended her life.
7. The writing Bronte sisters all died relatively young. They all died of tuberculosis.

Answer: True

Despite their literary reputations, their lives (especially Emily and Anne) were brief. Tuberuculosis was among the most common causes of death at the time. Though Charlotte's death from the disease is disputed, her death certificate gives TB as the cause of death.
8. This playwright was investigated during the McCarthy period because of membership in the American Communist Party.

Answer: Clifford Odets

Odets was investigated by Joseph McCarthy and company during one of America's least impressive periods.
9. Charles Nordhoff (along with James Hall) wrote the "Bounty" trilogy. What happened to him?

Answer: Suicide victim

Nordhoff never quite matched the success of "Mutiny on the Bounty" (along with "Men against the Sea" and "Pitcairn's Island"). After struggling with depression and drinking, Nordhoff became a suicide victim.
10. This author's "horror fiction" was said to be partially the product of his struggle with mental illness later in his life.

Answer: Du Maupassant

It is said that syphilis led to mental illness ... which manifested itself in some of his writing. (Poor Guy!)
Source: Author robert362

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. The Fellowship Easier
2. Hard Habit to Break Very Easy
3. Authors from A to Z Easier
4. Drink up me Hearties Very Easy
5. The Face Behind the Pen Average
6. Author! Author! Easier
7. I'm in Love Easier
8. Literary Biographies Tough
9. Useless Trivia About Writers Average
10. What Is My Middle Name? Easier
11. Literary Suicides Average
12. I'm A Word Wizard Average

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us