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Quiz about Famous People Rules To Live By

Famous People: Rules To Live By Quiz

This quiz takes a look at some famous people who "violated" some "rules to live by." (This may be tough, but it should be interesting.)

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
robert362

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
97,989

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
676

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. It has been said that "it is an unfortunate man who outlives his children." What famous author had the misfortune of outliving all (four) of his children? Hint

Leo Tolstoi

Miguel de Cervantes

Charles Dickens

Victor Hugo

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Question 2 of 10

2. It is common advice to "be moderate in libation." All of the following authors abused this dictum by immoderate consumption of alcohol, EXCEPT ...? Hint

Dylan Thomas

Nathaniel Hawthorne

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ernest Hemingway

3. It is good advice to "be careful in one's choice of friends." Arguably, Oscar Wilde ignored this rule: his friendship with Lord Alfred Douglas incurred the wrath of the Marquis of Queensberry. What was Douglas to the Marquis? Hint

Son

Nephew

Grandson

Brother

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Question 4 of 10

4. A song says that "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife." Which author ignored this advice - and suffered the consequences? Hint

Fyodor Dostoevski

Alexander Pushkin

Marcel Proust

Voltaire

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Question 5 of 10

5. In a different context, a writer is advised to "know your audience." Which author violated this rule - and endured an outcry against him as a result? Hint

Sinclair Lewis

Walter Scott

John Steinbeck

Thomas Hardy

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Question 6 of 10

6. It is often said that "history repeats itself." Which poet had this experience - when the suicide of his wife was later followed (some time later) by the suicide of his girlfriend? Hint

Ted Hughes

Dante

Algernon Charles Swinburne

William Butler Yeats

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Question 7 of 10

7. "Anatomy is Destiny" is a popular maxim. What poet may agree with this statement - due to the impact on his life that a birth defect had? Hint

William Wordsworth

Percy Shelley

Lord Byron

John Keats

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Question 8 of 10

8. It has been said that one "should not disturb a happy home." Arthur Rimbaud violated this rule by taking up with this married man and (in effect) replaced that man's wife. Hint

Andre Gide

Francois Villon

Paul Verlaine

Stephen Mallarme

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Question 9 of 10

9. Along the same theme of not disturbing the tranquility of one's home, all of the following experienced difficult relationships with their father (or surrogate father) EXCEPT ...? Hint

Herman Melville

Edgar Allan Poe

Franz Kafka

Charles Baudelaire

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Question 10 of 10

10. It is often said that "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime." What writer was "incarcerated" for a crime (but deemed "mentally unfit to stand trial")? Hint

John Greenleaf Whittier

Ezra Pound

Walt Whitman

A.E. Housman

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It has been said that "it is an unfortunate man who outlives his children." What famous author had the misfortune of outliving all (four) of his children?

Answer: Victor Hugo

One daughter drowned. Another daughter went mad and was institutionalized before her death. A son died as a result of poverty and hardship (surrounding political unrest). Another son also died before Hugo's death.

2. It is common advice to "be moderate in libation." All of the following authors abused this dictum by immoderate consumption of alcohol, EXCEPT ...?

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Thomas drank prodigiously - which led directly to his death at an early age. Fitzgerald also hastened his death with his drinking. Hemingway was known for his enjoyment of having a few (and perhaps a few more).

Answer: Son

"Bosie" (as he was called) was the son of the Marquis - who strongly disapproved of the relationship. One thing led to another, matters progressed to Court - and Wilde ended up in prison.

4. A song says that "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife." Which author ignored this advice - and suffered the consequences?

Answer: Alexander Pushkin

Pushkin's wife was apparently quite a knockout. This often invites trouble - it did for Pushkin. He died in a duel.

5. In a different context, a writer is advised to "know your audience." Which author violated this rule - and endured an outcry against him as a result?

Answer: Thomas Hardy

Hardy's novel, "Jude, the Obscure" caused more than a small outcry when it appeared. Hardyc ultimately "retreated" to poetry.

6. It is often said that "history repeats itself." Which poet had this experience - when the suicide of his wife was later followed (some time later) by the suicide of his girlfriend?

Answer: Ted Hughes

Hughes was married to fellow poet Sylvia Plath, who took her own
life. Later, Hughes girlfriend (and mother of his child) also committed suicide.

7. "Anatomy is Destiny" is a popular maxim. What poet may agree with this statement - due to the impact on his life that a birth defect had?

Answer: Lord Byron

Poor Byron was born with a clubfoot (that disturbed him for the entirety of his life).

8. It has been said that one "should not disturb a happy home." Arthur Rimbaud violated this rule by taking up with this married man and (in effect) replaced that man's wife.

Answer: Paul Verlaine

Rimbaud's involvement with fellow poet Paul Verlaine ultimately was a major factor in the break-up of Verlaine's marriage. The two then lived and traveled together.

9. Along the same theme of not disturbing the tranquility of one's home, all of the following experienced difficult relationships with their father (or surrogate father) EXCEPT ...?

Answer: Herman Melville

Kafka's "Letter to His Father" describes in detail the troubled relationship betwen the two. Poe's relationship with his adopted father, John Allan, was also turbulent. Baudelaire's natural father died; his relationship with his mother's new husband was not particularly good.

10. It is often said that "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime." What writer was "incarcerated" for a crime (but deemed "mentally unfit to stand trial")?

Answer: Ezra Pound

"Treason," they said. Must have been tough.

Source: Author robert362

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