Literary Trivia
Literary Trivia highlights authors, books, series lore, and literary milestones. Includes trivia questions from books and authors such as Rebecca, The Shadow of the Wind, The Midnight Library, Wolf Hall, A Man Called Ove, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
Literary Trivia Trivia Feature
Book Club Warm-Up
34 questions
Easy literary prompts that are friendly for mixed groups and casual readers.
Question 1
Before Rebecca haunted readers, which writer in Daphne du Maurier's family wrote Trilby?
Answer: George du Maurier, Daphne's grandfather, wrote the novel Trilby.
Daphne du Maurier's grandfather George du Maurier wrote Trilby.
Question 2
Before vanishing, Julián Carax had done what as a writer?
- A.He had written several novels.
- B.Published only poems
- C.Completed a single unfinished manuscript
- D.Worked only as a newspaper columnist
Answer: He had written several novels.
Julián Carax is established is the author of several novels before his disappearance.
Question 3
The novel's speculative mechanism is mainly used to explore what sort of possibilities?
Answer: Everyday unrealized possibilities.
The speculative device examines everyday unrealized possibilities.
Question 4
Which prize did Wolf Hall win in 2010?
- A.Booker Prize
- B.Costa Novel Award
- C.Goldsmiths Prize
- D.Walter Scott Prize
Answer: Walter Scott Prize
Wolf Hall won the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction in 2010, reflecting its strong reputation is a historical novel about Cromwell and Henry VIII's court.
Question 5
Who composed the music for the 2015 film adaptation?
- A.Hannes Holm
- B.Fredrik Backman
- C.Gaute Storaas
- D.Rolf Lassgård
Answer: Gaute Storaas
Gaute Storaas composed the score for the 2015 film adaptation of A Man Called Ove. The other choices are the film’s star, director, and novel’s author.
Question 6
Who is the writer of the narrative account that becomes the novel we read?
Answer: Dr. Sheppard.
Dr. Sheppard writes the account that becomes the novel's text.
Question 7
Before Cloud Cuckoo Land appeared, which major literary prize had Anthony Doerr already won?
Answer: The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Doerr had already won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction before publishing Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Question 8
Which novel comes second in the Sherlock Holmes series?
- A.A Study in Scarlet
- B.The Gloria Scott
- C.The Engineer's Thumb
- D.The Sign of Four
Answer: The Sign of Four
The second Holmes novel is "The Sign of Four.".
Question 9
Who wrote The House in the Cerulean Sea?
Answer: TJ Klune wrote The House in the Cerulean Sea.
The novel’s author is TJ Klune.
Question 10
Is The Priory of the Orange Tree a standalone book or the first part of a trilogy?
- A.The first book in a trilogy
- B.The second book in a series
- C.A short-story collection
- D.It is a standalone book
Answer: It is a standalone book
The novel is a standalone book rather than the first volume of a trilogy.
Question 11
The Witcher started out as a what before expanding into a larger series?
- A.A stage play
- B.A short story
- C.A television script
- D.A comic strip
Answer: A short story
The Witcher began is a short story before becoming a larger series.
Question 12
Who wrote The Hunger Games novel series?
- A.Stephenie Meyer
- B.Suzanne Collins
- C.Veronica Roth
Answer: Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins is the author of The Hunger Games novel series.
Question 13
What piece of writing from Rostov's younger days is quoted against him at the very start of the story?
Answer: A poem from his youth
The novel opens with a poem from Rostov's youth being cited against him.
Question 14
In the novel’s unsettling vocabulary, what are the operations donors undergo called?
- A.They are called donations.
- B.Procedures
- C.harvests
- D.sessions
Answer: They are called donations.
The series of operations are referred to is donations.
Question 15
Silvia Moreno-Garcia said she set out to write what kind of novel in Mexico?
Answer: A gothic novel set in Mexico.
The author has explicitly said she wanted to write a gothic novel set in Mexico.
Question 16
If someone said, 'I only have time for a novella, preferably with dusk involved,' which Cosmere work fits perfectly?
