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Quiz about Enid Blyton
Quiz about Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton Trivia Quiz


Let's explore the life and writings of Enid Blyton, one of the most prolific children's authors in history.
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author May02

A multiple-choice quiz by AdamM7. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
AdamM7
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
87,147
Updated
Nov 03 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
127
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (2/10), Guest 92 (8/10), Guest 2 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. In what decade was Enid Blyton born? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Enid Blyton learned what instrument from her father before he left the family? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Before becoming a published children's author, Enid Blyton worked with children in what capacity? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What was the title of Enid Blyton's first children's poetry book? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What was the name of the magazine that Enid Blyton began editing in 1926? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Enid Blyton's speed of writing led to accusations that she was employing ghostwriters. For instance, in a letter she described writing what 60,000-word book over the course of five days? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What clubs, inspired by Enid Blyton's books, helped raised money for medical care for young children? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of these describes a form of reception that Enid Blyton's books received at the height of her career? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Enid Blyton's writing is a product of its time. For instance, her "Noddy" books include what children's toy, popular at the time, that caricature black bodies in an unflattering way? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Over a career of 45 years, Enid Blyton wrote (approximately) how many books? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 172: 2/10
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 92: 8/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 2: 5/10
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 124: 5/10
Feb 12 2024 : Guest 92: 6/10
Feb 04 2024 : Guest 120: 6/10
Feb 02 2024 : dee1304: 5/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In what decade was Enid Blyton born?

Answer: 1890s

Enid Blyton was born in South London on 11 August 1897. In the first year of her life she suffered from whooping cough, a serious disease to infants that still kills tens of thousands, despite being preventable with vaccines.

Enid had two younger brothers. The family moved around London and to Kent. Enid's father, a salesman, left the family when she became a teenager. She had a strained relationship with her mother, too.
2. Enid Blyton learned what instrument from her father before he left the family?

Answer: Piano

As a child, Enid was made to practice the piano for hours at a time, and her father believed that she could find a career in music. Enid's aunt was a professional musician, but Enid decided to pursue writing instead. She entered a poetry competition while at school, where she came to the attention of the educator Arthur Mee.
3. Before becoming a published children's author, Enid Blyton worked with children in what capacity?

Answer: Teacher

Enid trained as a teacher in 1916 with the National Froebel Foundation. She worked at a boys' school in Kent and as a private tutor in Surrey. She would describe the latter as one of the happiest periods of her life. During her five years of teaching, Enid began to get short stories and poems for adults published, but she decided that as she loved working with children she would begin to write children's stories.
4. What was the title of Enid Blyton's first children's poetry book?

Answer: Child Whispers

"Child Whispers", a collection of 28 poems, was published in 1922. In the preface she describes her experience of what children enjoy - humor from "the child's point of view", not that of an adult; and "clear and whimsical" imagination. She struggled to find such poetry and so wrote it herself for the children she taught. During this year she also decided to start writing for "Teacher's World".
5. What was the name of the magazine that Enid Blyton began editing in 1926?

Answer: Sunny Stories

"Sunny Stories" told myths and legends to an audience of child readers. She also began the column "From My Window" in "Teachers' World". In 1937, the former was renamed to "Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories". It continued until 1952.
6. Enid Blyton's speed of writing led to accusations that she was employing ghostwriters. For instance, in a letter she described writing what 60,000-word book over the course of five days?

Answer: The River of Adventure

Published in 1955, "The River of Adventure" was the eighth and final book in the "Adventure" series, which followed four children and their pet parrot. Another installment in the series is called "The Sea of Adventure".

Enid worked typical nine-to-five hours writing from her own home. She did not research or write outlines for her novels, which have recurring themes, character types, and plots. However, there is no evidence of ghostwriting. One librarian who accused her of such was made to apologize in court.

Alongside her writing, Enid Blyton performed much of the housework and childcare needed by her family. She responded to fan letters without a secretary, turned up to public appearances that she did not enjoy, and negotiated contracts for merchandise like jigsaw puzzles.
7. What clubs, inspired by Enid Blyton's books, helped raised money for medical care for young children?

Answer: Famous Five Clubs

Fans wrote to Enid, who gave permission for the fan clubs if they raised money for Shaftesbury Society Babies' Home. The first club was established in 1950. Its membership peaked at around 500,000. Enid would sometimes meet fans on the street wearing Famous Five club badges.

She was persuaded to extend the series by more than triple her original plan of 6 books: 21 books were published as well as Famous Five-themed annuals.
8. Which of these describes a form of reception that Enid Blyton's books received at the height of her career?

Answer: Banned in school libraries

BBC Radio avoided adapting her stories during the peak of her career and many schools and libraries prohibited her books. Enid Blyton's stories are typically limited in vocabulary, repetitive, morally uncomplicated, and show children from wealthy, English families with few worries.

As such, they have received much negative critical reception. Nonetheless, they are enormous bestsellers, widely translated and remain particularly popular in China.
9. Enid Blyton's writing is a product of its time. For instance, her "Noddy" books include what children's toy, popular at the time, that caricature black bodies in an unflattering way?

Answer: Golliwog

The golliwogs of "Noddy" are cruel to the blonde white children. One group of them leave Noddy naked in the woods after stealing his car.

In Enid's writing, characters like thieves are often cast as foreigners. Black servants are morally or intellectually inferior to the other adult characters. In one book from 1937, "The Little Black Doll", a doll with an "ugly black face" is saved by "magic rain" that washes his face white. The child characters tell each other that girls are not as good as boys and prevent each other from doing things because of their gender. Even within the time period and setting, Enid Blyton's books are limited in perspective and diversity of characters.
10. Over a career of 45 years, Enid Blyton wrote (approximately) how many books?

Answer: 750

Blyton's series include "The Faraway Tree" (1939-51), "Malory Towers" (1946-51), "Noddy" (1949-63), "St. Clare's" (1941-45), "The Adventure Series" (1944-50), "The Famous Five" (1942-63), "Five Find-Outers" (1943-61), and "The Secret Seven" (1949-63). Many different publishers have put her books out, including George Newnes, Hodder & Stoughton, Brockhampton Press and Egmont Books. A small number of her books were edited and published after her death.

Her books were not highly acclaimed among professional critics, but in public surveys she has ranked highly as one of the best British authors and a blue plaque has been placed to commemorate her childhood home.
Source: Author AdamM7

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