Scone of Contention Quiz | Thematic Fun

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1. In Scone Palace, the Scottish kings were crowned as they sat on the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone. Legends have grown up around the stone that stretch back to biblical times. One night a young Hebrew did dream Of a ladder where angels did stream. The stone under his head Went to Scone it is said, Or so the old Scot legends deem. What was the name of the Jewish Patriarch who used a stone as his pillow as he dreamt of angels ascending and descending a ladder?

Answer: Jacob

Chapter 29 of Genesis describes how Jacob, fleeing his angry brother Esau, stopped for the night. Jacob placed a stone under his head as a pillow; and while sleeping, he dreamt of angels ascending and descending a ladder. The next day Jacob set the stone up as a pillar and named the stone "the house of God". According to legend, it is this very stone that became the "Stone of Scone." Jacob was later given the name Israel. According to legend, the stone did not remain where Jacob established it as a pillar. Rather, it became a kind of heirloom, passing to Jacob's son Joseph who took it to Egypt.

When Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt and back to Canaan, legend says that the stone returned with him. However, during the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah is held to have taken the stone to Egypt.

2. According to one legend, the Stone of Destiny, also called the Stone of Scone, traveled from the Holy Land to a certain intermediate destination before later being taken to Scone, Scotland. We find out on further inquiry From those with a temper quite fiery That the story was garbled For the stone it was marble And is still safely resting in Eire What is the modern name of this place called "Eire" where some say that the Stone of Destiny still rests, having never been taken to Scone, Scotland?

Answer: Ireland

According to one legend, the Stone that had been a pillow for the Patriarch Jacob was taken to Ireland where Saint Patrick himself used it in the crowning of kings. The Dalriada Scots brought what came to be identified as the Stone of Scone from Ireland and held it to be the Stone of Destiny brought from the Holy Land.

Some point out that the Stone of Scone is sandstone, whereas some descriptions of the Stone of Destiny in Ireland indicate that it was marble. While in Ireland, the stone was also referred to as the Lia Fail and was said to emit a roar when the rightful king sat upon it.

3. History records that in 1296, a conquering British king took the Stone of Scone, on which centuries of Scottish kings sat at their coronation, and placed it under the Coronation Chair on which British monarchs have sat since that time for their coronations. But some deny that the stone that resided for 700 years under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey is the Stone of Scone. When the Scone stone went under the throne, All the Scots, they pretended to moan. Now when each new crowned rump Sits o'er stolen rock lump, It sits over a Scot privy stone. Which English king removed what he believed to be the Stone of Scone from Scone Palace in 1296?

Answer: Edward I

There are those who believe that the Scots fooled Edward I into taking the stone that had sat atop the Scone Castle Privy instead of the true Stone of Scone. The true stone, some say, was placed in the keeping of the Knights Templar. In 1328, Edward III agreed to return the stone to Scotland, a promise that was not kept until 1996.

4. A famous British playwright wrote a play referring to the crowning of Scottish kings. The Bard mentioned Scone in a play That is often performed to this day. That the spot would not out Made the mad lady pout. Just what was her name, can you say?

Answer: Lady Macbeth

Although Shakespeare mentions Scone, he does not refer directly to the famous stone. In keeping with the mystery surrounding the Stone of Destiny, I should like to be the first to spread a rumor that the stone was mentioned in the original manuscript only to be expunged by Queen Elizabeth who was fearful of inflaming Scot nationalism.

This "true" manuscript has come into the possession of Trappist Family Monks who have secreted it away at their hidden monastery in (where else?) the Swiss Alps.

5. In 1950, a group of four dastardly criminals, that is to say four patriotic Scottish students, stole the stone from Scone that was under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey. The stone in the Abbey so long Was in '50 just found to be gone. The Brits got back a stone And put it under the throne. But some say that the new one is wrong. Which of the following assertions has/have been made regarding the Stone of Scone while the students had it in their possession?

Answer: All of these

One recounting of the events of 1950 holds that the stone was dropped and broken. The stone was repaired; but at the same time, two copies were made. It was one of the copies, some aver, that was returned to British authorities. Putting this tale together with the others that have been examined thus far we have, at the least, the following possibilities: The stone Jacob used as a pillow is still in the Holy Land.

The stone that was taken from the Holy Land and came to be called the Lia Fail is still in Ireland.

The stone from the Holy Land, taken to Ireland and referred to as the Lia Fail, ended up in Scotland in the Palace of Scone. The original Stone of Scone is held by the Knights Templar. The original Stone of Scone is at an unknown location having been kept from Edward I in 1296.