Answer: Sixth of the Dusk
Sixth of the Dusk is a Cosmere novella.
Question 17
Who is both the emperor's daughter and the writer behind many of Dune's epigraphs?
Answer: Princess Irulan
Princess Irulan is Emperor Shaddam IV's daughter and is credited with many epigraphs in the novel.
Question 18
Who wrote the Twilight novel series?
Answer: Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer is the author of the Twilight books.
Question 19
Who wrote The Remains of the Day?
Answer: Kazuo Ishiguro
The Remains of the Day is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Question 20
What was The Secret History in Donna Tartt's career: first novel, second novel, or third novel?
- A.Third novel
- B.Final novel
- C.First novel
- D.Second novel
Answer: First novel
The Secret History was Donna Tartt's first novel.
Question 21
Who wrote the novel Station Eleven?
Answer: Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven was written by Emily St. John Mandel.
Question 22
Which Wheel of Time novel marked Brandon Sanderson’s first completed volume in the series, published in 2009?
Answer: The Gathering Storm
Sanderson published The Gathering Storm in 2009 is the first Wheel of Time volume he completed.
Question 23
In what year was the first A Song of Ice and Fire novel published?
Answer: 1996
The first novel in the series was published in 1996.
Question 24
The final two films of the original series both draw from the same novel. Which one?
Answer: Mockingjay
Mockingjay was adapted across the last two original-series films.
Question 25
What is the novel’s opening line about Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday?
- A.When Mr
- B.One Ring to rule them all
- C.A Long-expected Party
- D.The Road Goes Ever On
Answer: When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday...
This is the famous opening line of The Lord of the Rings, set at Bag End when Bilbo announces his eleventy-first birthday. It is the novel’s first sentence, not the chapter title.
Question 26
When The Great Gatsby was published, Fitzgerald was living in which country?
- A.France
- B.England
- C.Italy
- D.Ireland
Answer: France
Fitzgerald was living in France when the novel was published.
Question 27
Which novel began the Cormoran Strike series?
- A.The Silkworm
- B.Career of Evil
- C.Lethal White
- D.The Cuckoo's Calling
Answer: The Cuckoo's Calling
The first Cormoran Strike novel is The Cuckoo's Calling.
Question 28
C. S. Lewis held what nationality?
Answer: British
C. S. Lewis was a British author.
Question 29
If someone asks for Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel titled One True Loves, who wrote it?
Answer: Taylor Jenkins Reid
One True Loves is one of Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels.
Question 30
What kind of novels are The Hunger Games books?
Answer: They are young adult dystopian fiction.
The Hunger Games novels are classified is young adult dystopian fiction.
Question 31
Which clever camper, daughter of Athena, becomes one of Percy's closest friends?
Answer: Annabeth Chase
Annabeth Chase is the daughter of Athena and one of Percy's most important friends in the series.
Question 32
What is the name of the fictional nation where the series takes place?
- A.Narnia
- B.Genovia
- C.Panem
- D.Westeros
Answer: Panem
The fictional nation in the series is called Panem.
Question 33
The first season of the Netflix series is based on which novel?
Answer: The Brass Verdict
Season one of the Netflix series is based on The Brass Verdict.
Question 34
Which Bond book was published first in 1953?
Answer: Casino Royale was the first Bond novel published in 1953.
The first Bond novel published was Casino Royale in 1953.
Authors and Worlds
33 questions
Questions spanning characters, settings, and well-known series continuity.
Question 1
When New Spring appeared as a standalone novel, what year was it?
- A.2002
- B.2003
- C.2005
- D.2004
Answer: 2004
New Spring was first published is a standalone novel in 2004.
Question 2
Before becoming a full-time writer, which subjects did Rick Riordan teach?
- A.math and science
- B.Latin and art
- C.geography and music
- D.English and history
Answer: English and history
Rick Riordan taught English and history before becoming a full-time writer.
Question 3
In what year did the Harry Potter book series begin publication in the United Kingdom?
- A.1998
- B.1999
- C.1997
- D.1995
Answer: 1997
The first Harry Potter novel was published in the UK in 1997.
