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Quiz about Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz
Quiz about Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz

Oscar Wilde Biographical Quiz


This quiz concentrates on the life of Oscar Wilde. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Flapjack44. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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  9. Oscar Wilde

Author
Flapjack44
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
60,787
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
8 / 15
Plays
1247
Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (11/15), Guest 117 (4/15), Guest 157 (3/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. What was Oscar Wilde's full birth name? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Who referred to Oscar Wilde as the 'Young Pagan'? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. While at Oxford, which Professor of Fine Art did Wilde desire to meet, to whom Wilde later wrote: 'The dearest memories of my Oxford days are my walks and talks with you...'? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. At which Oxford college did Wilde enrol? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. In what year did Wilde sail to the U.S. for a lecture tour? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Whom did Wilde marry in 1884? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Who did he meet in 1891, whose relationship with Wilde was later to be described as a 'fatal friendship'? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Which of Wilde's plays was banned in Britain? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. What was 'Mr Whistler's 10 o'clock'? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Which three famous writers did Wilde describe in the following terms: '...'s style was far too cumbrous, and ...'s too exaggerated.'... has influenced only journalism.'? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. What event prompted a newspaper of the day to write: 'The aesthetic cult, in the nasty form, is over' and was described in another as 'a dash of wholesome bigotry'? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. What was the sentence handed down to Wilde after the Court case? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. To what had Wilde changed his name by the time of his death? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Wilde's last words were reputedly: 'This _________ is terrible - one of us will have to go!' What word falls properly into the blank?

Answer: (One word)
Question 15 of 15
15. Who was the chief mourner at Wilde's funeral? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 92: 11/15
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 117: 4/15
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 157: 3/15
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 115: 4/15
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 91: 0/15
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 39: 9/15
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 223: 7/15
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 89: 7/15
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 151: 8/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was Oscar Wilde's full birth name?

Answer: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

He dropped the Fingal, O'Flahertie and Wills to become simply Oscar Wilde, and was quoted as saying at Oxford, 'Soon I shall discard another and be known simply as 'The Wilde' or 'The Oscar'.'
2. Who referred to Oscar Wilde as the 'Young Pagan'?

Answer: His mother

Wilde's mother, Jane Francisca Speranza Wilde was, like her son, a celebrated wit.
3. While at Oxford, which Professor of Fine Art did Wilde desire to meet, to whom Wilde later wrote: 'The dearest memories of my Oxford days are my walks and talks with you...'?

Answer: John Ruskin

Ruskin's aesthetic beliefs and dislike of city grime rubbed off on Wilde, who once commented 'I would give Manchester back to the shepherds and Leeds to the stockfarmers'.
4. At which Oxford college did Wilde enrol?

Answer: Magdalen

Other famous alumni from Magdalen College are the author C.S. Lewis, Sir Peter Medawar whose pioneering work in tissue transplants led to him winning a Nobel Prize for medicine, and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, David Souter.
5. In what year did Wilde sail to the U.S. for a lecture tour?

Answer: 1881

Wilde sailed in December 1881 for the 1882 tour. He was concerned that he did not have a talent for public speaking and was quoted as saying prior to the tour, 'I want a natural style, with a touch of affectation.'.
6. Whom did Wilde marry in 1884?

Answer: Constance Lloyd

They had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan.
7. Who did he meet in 1891, whose relationship with Wilde was later to be described as a 'fatal friendship'?

Answer: Lord Alfred Douglas

The relationship between them was passionate but stormy. Despite the troubles though, it lasted for many years.
8. Which of Wilde's plays was banned in Britain?

Answer: Salome

The play was refused a licence on the grounds that it depicted biblical characters on stage.
9. What was 'Mr Whistler's 10 o'clock'?

Answer: A lecture given in 1885 by Mr Whistler

The painter Whistler met Wilde many times, although the acquaintance was prickly. The lecture in question made a number of cutting criticisms about aestheticism and was largely held to be aimed at Wilde although his name was never expressly mentioned.
10. Which three famous writers did Wilde describe in the following terms: '...'s style was far too cumbrous, and ...'s too exaggerated.'... has influenced only journalism.'?

Answer: George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens

The criticisms were made in 1888 and 1889.
11. What event prompted a newspaper of the day to write: 'The aesthetic cult, in the nasty form, is over' and was described in another as 'a dash of wholesome bigotry'?

Answer: Wilde was found guilty of homosexual practices

The quotes were from 'The News of The World' and the 'St James's Gazette' respectively. The trial arose through Wilde's abortive libel action against (the now) Lord Queensberry.
12. What was the sentence handed down to Wilde after the Court case?

Answer: Two years with hard labour

Lord Queensberry, Charles Hawtrey and Charles Brookfield were reputed to have had a celebratory dinner that evening.
13. To what had Wilde changed his name by the time of his death?

Answer: Sebastian Melmoth

14. Wilde's last words were reputedly: 'This _________ is terrible - one of us will have to go!' What word falls properly into the blank?

Answer: wallpaper

15. Who was the chief mourner at Wilde's funeral?

Answer: Lord Alfred Douglas

Although Charles Lucas also attended.
Source: Author Flapjack44

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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