Famous Authors Quiz: Name the Classic Writers
Quick, free authors quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.
This famous authors quiz helps you match classic novels and plays to the writers behind them. Test your recall with quick questions and instant answers, then explore more with a classic literature quiz, try a broader famous literature quiz, or sharpen names and dates with focused author trivia.
Study Outcomes
- Identify Famous Classic Authors -
Recognize the names of legendary writers featured in the quiz and associate them with their most iconic works.
- Match Authors to Works -
Match each author to the correct novel, play, or poem to reinforce your knowledge of classic literature.
- Recall Literary Context -
Recall key historical and cultural contexts that shaped each author's writing career and major publications.
- Analyze Authorial Styles -
Distinguish between different writing styles and thematic focuses of classic authors across genres and eras.
- Enhance Literary Trivia Skills -
Build confidence in your famous author trivia by testing your memory and learning new facts about literary legends.
- Assess Personal Knowledge -
Evaluate your understanding of classic literature and identify areas for further reading or study.
Cheat Sheet
- Chronological Context of Major Authors -
Understanding the timeline of famous classic authors helps you place each writer in their historical era. For instance, Oxford University Press timelines show Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) preceded Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870), situating Austen in the Romantic period and Dickens in the Victorian. This historical map strengthens your ability to identify famous classic authors by era.
- Key Works and Signature Themes -
Memorize each author's hallmark work alongside its central theme, such as Shakespeare's "Hamlet" for existential dilemmas or Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" for Gothic innovation. A British Library mnemonic - "FRAG" (Frankenstein, Romeo & Juliet, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations) - links titles to themes. This approach boosts recall when you encounter famous author trivia in a classic literature quiz.
- Authorial Styles and Language Features -
Study distinctive stylistic elements like Dickens' long, descriptive sentences versus Austen's concise, ironic dialogue. Cambridge University research highlights Dickens' use of serial commas and Austen's free indirect style. Recognizing these signature language features helps you match an excerpt to its creator in literature authors quizzes.
- Poetry Movements and Their Poets -
Group poets by literary movement - Romantic (Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley) versus Metaphysical (Donne, Marvell) - using University of Cambridge frameworks. Employ the mnemonic "WKS-MD" to recall Romantic and Metaphysical pairs. Associating poets with their movements sharpens your performance on classic literature quizzes.
- Cross-Cultural Perspectives -
Expand beyond English classics to include Victor Hugo, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Leo Tolstoy, as recommended by Harvard's literature syllabus. Use flashcards to categorize French and Russian authors, highlighting national contexts and genres. This broader scope prepares you for more challenging identify famous authors questions.