Question 4
What's the best description of how the Game Changers books relate to one another for readers deciding where to start?
- A.They are connected but can be read as standalones.
- B.They must be read strictly in order
- C.They are unrelated except for cover style
- D.They alternate between two separate universes
Answer: They are connected but can be read as standalones.
Rachel Reid's Game Changers books are connected but can be read is standalones.
Question 5
Who is one of the two writers credited for the Broadway musical's book?
- A.Marshall Brickman
- B.Andrew Lippa
- C.Nat Perrin
Answer: Marshall Brickman
The book of the Broadway musical was written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice; Marshall Brickman is one correct answer.
Question 6
Which writer led the anime series screenplay during its early run?
Answer: Yasuko Kobayashi
Yasuko Kobayashi was the lead screenplay writer in the anime's early stretch.
Question 7
What recurring Ferengi rulebook on Deep Space Nine treats greed like it’s a sacred text?
Answer: The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition are the recurring element.
The recurring Ferengi guide in Deep Space Nine is the Rules of Acquisition.
Question 8
Jiraiya gets material for his novels through a recurring peeking gag tied to what?
Answer: His novels
Jiraiya gathers material for his novels by peeking at women, a running gag in the series.
Question 9
Who shares screenplay credit on all three films alongside the rest of the writing team: Fran Walsh or Alan Lee?
- A.Weta Workshop
- B.Fran Walsh.
- C.Alan Lee
- D.John Howe
Answer: Fran Walsh.
Fran Walsh shares screenplay credit on all three films.
Question 10
On Stranger Tides borrowed its name and some inspiration from a 1987 novel by which author?
Answer: Tim Powers
On Stranger Tides is loosely inspired by the 1987 novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers.
Question 11
Which writer crafted DC’s dream-soaked series The Sandman?
- A.Neil Gaiman
- B.Alan Moore
- C.Grant Morrison
- D.Alex Ross
Answer: Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman wrote The Sandman.
Question 12
Which Twilight Zone episode centers on a book-loving dissenter facing an authoritarian state?
- A.The Obsolete Man
- B.The Invaders
- C.To Serve Man
- D.Eye of the Beholder
Answer: The Obsolete Man
'The Obsolete Man' is one of the show's starkest dystopian stories, focused on a book-loving dissenter and an authoritarian state.
Question 13
Which comic book company publishes Batman stories?
Answer: DC Comics
Batman is a signature character in comic books published by DC Comics.
Question 14
Which writer created the Daleks, the universe's angriest pepper pots?
Answer: Terry Nation.
Terry Nation created the Daleks, who have spent decades proving that shouting is apparently a design feature.
Question 15
Which famous author wrote the original story adapted into The Muppet Christmas Carol?
Answer: Charles Dickens
The Muppet Christmas Carol adapts A Christmas Carol, the classic story by Charles Dickens.
Question 16
Lucia Graves, the translator associated with the English-language edition, is the daughter of which writer?
Answer: She is the daughter of Robert Graves.
Lucia Graves is identified is the daughter of poet and novelist Robert Graves.
Question 17
What gets upgraded from ordinary scheduling headache to sci-fi plot device in Sea of Tranquility?
Answer: An author tour itinerary.
The novel turns an author tour itinerary into part of its science-fiction plot.
Question 18
Which award did The Midnight Library win in 2020, adding a shiny trophy to its shelf life?
Answer: The Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction.
The novel won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction in 2020.
Question 19
This literary novel makes arguing about what sound oddly glamorous?
Answer: Game design.
It is a literary novel that can make arguing about game design sound oddly glamorous.
Question 20
Agatha Christie dedicated the novel to which family member by marriage?
Answer: She dedicated the novel to her brother-in-law, James Watts.
The dedication named Christie's brother-in-law James Watts.
Question 21
Cloud Cuckoo Land arrived after Anthony Doerr had become a Pulitzer winner for which earlier novel?
Answer: All the Light We Cannot See
The Pulitzer-winning novel referenced here is All the Light We Cannot See.
Question 22
In what year was The Lightning Thief published?
