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Literature Before 1900 Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Literature Before 1900 Quizzes, Trivia

Literature Before 1900 Trivia

Literature Before 1900 Trivia Quizzes

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Literary classics from Ancient Greece until the end of the nineteenth century. Did you study them in school? Have you read them since? Find out what you remember!
50 quizzes and 700 trivia questions.
Sub-Categories:
The Classics The Classics (22 quizzes)
1.
A Gallery of Literature
  A Gallery of Literature editor best quiz   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
I'll give you the first line of a book written before 1900 and a picture to suggest a word or two from the book's title. You tell me the author's name.
Average, 10 Qns, alaspooryoric, Sep 22 16
Average
alaspooryoric gold member
1780 plays
2.
  Match These Books and Their Authors   top quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
A new-style "match" quiz. Nice and easy, to get you used to the format; all you have to do is match each classic novel with its writer. Have fun!
Easier, 10 Qns, stedman, Mar 08 16
Easier
stedman editor
2749 plays
3.
  Nineteenth Century Literary Characters editor best quiz   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
These are some of the most famous characters in nineteenth-century American and British literature. Do you recognize them?
Average, 10 Qns, dinkytown, Jun 04 22
Average
dinkytown
Jun 04 22
9885 plays
4.
  Who Created Me in the Nineteenth Century?   best quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Can you identify the author who created each of these characters, all of whom originally appeared in a novel published in the 1800s?
Very Easy, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, May 05 20
Recommended for grades: 10,11,12
Very Easy
looney_tunes editor
May 05 20
980 plays
5.
  Disheveled Victorian Bookshelves   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
The novels in the Victorian section of the public library are all mixed up. Can you help the beset librarian and match titles to authors?
Very Easy, 10 Qns, gracious1, Jan 12 22
Very Easy
gracious1 gold member
Jan 12 22
561 plays
6.
  Classic Literature   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Think you know the classics? Take this quiz and find out! I give the information on the book, you say which book it is. Got it? OK, onto the quiz.
Easier, 10 Qns, authorspalace, Jun 03 13
Easier
authorspalace
3395 plays
7.
  Great Literature Miscellany   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A series of questions on a smattering of great literature written before the 20th century.
Average, 15 Qns, skylarb, Oct 02 21
Average
skylarb
Oct 02 21
2896 plays
8.
  Classic Gothic Literature   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Gothic literature combines elements of the supernatural, horror, mystery and romance, and has been responsible some of the most enduring characters and stories in literature. Can you match the authors to some of the best known books of the genre?
Easier, 10 Qns, CardoQ, Feb 02 17
Easier
CardoQ gold member
921 plays
9.
  Classic Novels of the 19th Century   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
They are still required reading in most schools-the great Romantic novels of the 1800s. If you haven't read the book, you may have seen the film it inspired. How well do you know your classics?
Average, 10 Qns, robbieh, Apr 03 10
Average
robbieh
2038 plays
10.
  Life and Everything: Non-Fiction and Society   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 15 Qns
There have been many non-fiction books, published before 1900, whose ideas have been impactful and revolutionary. Let us explore some of them! Match the book (on the left) to the author (on the right).
Easier, 15 Qns, angikar, Feb 05 19
Easier
angikar
Feb 05 19
431 plays
trivia question Quick Question
His "Island of Dr. Moreau" describes the potential horrors of man playing God.

From Quiz "Great Literature Miscellany"