The original Stone of Scone remains in the hands of Scottish patriots who stole it in 1950. The Stone of Scone was under the coronation chair until returned to Scotland in 1996.

6. Finally, in 1996, a promise to return the Scone of Stone to Scotland that Edward III made in 1328 was fulfilled. Was it just a political ploy? Was the rock real or just a cheap toy? Did the stone Brits sent back Have a serious lack? Or did Scots have a reason for joy? Who was the prime minister responsible for returning the Stone of Scone to Scotland?

Answer: John Major

Although the stone was returned to Scotland, it resides in Edinburgh Castle rather than in the Palace at Scone. Because Edinburgh Castle serves as a military headquarters for the British Army, some contend that the stone remains in "foreign" hands. An agreement was made to allow the stone to be returned to its position under the Coronation Chair for future royal investitures. Ian Hamilton was one of the students who stole the stone in 1950.

7. A modern British author has incorporated a Scone of Stone in his fiction. The dwarves underground do bemoan The loss of their scone made of stone. To find out how it was took You must read Terry's book And in it, you'll surely be shown. Which Terry Pratchett Discworld novel prominently featured a stone scone?

Answer: The Fifth Elephant

In "The Fifth Elephant", the dwarves' Scone of Stone is stolen and copied. It serves as a throne for the dwarf king. Lest you repeat my mistake and find yourself thinking that Mr. Pratchett borrowed a bit from legend and history, let me provide a copy of the disclaimer found in the Harper-Collins paperback edition of "The Fifth Elephant", to wit: "This is a work if fiction (yes "if"). Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental." Now, my theory regarding this apparent typographical error with "if" is that the original Fifth Elephant manuscript...

8. As if there wasn't already enough confusion regarding stones from Scone, there are significant inconsistencies and controversies surrounding the edible variety (of scones, not stones). For instance, are the scones that we eat named after the place of the stone? "That scone came from beautiful bread," Is something that I have heard said. "But no, no!" says the Scot "That is treasonous rot. Get that idea right out of your head" Which of the following is not claimed with respect to scones (the edible variety).

Answer: All are claimed

"Schoonbroot" is a Middle Dutch word that could be translated "beautiful bread". If apparently referred to a white bread. Bannocks are a kind of griddle cake that some believe were the precursor of the modern Scots/English scone which more closely resembles the American biscuit. The more patriotic and literal explanation is that scones were named after Scone.

9. A Brit and a Yank each did make Two differing batters to bake. The scone so baronial Was a biscuit colonial. And they each said the other's was fake. According to the American Automobile Association Magazine "Via", which of the following is the most accurate description of the scones that Utah roadside diners serve?

Answer: A luscious, flaky fritter

There are at least three varieties of scone. The traditional "Commonwealth scone" would be appropriate for a proper "Devonshire tea". The generic "American scone" is a cookie-muffin cross. However, the "Utah scone" is a deep fried bread batter. (The so-called "griddle scone" is a mere sub-variety of Commonwealth scone and should not be considered a fourth variety, according to "Wikipedia".) Scones unfortunate enough to have been adulterated with such things as cheese, bacon or onions may be termed "savory scones".

10. We're unsure of both the culinary and etymological derivation of scones and do not, with certainty, know the location of the Stone of Scone. Should we expect consistency in the pronunciation of the word "scone"? An Aussie who now lives in Scone Would pronounce the word rhyming with stone. If his mate eats a scone, It will quickly be gone. Inconsistency is thusly shown. What did a 1998 survey report as the preferred pronunciation of "scone" in Britain?

Answer: Scone rhyming with "on" 65%, rhyming with "own" 35%

According to "Pronunciation Preferences in British England: A New Survey" by J. C. Wells, a survey done in 1998 indicated that the "on" pronunciation was preferred over "own" 65% to 35%. Wells found no regional differences except for a 99% preference for "on" in Scotland. According to Nannanut, the town of "Scone" in Australia is pronounced as rhyming with "own" whereas the edible scone rhymes with "on".

Considering Scone, stones and scones
Can bring quite a chill to the bones.
Saying which one is which
Makes the experts all twitch
And the truth may just never be known.

Source: Author uglybird

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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Scone of Contention Trivia Quiz

So you think that you know about scones...And the famous Scot destiny stone...Well, if you would move...That assertion to prove...Take this quiz, make your mastery known.

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