- A.2004
- B.2006
- C.2007
- D.2005
Answer: 2005
The first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief, was published in 2005.
Question 23
What is Holmes’s first full-length novel adventure?
- A.The Sign of the Four
- B.The Valley of Fear
- C.A Study in Scarlet
- D.The Hound of the Baskervilles
Answer: A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet is Doyle’s first Holmes novel and opens the detective’s partnership with Watson. It is the story that establishes 221B Baker Street.
Question 24
Which novel follows The Hunger Games in the trilogy?
- A.Mockingjay
- B.The Hunger Games
- C.Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- D.Catching Fire
Answer: Catching Fire
Catching Fire is the second novel, following the 74th Games and Katniss's early Capitol ordeal.
Question 25
Which place does A Gentleman in Moscow hold in Towles’s bibliography?
- A.first novel
- B.third novel
- C.debut novel
- D.second novel
Answer: second novel
A Gentleman in Moscow was published in 2016 and is Amor Towles’s second novel, following Rules of Civility.
Question 26
What genre is Never Let Me Go?
- A.Science fiction
- B.Fantasy
- C.Historical fiction
- D.Mystery
Answer: Science fiction
The book is a science fiction novel.
Question 27
The novel's atmosphere most directly draws on what classic kind of fiction?
Answer: Haunted-house fiction.
Its mood and setup draw on classic haunted-house fiction.
Question 28
Which Cosmere novella wins the unofficial award for 'longest title that sounds like a terrible camping destination'?
Answer: Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell is a Cosmere novella.
Question 29
How many main novels are in the Twilight book series?
- A.Four main novels
- B.Three
- C.Five
- D.Six
Answer: Four main novels
The Twilight book series has four main novels.
Question 30
Arthur Leander once appears in what superhero-flavored action movie franchise?
- A.Justice in Toronto
- B.The Last Avenger cycle
- C.the Death of Superman series
- D.The Dark Planet films
Answer: the Death of Superman series
Arthur had acted in the Death of Superman series.
Question 31
How many main-series A Song of Ice and Fire novels are currently published?
- A.Five novels
- B.Four novels
- C.Six novels
- D.Seven novels
Answer: Five novels
The currently published main series contains five novels.
Question 32
Which novel is the very first Hunger Games film directly based on?
- A.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- B.The Hunger Games
- C.Catching Fire
- D.Mockingjay
Answer: The Hunger Games
The first movie adapts the original novel, The Hunger Games.
Question 33
Which literary service award did Rowling receive in 2016?
Answer: PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award
She received the PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award in 2016.
Shelf Deep Cuts
33 questions
Harder literary questions for readers who know the details.
Question 1
Sea of Tranquility explicitly returns to the fictional universe of which earlier Emily St. John Mandel novel?
Answer: The Glass Hotel.
The novel explicitly revisits Mandel's fictional universe from The Glass Hotel.
Question 2
Which 2023 fiction prize longlisted the novel?
Answer: The Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction
The novel was longlisted for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.
Question 3
Which Tommy and Tuppence novel, published in 1973, closed out that duo's run?
Answer: Postern of Fate
Postern of Fate, published in 1973, was the final Tommy and Tuppence novel.
Question 4
Before his life spirals into obsession, who starts Andor as a deputy inspector for Pre-Mor Authority?
Answer: Syril Karn
Syril Karn begins the series in the role of deputy inspector for Pre-Mor Authority.
Question 5
In Bible order, which comes first: Samuel or Kings?
Answer: Samuel
The books of Samuel come before the books of Kings.
Question 6
Wolf Hall was shortlisted for which literary prize?
Answer: The Orange Prize for Fiction
The novel was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction.
Question 7
At the opening of the novel, how old is Linus Baker?
Answer: Linus Baker is 40 years old at the start of the novel.
Linus is 40 at the beginning of the story.
Question 8
According to the novel’s lore, from what place is the Nameless One said to have risen?
Answer: Dreadmount
The Nameless One is said to have risen from Dreadmount.
Question 9
Before it became internationally known as "The Witcher," what was the original Polish title of the very first short story?