11.
  Why Did They Do That?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For this quiz, I will describe an action that a character or characters took in the story. You will identify the reason, that is, the "why." This quiz focuses on American and British literature of a variety of different genres.
Average, 10 Qns, bernie73, Oct 01 23
Average
bernie73 gold member
Oct 01 23
691 plays
12.
  Bigger Than Ben-Hur    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz deals with books that are lengthy and the key details about them.
Easier, 10 Qns, bernie73, Oct 09 16
Easier
bernie73 gold member
572 plays
13.
  Riddles (Anglo-Saxon Style)   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Anglo-Saxons banished the doom and gloom of the Dark Ages with light-hearted riddles! See if you can solve these ancient brain teasers found in the "Exeter Book".
Average, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, Apr 17 09
Average
pagiedamon gold member
1377 plays
14.
  Who Didn't Write It?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Theme: 19th century authors and books. Instead of asking "Who wrote it?", I ask which of four books was NOT written by a given author.
Average, 10 Qns, skylarb, Jun 19 15
Average
skylarb
2899 plays
15.
  Authors of Literary Classics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Match the classic literary work with the author to win big!
Average, 10 Qns, highstrung, Dec 22 10
Average
highstrung
7240 plays
16.
  Mostly European Literature    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Thanks to my lit class in college, I've been inspired to produce this quiz concerning the writings of the western world. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, GypsyQueen, Sep 18 23
Average
GypsyQueen
Sep 18 23
1650 plays
17.
  Authors of the Classics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'm taking this class that's all about Gothic novels... so here's a test your 'Gothic' author skills...
Average, 10 Qns, jaydeeTECH, Oct 04 19
Average
jaydeeTECH
Oct 04 19
6383 plays
18.
  Mysterious Middle Age   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Officially, 1066 to 1470 is called the Middle English period. The writers and philosophers were cultivating the English soil for a rich harvesting. This quiz deals with a few of such inspiring and enlightening activities.
Tough, 10 Qns, indranil49, Mar 12 21
Tough
indranil49
Mar 12 21
434 plays
19.
  Literary "LXG"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I found "LXG" to be a thoroughly entertaining movie. The question is, what do you remember about the original literature from which the characters were drawn? ***Spoiler Warning***
Tough, 10 Qns, reedy, Apr 11 11
Tough
reedy gold member
587 plays
20.
  Gothic Literature    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How well do you know your 18th Century gothic literature? This easy quiz features questions on the themes and the authors of seven gothic novels.
Tough, 10 Qns, highland_jadey, Apr 30 19
Tough
highland_jadey
Apr 30 19
1095 plays
21.
  Literature, generally    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Did you pay attention in lit class? A simple literature quiz to check it out ! Good Luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, Ruma, Jun 03 18
Tough
Ruma
Jun 03 18
2950 plays
22.
  Early English Prose    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A brief walk through English prose from the 12th to the 18th century.
Average, 15 Qns, marienbart, Nov 26 21
Average
marienbart
Nov 26 21
884 plays
23.
  Great Romantic Books and Authors    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you know about Romanticism? Here are some questions to test your knowledge about some of the most known Romantic books, and some not so famous!
Average, 10 Qns, marioarcadia, Feb 16 22
Average
marioarcadia
Feb 16 22
799 plays
24.
  English Literature Before 1800    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Welcome. Below you'll find the first couple of lines from some famous major English literary works. Some of the texts are presented in a modern translation or in a modernized spelling. It's up to you to identify the work. Good luck.
Average, 15 Qns, marienbart, Jul 03 18
Average
marienbart
Jul 03 18
1456 plays
25.
  In Search of the White Rabbit    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Alice has asked you to help her look for the white rabbit. To find out where he is you have to travel through the World of Books and answer the questions to get to his hiding place.
Average, 10 Qns, eufosyne, Dec 04 21
Average
eufosyne
Dec 04 21
538 plays
26.
  Mixed Literature    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz on many different books mainly from before 1900...
Tough, 10 Qns, emeraldstar, Mar 23 09
Tough
emeraldstar
1167 plays
27.
  Mixed Literature Rather Tough But ?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
All Multiple choice. Quotes from the past, obscure but interesting. Not easy, BUT there is a clue with each, in the brackets; however, beware the red herring. Have fun and enjoy some wisdom from the past. Cheers.
Difficult, 10 Qns, gearloose, Oct 28 23
Difficult
gearloose
Oct 28 23
845 plays
28.
  Lazarillo De Tormes    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the first picaresque novel 'Lazarillo de Tormes'. The author is anonymous.
Tough, 10 Qns, mandapanda880, Oct 04 19
Tough
mandapanda880
Oct 04 19
407 plays
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Literature Before 1900 Trivia Questions

1. In 1851, Herman Melville published "Moby Dick". Of the many members of the crew of the whaling ship the "Pequod", only one survives. Who is it?

From Quiz
Bigger Than Ben-Hur

Answer: Ishmael

If I had mentioned the famous opening line "Call me Ishmael", that might have been a tip-off. Captain Ahab's obsessive pursuit of Moby Dick, the whale who destroyed his lower leg on a previous voyage, eventually leads to the deaths of all of his crew except for the narrator, Ishmael. At least Starbuck would lend his name to a Seattle-based chain of coffee shops.

2. In the late 14th century Arthurian Romance 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', Sir Gawain took shelter in a Green Castle while pursuing the Green Knight. Who was the actual lord of the Green castle?

From Quiz Mysterious Middle Age

Answer: Bertilak

In the Arthurian Romance 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', Gawain traveled through the wilderness of northwest Britain in search of the Green Knight. He encountered all sorts of beasts, suffered from hunger and cold, and at last saw a Green Chapel and took shelter there. He stayed there for three days and received cordial hospitality. At the end the Green Knight revealed his true identity. He disclosed that he was Bertilak, the actual lord of the castle.

