A Red Clockwork Orange Trivia Quiz

Answer: nadsat

One of the more fascinating elements of Burgess's work is the development and usage of an artificial language or argot which Alex uses throughout the book. Most of the words are adaptations of words from Russian. However, it does include slang words from other sources.

The photo depicts how the word, "nadsat" would be written in cursive Cyrillic. Also included are the words for "friend," "good" and "head."

Answer: He's a pyanitsa or drunkie.

Alex sees an unfortunate man in an alley. Alex says, "One veshch I could never stand was that. I could never stand to see a moodge all filthy and rolling and burping and drunk..." Alex and his friends proceed to beat and taunt the man. The man declares, "Go on, do me in, you bastard cowards, I don't want to live, anyway, not in a stinking world like this one."

Answer: A Clockwork Orange

Alex picks up the manuscript. He says, "Then I looked at its top sheet, and there was the name - A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - and I said: that's a fair gloopy title. Who ever heard of a clockwork orange?" Then, Alex and his pals proceed to beat the author of the book and his wife with frightening violence.

Answer: Korova Milk Bar

It is at the Korova Milk Bar that Alex and his friends like to hang out after an evening of sordid activities. Here, we learn about Alex's appreciation for music. Dim upsets Alex by being rude to a singer that Alex happens to admire. "Then I leaned across Georgie, who was between me and horrible Dim, and fisted Dim skorry on the rot." Dim is shocked and utters, "What for did you do that for?" Alex dutifully replies, "For being a bastard with no manners and not the dook of an idea how to comport yourself publicwise, O my brother."

Answer: He has a headache.

Alex's mom encourages Alex to get up and go to school. Alex replies, "A bit of pain in my gulliver. Leave us be and I'll try to sleep it off and then I'll be right as dodgers for this after." Many of the words that Alex uses throughout may be derived from context. In this instance, the word "gulliver" comes from the Russian word for head, "golova."

Answer: P.R. Deltoid

P.R. Deltoid arrives at Alex's home. He tells Alex, "Ah, Alex boy. I met your mother, yes. She said something about a pain somewhere. Hence, not at school, yes." Mr. Deltoid is well aware of Alex's evening activities. He warns Alex. "It's not going to be the corrective school any more. Next time it's going to be the barry place and all my work ruined. If you have no consideration for your horrible self you at least might have some for me, who have sweated over you."

Answer: Police

The term "millicent" is one of the words invented by Burgess and employed by Alex as a name for the police. Alex defiantly tells them, "I won't say one single solitary slovo unless I have my lawyer here. I know the law..." The police reply, "Righty right, boys, we'll start off by showing him that we know the law, too, but that knowing the law isn't everything."

Answer: Staja - Number 84F

Alex laments, "I take it up now, and this the real weepy and like tragic part of the story beginning, my brothers and only friends, in Staja (State Jail, that is) Number 84F." Alex is sentenced to fourteen years in prison and assigned prison number 6655321. "What's it going to be then, eh?"

Even though the photo is indeed, Alcatraz, Alex is dispatched to Staja.

Answer: Beethoven

The radical behavior modification treatment involves watching films along with taking certain pharmaceuticals. As Alex is being subjected to this treatment, his favorite composer's music is played in the background. Alex reflects, "Then I noticed, in all my pain and sickness, what music it was that like crackled and boomed on the sound-track, and it was Ludwig van, the last movement of the Fifth Symphony, and I creeched like bezoomny at that."

The accompanying photo is a handwritten page of Beethoven's Ninth symphony, fourth movement.

Answer: Bully

Alex describes Bully as follows, "Bully being called Bully because of his bolshy big neck and very gromky goloss which was just like some bolshy great bull bellowing auuuuuuuuh."

"That's what it's going to be like then, brothers, as I come to the like end of this tale. You have been everywhere with your little droog Alex... And all it was was that I was young. But now as I end this story, brothers, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like groweth up, oh yes."