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Horses in Literature Trivia Quiz

Not perhaps a traditional quiz on horses but one I hope you will enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by astir. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
astir

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
321,870

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
464

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 'Alice Through the Looking-Glass' by Lewis Carroll, who kept falling off his horse? Hint

the white knight

the white king

the black knight

the red king

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Question 2 of 10

2. Why would you ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross? Hint

to see a young lady upon a white horse

to see a fine lady upon a white horse

to see a fine lady upon a grey horse

to see a young lady upon a black horse

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Pat Smythe wrote a series of pony books about three children with 'J' as the first letter of their name. Which name is not one of 'the three jays'? Hint

Jimmy

Jacqueline

Jane

Jenny

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who wrote 'The Village Blacksmith'? Hint

William Butler Yeats

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rudyard Kipling

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Question 5 of 10

5. "Oh, wasn't it naughty of Smudges?
Oh, mummy, I'm sick with disgust.
She threw me in front of the judges
and my silly old collarbone's bust."

Who wrote this humorous poem? Hint

Hilaire Belloc

Walter de la Mere

John Betjeman

T.S. Eliot

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In Shakespeare's play 'Richard III' what did the king offer in exchange for a horse? Hint

his kingdom

his palace

his wife

his brother

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Question 7 of 10

7. How many horses did Aime Tschiffely take on his epic ride? Hint

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who or what was the Maltese Cat? Hint

a show jumper

a polo pony

a groom

a jockey

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In which book of The Bible are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse mentioned? Hint

Psalms

Ephesians

Exodus

Revelation

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 'The Huntsmen' a poem by Walter de la Mare, where did 'three jolly gentlemen in coats of red' ride their horses? Hint

to be fed

up the stairs

up the hill

up to bed

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 'Alice Through the Looking-Glass' by Lewis Carroll, who kept falling off his horse?

Answer: the white knight

When it stopped he fell off forwards, when it walked on, he fell off backwards and every now and then he fell off sideways.

2. Why would you ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross?

Answer: to see a fine lady upon a white horse

A cock horse was an extra one harnessed to a team to help pull a vehicle over difficult ways, through water or uphill.

3. Pat Smythe wrote a series of pony books about three children with 'J' as the first letter of their name. Which name is not one of 'the three jays'?

Answer: Jenny

Pat Smythe was one of the GBs premier lady showjumpers. She rode many horses successfully, both at home and abroad. Much of her writing was done in Switzerland after her marriage. As well as the series about 'The Three Jays' she wrote numerous biographies, non fiction books for young riders and an adventure series.

4. Who wrote 'The Village Blacksmith'?

Answer: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When the chestnut tree mentioned in the poem was cut down, part of it was used to make a chair which was presented to Longfellow by the children of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

5. "Oh, wasn't it naughty of Smudges? Oh, mummy, I'm sick with disgust. She threw me in front of the judges and my silly old collarbone's bust." Who wrote this humorous poem?

Answer: John Betjeman

John Betjeman was knighted in 1969, made poet laureate in 1972. He died at his home in Cornwall in 1984.

6. In Shakespeare's play 'Richard III' what did the king offer in exchange for a horse?

Answer: his kingdom

The name of Richard III's favourite horse is said to be White Surrey. In Shakespeare's play Richard III, the line 'saddle White Surrey for the field tomorrow' is in Act V Scene 3.

7. How many horses did Aime Tschiffely take on his epic ride?

Answer: 2

Aime Tschiffely rode his two Criollo horses from Buenos Aires to Washington DC. Both horses survived this epic journey. Gata died in February 1944, aged 36, and Mancha died on Christmas day 1947, aged 40.

8. Who or what was the Maltese Cat?

Answer: a polo pony

From a story by Rudyard Kipling. Polo is played on horseback between two teams of four players. The match is divided into chukkas, usually six, lasting seven minutes. During half time, spectators are invited to walk on the polo field to 'tread in the divots'.

9. In which book of The Bible are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse mentioned?

Answer: Revelation

The four riders are representative of pestilence, war, famine and death. The colours of the horses are white, red, black and pale.

10. In 'The Huntsmen' a poem by Walter de la Mare, where did 'three jolly gentlemen in coats of red' ride their horses?

Answer: up to bed

Walter de la Mare was an English poet whose first successful published work was 'The Listeners' Much of his poetry was written for children.

Source: Author astir

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