Answer: Wiedźmin
The first Witcher short story was originally titled "Wiedźmin" in Polish.
Question 10
Frank Herbert’s groundwork for Dune drew on field research in what specific American landscape?
Answer: The Oregon sand dunes.
Herbert’s early research into the Oregon sand dunes helped inspire Dune.
Question 11
Who tells the story of The Secret History in the first person?
Answer: Richard Papen narrates the novel in the first person.
The novel is explicitly narrated by Richard Papen using a first-person perspective.
Question 12
What was the publication year of the final Harry Potter novel?
Answer: 2007
The last Harry Potter novel was published in 2007.
Question 13
How many novels make up the first Mistborn era?
Answer: three novels
The first Mistborn era is explicitly listed is consisting of three novels.
Question 14
What was the final published Poirot novel?
Answer: Curtain
Curtain was the final published Poirot novel.
Question 15
Name the publisher of Taylor Jenkins Reid's second novel, After I Do.?
Answer: Washington Square Press
Her second novel, After I Do, was published by Washington Square Press.
Question 16
Which writer co-wrote the screenplays for both Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2?
Answer: Danny Strong
Danny Strong co-wrote the screenplay for Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2.
Question 17
In the original five-book Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which title comes last?
Answer: The Last Olympian
The original five-book order ends with The Last Olympian after The Battle of the Labyrinth.
Question 18
What year marks the publication of the first Game Changers novel, setting the series timeline in motion?
- A.2018.
- B.2016
- C.2017
- D.2019
Answer: 2018.
The first Game Changers novel was published in 2018.
Question 19
In Fleming’s literary description, Bond bears a scar on which side of his face?
Answer: His right cheek
The literary Bond is described is having a scar on his right cheek.
Question 20
Which literary prize did Rebecca receive in 2000 when it was honored as Best Novel of the Century?
Answer: The Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century.
In 2000, Rebecca was recognized with the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century.
Question 21
Which novel follows The Shadow of the Wind in the cycle?
Answer: The Angel's Game follows it in the cycle.
The next book in the cycle is The Angel's Game.
Question 22
Olive's Marienbad functions in the book as what kind of element?
Answer: A nested fictional text.
Sea of Tranquility contains a nested fictional text in the form of Olive's novel Marienbad.
Question 23
What is the title of the very first Department Q novel?
Answer: Kvinden i buret
The series begins with Kvinden i buret.
Question 24
Who wrote the novel Rebecca?
Answer: Daphne du Maurier wrote Rebecca.
Rebecca is a novel by Daphne du Maurier.
Question 25
Who wrote the novel A Man Called Ove?
Answer: Fredrik Backman
A Man Called Ove is a novel by Swedish author Fredrik Backman.
Question 26
After Robert Jordan's death, who completed the final three main novels?
Answer: Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson completed the last three main novels in the series.
Question 27
Which major literary prize did The Remains of the Day win in 1989?
Answer: The Booker Prize
The novel won the Booker Prize in 1989.
Question 28
Who serves as the Ring-bearer for most of the novel?
Answer: Frodo Baggins is the Ring-bearer for most of the novel.
Frodo Baggins carries the Ring for most of the story.
Question 29
Who wrote The Great Gatsby?
Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Question 30
The Narnia books belong to what fantasy subgenre?
Answer: Portal fantasy
The books are portal fantasy novels.
Question 31
Which novel is the basis for season two of the Netflix series?
Answer: The Fifth Witness
The second season adapts The Fifth Witness.
Question 32
Which book comes second in the Department Q novel series?
- A.Den grænseløse
- B.Fasandræberne
- C.Flaskepost fra P
- D.Marco effekten
Answer: Fasandræberne
Fasandræberne is the second Department Q novel.
Question 33
Which writer shares screenplay credit across the entire trilogy: Philippa Boyens or the New Zealand Army?
- A.John Howe
- B.Philippa Boyens.
- C.The New Zealand Army
- D.Alan Lee
Answer: Philippa Boyens.
Philippa Boyens shares screenplay credit on all three films.
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