Authors and Their Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Victor Hugo

This was written by Victor Hugo in the novel "Les Misérables", which was published on 31 March 1862. The quote can be found in Book 1 of "An Upright Man". What Hugo was trying to say is people tend to act toward others based on their beliefs about them. When a society or group assigns a label to someone, that judgement, whether positive or negative, sticks with them, no matter the truth.

"Les Misérables" tells the story of a kind-hearted man named Jean Valjean. After he steals bread to feed his hungry family, he is sentenced to prison. Once he is released, he takes advantage of a second chance, changes his life to help others, and becomes an adoptive father to a young girl named Cosette. Cosette had a poor childhood and was subjected to abuse and became a servant to the Thénardiers.

The quote is not aimed at anyone in particular, but more of an insight to the reader about people who judged Bishop Myriel before they knew him.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

The quote is from Oscar Wilde's famous novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray", published in 1891. This statement is made in Chapter 8 by the sardonic character Lord Henry Wotton. He expresses this to Dorian Gray while disregarding Dorian's anguish regarding the unfortunate demise of an actress he had recently abandoned.

A young and good-looking man named Dorian desires to maintain his youth indefinitely. His desire is granted through magical means, but with an unusual consequence: rather than Dorian himself ageing or displaying the signs of his wrongdoings, a painted portrait of him deteriorates and becomes grotesque each time he acts in a cruel or self-serving manner.

The quote in other words: it is straightforward to exhibit politeness towards someone you are not well acquainted with, but maintaining kindness and patience with those closest to you requires genuine love and effort.

Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" is a quote from "The Great Gatsby", which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The novel was published in 1925 by Charles Scribner's Sons. The quote is the last statement in the book and is the ultimate, definitive message which is conveyed by the narrator, Nick Carraway.

Here, Nick is not speaking to any specific character but is contemplating for the audience the essence of human nature, the dreams that cannot be realized, and our ongoing, yet futile, effort to overcome our history.

Answer: William Shakespeare

This is a famous quote by William Shakespeare in the play "Antony and Cleopatra". The exact year the play was first performed is not known for sure but is thought to be around 1607. The same can be said for where the play was first performed; two of the possibilities are either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre. A printed version of the play was printed in 1623; however, the name was slightly different, as it was called "The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra".

The quote can be found under Act 1, Scene 3. Spoken by the character Charmian, he is replying to Cleopatra, who said, "Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him."

The full quote from Charmian, "Tempt him not so far; I wish, forbear: In time, we hate that which we often fear." What Shakespeare is saying, well, my take on the quote is if you're frightened by something in the past that haunts you, it could lead you to rage or bitterness.

Answer: Leo Tolstoy

Russian author Leo Tolstoy wrote the novel "Anna Karenina". The novel in book form was first published in 1878. Leo Tolstoy was born in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, on 9 September [O.S. 28 August] 1828. One of Tolstoy's other famous works is the novel "War and Peace."

When you first open the book, the first line you will read is the quote: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." The narrative encompasses two primary storylines. The first revolves around Anna Karenina, an enchanting woman entrenched in high society. She abandons her husband and child for the alluring cavalry officer, Count Vronsky. This decision brings forth numerous hardships and obstacles in her life.

The second storyline follows Konstantin Levin. Konstantin is a country landowner who is having a hard time. To overcome his problem, he concentrates on his farming. The novel shows the reader how the two stories are linked and how people deal with problems, love, and society's rules in 19th-century Russia.

Answer: Eudora Welty

Eudora Welty was an American writer, novelist, and photographer. "One Writer's Beginnings" is a collection of autobiographical essays. The essays address her personal experiences but not the whole life story, only parts of things that happened. The short stories are based on three lectures she delivered at Harvard University in April 1983.

It is we who determine the order in which we choose to recall the significant moments in our lives. Thus, while a clock accurately tracks time in a defined sequence, our minds do not function in the same manner. I might not recall what I viewed on television last week, but I can vividly remember the moment I passed my driving examination.

