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Quiz about Wholl Come a Waltzing Matilda With Me
Quiz about Wholl Come a Waltzing Matilda With Me

Who'll Come a Waltzing Matilda With Me? Quiz


'Waltzing Matilda' is Australia's unofficial National Anthem. Few Australians would not be familiar with the words, but does everyone know what the meanings are?

A multiple-choice quiz by Calpurnia09. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
Calpurnia09
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
322,388
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
877
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Jennifer5 (8/10), Guest 98 (7/10), rupert774 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. What is the name of the Australian poet who wrote the words for "Waltzing Matilda"?

Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The first line mentions a swagman. What is a swag? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. He "camped by a billabong under the shade of a coolibah tree". Do you know what a billabong is? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. While the swagman is sitting waiting for his billy to boil to make tea, a 'jumbuck' comes to drink from the billabong. Do you know what this Australian word means? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The swagman grabs the jumbuck and stows him in his tuckerbag. What do you think he plans to do with the jumbuck? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. His good luck rapidly changes to bad as a squatter rides up 'mounted on his thoroughbred'. Of course, I'm going to ask you what a squatter is. (Don't forget this is the language of 19th century Australia.) Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Not only the squatter appeared but he was accompanied by three troopers, the policeman of the time. What did they say they wanted? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What does the swagman do? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What is different about the way that the last two lines of the last verse are sung? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Now that you have been through the song do you think that the title is about dancing with a girl named Matilda?



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Most Recent Scores
Today : Jennifer5: 8/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 98: 7/10
Mar 10 2024 : rupert774: 8/10
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 220: 9/10
Feb 24 2024 : Guest 119: 9/10
Feb 14 2024 : Guest 1: 8/10
Feb 14 2024 : sabbaticalfire: 10/10
Feb 05 2024 : Guest 59: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is the name of the Australian poet who wrote the words for "Waltzing Matilda"?

Answer: A B 'Banjo' Paterson

In January, 1895, "Waltzing Matilda" was created in the sitting room at Dagworth Station, Queensland. Christina McPherson, the daughter of the owners, used to play a zither and 'Banjo' Patterson, a young solicitor and poet, made up the lyrics to go with a Scottish tune that she used to play.
2. The first line mentions a swagman. What is a swag?

Answer: A bundle of belongings

A swagman was an itinerant labourer who walked the countryside looking for work. He carried his belongings in his pack or swag and often wore a hat with corks hanging around the brim to keep off flies. The swagman was most common in the depressions of the 1890s and 1930s.
3. He "camped by a billabong under the shade of a coolibah tree". Do you know what a billabong is?

Answer: A waterhole

A billabong is formed when a curved portion of a river is cut off when the main river changes its course, or when the water level is low and the curve is temporarily isolated leaving a stagnant waterhole.
4. While the swagman is sitting waiting for his billy to boil to make tea, a 'jumbuck' comes to drink from the billabong. Do you know what this Australian word means?

Answer: Sheep

Until the mining boom of the early 1970s, there was an expression "Australia rides on the sheep's back." Sheep were a vital component in Australia's economy both for their wool products and their meat. It is not surprising that a sheep appeared.
5. The swagman grabs the jumbuck and stows him in his tuckerbag. What do you think he plans to do with the jumbuck?

Answer: Eat it

As he puts it in his tucker bag I think it is safe to say he means to eat it. It would be a rare treat to have such a large amount of fresh meat. He doesn't kill it now as he can't eat it all so he is probably planning to keep it alive until he meets up with other swaggies or a trader and he will be able to barter some of the meat for tea, sugar, flour or tobacco, the standard supplies that he needs.
6. His good luck rapidly changes to bad as a squatter rides up 'mounted on his thoroughbred'. Of course, I'm going to ask you what a squatter is. (Don't forget this is the language of 19th century Australia.)

Answer: A landowner

A squatter was a person who illegally occupied tracts of Crown land, sometimes vast areas, and used it to pasture sheep or cattle. They also cleared the land and sold the wood. Later it was fenced and homesteads built. These squatters could become quite wealthy and powerful in their own areas and most were eventually granted title to the land they had seized.
7. Not only the squatter appeared but he was accompanied by three troopers, the policeman of the time. What did they say they wanted?

Answer: The jumbuck

The rhetorical question that they asked was "Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?" Although they only mention the sheep the swagman knows that if he gives the sheep back it will not solve the difficult situation that he is in.
8. What does the swagman do?

Answer: He jumps into the billabong

The swagman jumps into the billabong shouting "You'll never take me alive!" The penalty for sheep stealing was very severe and could lead to his being hanged. Even if he just received a long gaol sentence, it was no life for a man who lived on the open road. In prison the conditions were harsh and punishments cruel at that time.
9. What is different about the way that the last two lines of the last verse are sung?

Answer: They are slow and mournful

The last line "And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong, Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me" is sung slowly and sadly, but then quickly reverts to the lively tempo of the rest of the song as the chorus is sung to finish the song.
10. Now that you have been through the song do you think that the title is about dancing with a girl named Matilda?

Answer: No

The word 'Matilda', in this instance, is another name for his bedroll. One opinion is that when the swaggies gathered in groups, and some played tunes on combs, spoons or harmonicas the others would dance with their bedroll in place of a woman. Others say that the 'waltzing' just refers to the swagman's constant travelling on foot from one place to another.
Source: Author Calpurnia09

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