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Senior English Trivia Quiz

These questions are from pieces of literature commonly read during the senior year of high school. Dedicated to the memory of Diane Burnett, my senior English teacher.

A multiple-choice quiz by rubytuesday87. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
rubytuesday87

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
120,727

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
4781

Last 3 plays: Guest 217 (8/10), Guest 75 (10/10), Guest 207 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

1. Who murdered King Duncan of Scotland? Hint

Banquo

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

Macduff

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2. "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw inspired what movie musical? Hint

"Camelot"

"Hair"

"My Fair Lady"

"Rent"

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3. Which of the "Canterbury Tales" involves a knight trying to find out what women really want in a marriage? Hint

The Reeve's Tale

The Miller's Tale

The Wife of Bath's Tale

The Pardoner's Tale

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4. Who arrives in Hrothgar's realm to battle the monster Grendel? Hint

Beowulf

Odysseus

Gilgamesh

Hector

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5. This Thomas Hardy character shares a name with the patron saint of lost causes. Hint

The Return of the Native

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Jude the Obscure

The Mayor of Casterbridge

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6. "Sonnets from the _________" is regarded as Elizabeth Barrett Browning's best work. Hint

Italian

Spanish

Portuguese

French

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7. Kubla Khan lived here. Hint

Kathmandu

Xanadu

Beijing

Tibet

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8. King Duncan had two sons named ...? Hint

Malcolm and Fleance

Malcom and Angus

Malcolm and Donalbain

Malcolm and Dewey

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9. The line "But at my back I always hear time's winged chariot drawing near" is from John Donne's "The Flea".

True

False

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10. Which pilgrim's tale showed that greed is the root of all evil? Hint

The Pardoner's Tale

The Knight's Tale

The Miller's Tale

The Monk's Tale

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Most Recent Scores

Jul 23 2025 : Guest 217: 8/10
Jul 22 2025 : Guest 75: 10/10
Jul 18 2025 : Guest 207: 8/10
Jul 18 2025 : Guest 166: 8/10
Jul 12 2025 : Guest 73: 6/10
Jul 08 2025 : tiye: 8/10
Jul 08 2025 : Guest 99: 7/10
Jun 21 2025 : Guest 174: 10/10
Jun 13 2025 : Guest 172: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who murdered King Duncan of Scotland?

Answer: Macbeth

Lady Macbeth was going to do it, but the sleeping Duncan bore too close a resemblance to her father.

2. "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw inspired what movie musical?

Answer: "My Fair Lady"

Pygmalion and Galatea is the story of a man who creates the perfect woman, and thus a fitting title to this piece.

3. Which of the "Canterbury Tales" involves a knight trying to find out what women really want in a marriage?

Answer: The Wife of Bath's Tale

The Wife of Bath, who has been married five times herself, tells a tale about a knight who learns that all a woman wants is to be in charge of the marriage.

4. Who arrives in Hrothgar's realm to battle the monster Grendel?

Answer: Beowulf

Beowulf comes from the land of the Geats to kill Grendel, and he even ends up killing Grendel's mother, too.

5. This Thomas Hardy character shares a name with the patron saint of lost causes.

Answer: Jude the Obscure

When "Jude the Obscure" was published, it was often referred to as "Jude the Obscene" for its controversial subject matter. Among other things, Jude marries a woman because he got her pregnant, then takes off to live in sin with his cousin.

6. "Sonnets from the _________" is regarded as Elizabeth Barrett Browning's best work.

Answer: Portuguese

Her parents did not approve of her marriage. Robert Browning was several years her senior and as the youngest child she was expected to stay home and take care of her ailing father.

7. Kubla Khan lived here.

Answer: Xanadu

An interesting poem from Coleridge. For some reason, the imagery in this poem has always reminded me of "Hotel California".

8. King Duncan had two sons named ...?

Answer: Malcolm and Donalbain

Malcolm and Donalbain left Scotland for England and Ireland after their father's murder. After Macbeth is defeated, Malcolm is crowned king. Malcolm and Angus Young are in AC/DC, and Malcolm and Dewey are characters on "Malcolm in the Middle".

9. The line "But at my back I always hear time's winged chariot drawing near" is from John Donne's "The Flea".

Answer: false

It is from Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress", which is a young man's attempt at seducing his young lady. He's got pretty good game.

10. Which pilgrim's tale showed that greed is the root of all evil?

Answer: The Pardoner's Tale

Ironically, this tale about the dangers of greed was told by someone who sold indulgences. In the tale, three robbers double cross each other to get more gold, but Death ends up taking them all.

Source: Author rubytuesday87

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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