Answer: John Steinbeck

"East of Eden" is a novel by the American author John Steinbeck. The novel's publication date was September 19, 1952. The plot is set in Salinas Valley (California) between 1862 and 1918. The plot revolves around two families: the Trask family and the Hamilton family. Initially we have brothers Adam and Charles Trask, and later in the novel, Adam's sons Cal and Aron Trask make an appearance. The Hamilton family includes Samuel and Liza and their children.

The Trask family comes from a wealthy background, but the novel illustrates that having money doesn't necessarily guarantee a luxurious lifestyle. Adam, Charles, Cal, and Aron each have their own perspectives on life and approach it differently. In contrast, the Hamilton family has a different mindset; they work hard and maintain a strong family connection despite facing financial difficulties. The story primarily follows these two families as they navigate the various challenges and triumphs in their lives.

The quote "Lord, how the day passes! "It's like a life - so quickly when we don't watch it and so slowly if we do" was said by Samuel Hamilton while he was talking to Adam Trask about life in general. He was saying when things go wrong, or you have setbacks, keep levelheaded and calm.

Now, let us consider the quote. When you have a busy workday and not enough hours to complete everything you planned, time seems to pass very quickly. Conversely, if you have little to do, you often find yourself frequently checking the time, making it feel like it's dragging. It's similar to waiting for a bus - it always feels like it takes forever to arrive, and you keep glancing at your watch every few minutes.

Answer: Stephen King

The quote above is from the book "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", which was written in 1982 by the American author Stephen King. It also appeared in the film based on the book "The Shawshank Redemption", which was released in 1994.

The plot takes place in Shawshank State Prison. Andy Dufresne gets life in prison for the murder of his wife and lover, although he claimed he was an innocent victim. While in prison Andy gets involved in crime through his work for the prison administration. It becomes evident that he becomes an important inmate for the prison staff and that they would prefer he never gets parole. The story continues with how he spends his time working out how he can get out of prison while carrying out laundered money.

The line was delivered by Red, who is talking about his friend Andy Dufresne. What Red conveys is that certain individuals simply progress in life and prefer not to be restrained or directed by others. Individuals resemble untamed birds and ought to experience freedom rather than confinement. The cage restricts you with stringent regulations, preventing you from expressing your true self within its confines. When you are free, there are no limitations to impede your path. Preventing someone from departing a location for your own purposes hinders that person from realising their authentic identity.

Answer: Immanuel Kant

The quote above is from Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals", which was published in 1785. It was his first attempt in this line of moral philosophy, which was followed by his second work titled "Critique of Practical Reason", first published in 1788.

Let's say you have a personal rule that says, "It's acceptable to lie if it helps me avoid trouble." The concept of truth would be meaningless if everyone followed this rule since no one would trust anybody else. This rule fails the test because it collapses when applied globally.

Kant's Universal Law states that a truly moral choice should be valid for everyone equally, with no individual exceptions. To assess your rule, ask yourself: "What would happen if everyone acted according to this same decision?".

Answer: Henry James

Henry James was a British-American author. Henry was born on 15 April 1843 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. His novel "The Ambassadors" was originally published on September 28, 1903. It first appeared as a serialised story in the North American Review.

The plot revolves around Lambert Strether, who had been asked by his fiancée Mrs Newsome to locate and bring back her son who is living in Paris. She wanted her son Chad to work with her in the family business. When Lambert Strether finds Chad, he finds that he is doing very well; he is well-mannered, sophisticated and enjoying life to the full.

Strether likes what he sees and falls in love with Paris and thinks to himself that maybe Chad should stay where he is. Mrs Newsome wonders why it's taking so long for Strether to come back home with her son and sends someone else to see what's going on. The plot continues as Strether decides, is this the place for him too, or should he return to America?

The quote was said by Lambert Strether while he is talking to friend Little Bilham. The moral of the quote is that in your lifetime, enjoy it while you can, as you don't know what's around the corner. It doesn't matter what path you lead, as it's the experience that matters. Missing out on things you've never tried can be a huge mistake in life. Experiment and make great memories, and make great memories.