3. Jim Hawkins ends up on an island with hidden treasure in it where they are betrayed by most of their crew - who turn out to be pirates! Which book is this?

From Quiz Classic Literature

Answer: "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson

"Treasure Island" is the book. "Pirates Ashore!" by Jim Henders and "Hidden Treasure" by Robin Clears are fake. In "Treasure Island", Jim Hawkins sets out with some friends and a crew to Treasure Island. When they have arrived, most of the crew members turn out to be pirates led by Long John Sliver. They end up staying on shore while the pirates stay on the ship, waiting for Jim and his friends to give up the map to Treasure Island.

4. "My dress is silver, shimmering gray, spun with a blaze of garnets. I craze most men: rash fools I run on a road of rage, And cage quiet determined men. Why they love me--lured from mind, stripped of strength--remains a riddle." Who am I?

From Quiz Riddles (Anglo-Saxon Style)

Answer: Wine

The silver dress is the wine goblet, which was often adorned with precious stones, such as garnets. The alcohol in the wine makes men crazy, rash, and full of rage. Though the wine strips men of their strength (the worst thing possible in such a macho world), men still love it. Some things never change.

5. This novel by one of the most important French poets is about the life of Jean Valjean. It is also about poverty and education. It was published in 1862. Which great novel is it?

From Quiz Great Romantic Books and Authors

Answer: Les Miserables

"Les Miserables", first released on 1862, talks about the life of Jean Valjean, who tries to reconstruct his life after being twenty years in prison.

6. This is a story about love, self-deception, religious feeling, innocence, and experience. Its main character is a carpenter, and in its pages we meet a female Methodist preacher.

From Quiz Great Literature Miscellany

Answer: Adam Bede

Though most known for "Middlemarch," George Eliot provides a penetrating psychological portrait of her varied characters in "Adam Bede."

7. Jane Austen did NOT write:

From Quiz Who Didn't Write It?

Answer: Agnes Grey

Austen did not write "Agnes Grey", which comes from the pen of Anne Bronte, sister to Charlotte and Emily Bronte. Of the three Bronte sisters, Anne's writing most nearly resembles Austen's. It is less Gothic than that of her sisters. Austen's "Northanger Abbey" is actually a parody on the kinds of Gothic novels Charlotte and Emily would later write.

8. Which Bronte wrote 'Agnes Grey'?

From Quiz Mixed Literature

Answer: Anne

'Wuthering Heights' was Emily Bronte's only novel. Charlotte Bronte wrote 'The Professor', 'Villette', 'Shirley' and 'Jane Eyre'. There is no Jane Bronte.

9. One of the earliest prose works in English is the anonymous work 'Ancrene Riwle', the title of which can be translated to modern English as 'Rule for _____'. What does 'Ancrene' mean?

From Quiz Early English Prose

Answer: Anchoresses

Anchoresses were religious recluses who lived in enclosures attached to a church. For example Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe (see question 3). Like most early prose 'Ancrene Riwle' is a religious work.

10. 'So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns.'

From Quiz English Literature Before 1800

Answer: Beowulf

The present translation is by the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1995.

11. What is the name of the river that Lazarillo is born in?

From Quiz Lazarillo De Tormes

Answer: Tormes

12. In Homer's 'The Odyssey', what is the name of Odysseus' son?

From Quiz Mostly European Literature

Answer: Telemachus

Telemachus was the firstborn of Odysseus and Penelope. He proved himself an intelligent, strong and brave young man by the end of the epic, and worthy of being his father's son.

13. Who is the author of the Gothic novel, 'Dracula'?

From Quiz Authors of the Classics

Answer: Bram Stoker

14. Time: 'Too slow for those who wait Too swift for those who fear Too long for those who grieve Too short for those who rejoice But for those who love Time is not' (Low they be but the sea shall not claim them)

From Quiz Mixed Literature Rather Tough But ?

Answer: Henry Van Dyke

The dykes of the Netherlands.

15. 'All for one, one for all' is the motto of which fictional heroes?

From Quiz Literature, generally

Answer: The Three Musketeers

Porthos, Athos and Aramis, were the three musketeers in the books by Alexandre Dumas.

16. Leo Tolstoy's sprawling epic "War and Peace" (1869) tells about the effects of war on Russia. Which war is the focus of the novel?

From Quiz Bigger Than Ben-Hur

Answer: The Napoleonic Wars

Covering the years 1805-1812, Napoleon's invasion of Russia is a major focus of the book. I actually read the entire book once, but found it hard to keep track of the literally hundreds of fictional characters and historical figures that appear throughout the book. In the end, I compromised by picking one significant character and focusing on him for the last half of the book.

