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Famous French Novels Trivia Quiz

If you're a bit familiar with French prose, you will probably enjoy this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by queenofsheba. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
queenofsheba

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
239,419

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1433

Last 3 plays: Guest 193 (7/10), Guest 216 (9/10), Guest 157 (7/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Which kind of texts does the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos exclusively contain? Hint

poems

diary fragments

letters

dialogues

NEXT>

2. Marquis de Sade wrote a parody on "Pamela or Virtue Rewarded" by Samuel Richardson. Which name is in the title? Hint

Sylvie

C�cile

Justine

Sabine

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3. In "Le Rouge et le Noir" by Stendhal, Julien Sorel hides a secret portrait in his bed. Who's on it? Hint

Napoleon Bonaparte

Mathilde, a rich Parisian daughter

the mayor's wife

the pope

NEXT>

4. Honor� de Balzac wrote a cycle of novels called "La Com�die Humaine" (The Human Comedy). How many parts does it contain? Hint

about 100

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5. Emile Zola wrote "Th�r�se Raquin". How does her lover kill her first husband? Hint

with a gun

with a knife

by drowning him in the Seine

with rat poison

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6. Fran�oise Sagan wrote "Bonjour Tristesse" (Hello Sadness). What sadness does the title refer to? It has something to do with C�cile, the main character. Hint

She becomes indirectly responsible for a suicide.

She marries the wrong man.

She doesn't pass her exams.

She gets pregnant at a very young age.

NEXT>

7. During which war does C�line's "Voyage au Bout de la Nuit" take place? Hint

Napoleon's War

World War One

the French-German War

World War Two

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8. Which woman wrote "M�moires d'Hadrien"? Hint

Marguerite Duras

Marguerite Yourcenar

Fran�oise Sagan

Nathalie Sarraute

NEXT>

9. What's the title of Jean-Paul Sartre's diary novel? Hint

L'�tre et le N�ant

La Peste

Huis Clos

La Naus�e

NEXT>

10. Which other philosopher does Voltaire attack in his novel "Candide"? Hint

Rousseau

Descartes

Leibniz

Spinoza

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which kind of texts does the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos exclusively contain?

Answer: letters

It's an epistolary novel, which was very popular in the 18th century.

2. Marquis de Sade wrote a parody on "Pamela or Virtue Rewarded" by Samuel Richardson. Which name is in the title?

Answer: Justine

The title is: "Justine ou Les Malheurs de la vertu", meaning: "Justine or the Unhappiness of Virtue".

3. In "Le Rouge et le Noir" by Stendhal, Julien Sorel hides a secret portrait in his bed. Who's on it?

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

He was a republican, but had to keep that secret in order not to lose his job. The novel takes place in 1830, during the French Restoration.

4. Honor� de Balzac wrote a cycle of novels called "La Com�die Humaine" (The Human Comedy). How many parts does it contain?

Answer: about 100

There are different figures given, since this is not an official publication, but a description of the way in which he wrote around 100 novels and short story collections using intertwined characters and events. There are also a number of essays and incomplete fragments that some include in their total number.

5. Emile Zola wrote "Th�r�se Raquin". How does her lover kill her first husband?

Answer: by drowning him in the Seine

Afterwards, the murderer has to identify the corpse.

6. Fran�oise Sagan wrote "Bonjour Tristesse" (Hello Sadness). What sadness does the title refer to? It has something to do with C�cile, the main character.

Answer: She becomes indirectly responsible for a suicide.

She drives Anne apart from her father, because she doesn't want him to marry her. She regrets it when it is too late. Anne commits suicide in her car.

7. During which war does C�line's "Voyage au Bout de la Nuit" take place?

Answer: World War One

The main character is a volunteer in World War One.

8. Which woman wrote "M�moires d'Hadrien"?

Answer: Marguerite Yourcenar

It's a historic novel about the Roman emperor.

9. What's the title of Jean-Paul Sartre's diary novel?

Answer: La Naus�e

"L'�tre et le N�ant" is a philosophical dissertation. "Huis Clos" is a play. "La Peste" is a novel by Albert Camus. "La Naus�e" means nausea or disgust.

10. Which other philosopher does Voltaire attack in his novel "Candide"?

Answer: Leibniz

Leibniz wrote that this world is the best of all possible worlds. Voltaire wrote: If this is the best of all possible worlds, then what do the others look like??

Source: Author queenofsheba

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Most Recent Scores

Today : Guest 193: 7/10
May 23 2023 : Guest 216: 9/10
May 23 2023 : Guest 157: 7/10
May 10 2023 : Guest 136: 3/10
May 10 2023 : mungojerry: 10/10
Apr 24 2023 : Cinderella62: 6/10
Apr 24 2023 : Guest 216: 6/10

Score Distribution