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Know your Russian literature Trivia Quiz

Just about everyone can name at least a few Russian writers. Some of the greatest works of fiction have been written by Russian authors. I will give you the English title of a Russian classic. You will choose the writer from four possibilities.

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

Author
shreds

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
278,660

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1225

Last 3 plays: Guest 212 (9/10), Guest 122 (0/10), Guest 185 (5/10).

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. Our first novel is the verse novel "Eugene Onegin". Who wrote this novel? Hint

Nikolai Karamzin

Alexander Pushkin

Nikolai Gogol

Anatoly Rybakov

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2. Our next novel consists of several interconnected stories: "A Hero of our Time". Which author wrote this book? Hint

Mikhail Lermontov

Lev Tolstoy

Yevgeny Garshin

Anna Achmatova

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3. Published in more recent times: "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich". Who was the author of this book? Hint

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Osip Mandelstam

Ilya Ilf

Yuri Trifonov

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4. Who wrote the famous "Anna Karenina"? Hint

Ivan Goncharov

Mikhail Zoshchenko

Lyev Tolstoy

Ivan Turgenev

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5. A long title of a funny book: Can you tell me who wrote "The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin"? Hint

Sergey Dovlatov

Boris Pilnyak

Vladimir Voynovich

Konstantin Paustovsky

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6. Which novelist brought us "The Brothers Karamazov"? Hint

Fyodor Sologub

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Alexander Kuprin

Andrey Beliy

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7. Which playwright wrote "The Seagull"? Hint

Anton Chekhov

Nikolai Chernyshevsky

Boris Akunin

Bulat Okudzhava

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8. Published in 1862, "Fathers and Sons" is the best known work of this author. Who is he? Hint

Dina Rubina

Ivan Turgenev

Lev Kassil

Sasha Sokolov

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9. Frequently called one of the greatest novels of the 20th century: "The Master and Margarita". To what wordsmith do we owe this book? Hint

Daniil Andreyev

Mikhail Bulgakov

Maria Rybakova

Afanasiy Fet

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10. And last but not least: the mighty "Doctor Zhivago". Can you tell me who wrote this book? Hint

Georgiy Vladimov

Vsevolod Ivanov

Boris Pasternak

Yevgenia Ginzburg

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Our first novel is the verse novel "Eugene Onegin". Who wrote this novel?

Answer: Alexander Pushkin

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) is considered to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature.

2. Our next novel consists of several interconnected stories: "A Hero of our Time". Which author wrote this book?

Answer: Mikhail Lermontov

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (1814-1841) combined five novellas to form this magnificent novel. The longest of these - 'Princess Mary' - is an absolute masterpiece.

3. Published in more recent times: "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich". Who was the author of this book?

Answer: Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Born in 1918, Solzhenitsyn was awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize in Literature. He was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1974. He returned to Russia twenty years later.

4. Who wrote the famous "Anna Karenina"?

Answer: Lyev Tolstoy

Count Lyev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) is also the author of yet another Russian classic, "War and Peace". English speakers often refer to him as Leo Tolstoy.

5. A long title of a funny book: Can you tell me who wrote "The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin"?

Answer: Vladimir Voynovich

Vladimir Voynovich (born in 1932) is famous for his satiric fiction. This novel is set in the Red Army during World War II, making fun of the totalitarian Soviet regime.

6. Which novelist brought us "The Brothers Karamazov"?

Answer: Fyodor Dostoevsky

He is also the writer of the impressive "Crime and Punishment".

7. Which playwright wrote "The Seagull"?

Answer: Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a writer of short stories and plays, but he practiced as a doctor throughout most of his writing career.

8. Published in 1862, "Fathers and Sons" is the best known work of this author. Who is he?

Answer: Ivan Turgenev

Turgenev (1818-1883) has also written short stories and plays. The Russian title literally means "Fathers and Children". Impressive book!

9. Frequently called one of the greatest novels of the 20th century: "The Master and Margarita". To what wordsmith do we owe this book?

Answer: Mikhail Bulgakov

Mikhail Bulgakov (1891-1940) was a novelist and playwright. He had to rewrite the novel, after he burned the draft manuscript. Strange but excellent novel!

10. And last but not least: the mighty "Doctor Zhivago". Can you tell me who wrote this book?

Answer: Boris Pasternak

Boris Pasternak (1890-1960) was a Nobel Prize winning poet and writer. This novel established him as a successful writer. In Russia however, he remains best known for his poetry.

Source: Author shreds

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Most Recent Scores

May 09 2023 : Guest 212: 9/10
Apr 21 2023 : Guest 122: 0/10
Apr 03 2023 : Guest 185: 5/10
Apr 02 2023 : Guest 24: 8/10

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