17. In the Middle English romance 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', when Gawain reached the Green Chapel, the lord of the castle greeted him warmly and introduced him to his lady and to the old woman who was sitting beside her. Who was the old woman?

From Quiz Mysterious Middle Age

Answer: Morgan le Faye

The old woman at the castle was Morgan le Faye. She was Gawain's aunt and King Arthur's half sister. She sent the Green Knight on his original errand and used her magic to change Bertilak's appearance. She wanted to test King Arthur and his Knights and, as such, framed the whole episode. 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' was a late 14th century verse romance.

18. D'Artagnan has a letter stolen which could have made him a musketeer. Promising revenge on the person who stole it, he sets out to become a musketeer and makes three friends along the way. Name this book.

From Quiz Classic Literature

Answer: "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas

"Revenge Is Mine" by Count Flanders is not real. The rest are real stories, but the correct answer is "The Three Musketeers". D'Artagnan sets out to become a musketeer when his letter is stolen by a man he calls "The Man of Meung". He meets three musketeers along the way: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, who become his friends. In the course of events, Cardinal Richelieu - their enemy - plots against them since they are helping the Queen and her friend, Madame Bonacieux.

19. "A wonderful warrior exists on earth. Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them. Enemies use him against one another. His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him." Who is this warrior?

From Quiz Riddles (Anglo-Saxon Style)

Answer: Fire

The "warrior" is fire. The fire is created when two sticks (i.e., "two dumb creatures") are rubbed together. Fire was often used to burn the towns and homes of enemies. However, it could be put out by anyone--even a woman! (University of Aberdeen, http://www.abdn.ac.uk/english/beowulf/riddle.htm)

20. This long poem presents the Romantic subject of piracy. This author died in Missolonghi fighting in the Greek Independence War. Which poem are we talking about?

From Quiz Great Romantic Books and Authors

Answer: The Corsair

"The Corsair" is considered the first book that talked about piracy as a Romantic dream. The author was George Gordon Byron, who died in Missolonghi fighting against Turkey for the independence of Greece.

21. What characteristics do the authors of "The Castle of Otranto", "The Monk", and "Vathek" have in common?

From Quiz Gothic Literature

Answer: They were all suspected of being homosexual.

All were suspected of being homosexual: Horace Walpole (author of "Castle of Otranto") never married; Matthew Lewis (author of "The Monk") had rumours about his preferences for most of his life; and William Beckford (author of "Vathek") was caught in bed with his male cousin.

22. In Sophocle's "Antigone," who, because of his pride, repents too late and must endure the deaths of those closest to him?

From Quiz Great Literature Miscellany

Answer: Creon

Creon must ultimately suffer for his own flaw, and in this sense he could be viewed as the tragic hero of the play. Antigone, on the other hand, triumphs even in death. Oedipus is a character appearing in two other plays by Sophocles.

23. Charles Dickens did NOT write:

From Quiz Who Didn't Write It?

Answer: The House of Seven Gables

The American Nathaniel Hawthorne was the author of "The House of Seven Gables". Interestingly, Dickens died while writing "Edwin Drood", so the mystery was never concluded, though we can deduce the murderer from the book as well as from the author's notes.

24. What is the first name of Miss Everdene in Thomas Hardy's 'Far from the Madding Crowd'?

From Quiz Mixed Literature

Answer: Bathsheba

Gabriel Oak, the main character in the story, fell in love with Bathsheba.

25. 'In a summer season when the sun was mild I clad myself in clothes as I'd become a sheep; In the habit of a hermit unholy of works, Walked wide in this world, watching for wonders.'

From Quiz English Literature Before 1800

Answer: 'The Vision of Piers Plowman' (by William Langland)

The translation is by E.T. Donaldson and is based on 'Piers Plowman: The B Version', edited by George Kane and E.T. Donaldson.

26. Who is the first person that Lazarillo goes to live with?

From Quiz Lazarillo De Tormes

Answer: a blind man

27. Madame de Lafayette's 'The Princesse of Cleves' is a tale of failed romance and court deception, and many of the characters in the novel die. Who is the first to pass on?

From Quiz Mostly European Literature

Answer: The princess' mother, Mme de Chartres

Mme de Chartres' dying words to her daughter foreshadowed the rest of the novel: she begged the princess not to fall in love with the duke. It would eventually be her downfall.

28. Who wrote 'Northanger Abbey'?

From Quiz Authors of the Classics

Answer: Jane Austen

This book was not actually published until 1818, after Austen's death.

29. 'Who with a little cannot be content, Endures an everlasting punishment'.

From Quiz Mixed Literature Rather Tough But ?

Answer: Robert Herrick

From 'Poverty and Riches'.

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