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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Literature Trivia Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Books and Poetry

Quick, free quiz with fresh literature questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Henry GomezUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art open book pages quill pen letters floating on coral background for literature trivia challenge

This literature trivia quiz helps you test what you know about classic novels, poems, and devices. Answer quick questions, see your score at once, and discover new favorites along the way. For more, try our easy literature quiz, dive into classic literature trivia, or switch it up with book trivia.

Who wrote the novel "Pride and Prejudice"?
Mary Shelley
Charlotte Brontë
Jane Austen
Emily Brontë
Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813 and is one of Jane Austen's most famous works. It explores social class, marriage, and morality through the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Austen's witty narrative style and keen observations of Regency-era society have cemented her place in the literary canon.
Which Shakespeare play features the three witches commonly known as the Weird Sisters?
Macbeth
Othello
King Lear
Hamlet
The three witches, or Weird Sisters, appear in Macbeth and prophesize Macbeth's rise to power and eventual downfall. Their eerie chants and supernatural presence set the dark tone of the play. Shakespeare's use of these figures underscores themes of fate and ambition.
In literature, what is a metaphor?
A figure of speech using repetition of consonant sounds
A narrative technique that breaks the fourth wall
A direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as"
A character that embodies an abstract concept
A metaphor directly compares two different things by stating one is the other, without using "like" or "as." This device adds depth and vivid imagery, as in "Time is a thief." Unlike similes, metaphors assert equivalence rather than similarity.
Which poet wrote "Ozymandias"?
John Keats
Lord Byron
William Wordsworth
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelley published "Ozymandias" in 1818, reflecting on the impermanence of power through the ruined statue of an ancient king. The poem's sonnet form and vivid imagery are hallmarks of Romantic poetry. Shelley's meditation on time and decay remains widely studied.
Who is the author of the dystopian novel "1984"?
Ray Bradbury
Aldous Huxley
Philip K. Dick
George Orwell
George Orwell published "1984" in 1949 as a cautionary tale about totalitarianism and surveillance. The novel introduced terms like "Big Brother" and "doublethink" into popular discourse. Its themes remain influential in discussions of privacy and state power.
Iambic pentameter is a type of:
Alliteration pattern
Stanza length in a haiku
Poetic meter consisting of five iambic feet per line
Rhyme scheme of ABAB
Iambic pentameter features five iambs - each an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one - per line. It's the most common meter in English dramatic and narrative verse, famously used by Shakespeare. This structure creates a rhythm close to natural speech.
How many lines are in a traditional Shakespearean sonnet?
14
10
16
12
A Shakespearean sonnet consists of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. It typically follows the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This form allows for the development of an argument or theme and a concluding twist.
The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" is primarily set in which fictional town?
Maycomb
St. Petersburg
Yoknapatawpha
Salem
Harper Lee's novel takes place in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s. The setting underscores themes of racial injustice and social hierarchy in the American South. Maycomb's slow pace and close-knit community shape the narrator Scout's experiences.
Which novel begins with the line "Call me Ishmael"?
The Great Gatsby
War and Peace
The Catcher in the Rye
Moby-Dick
Herman Melville's Moby-Dick opens with the famous line "Call me Ishmael," establishing the narrator's identity. The novel was first published in 1851 and explores themes of obsession and revenge. Ishmael's voice guides readers through the whaling voyage against the white whale.
What is alliteration?
The attribution of human traits to nonhuman things
The occurrence of rhyming words at line ends
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words
A long speech by one character
Alliteration is the repeated initial consonant sound in a series of words, as in "she sells seashells." It enhances rhythm, mood, and musicality in poetry and prose. This device has roots in early oral traditions and is common in tongue twisters.
Who is the protagonist of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment"?
Pierre Bezukhov
Ivan Karamazov
Rodion Raskolnikov
Alyosha Karamazov
Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the conflicted former student who commits murder and grapples with guilt. Dostoevsky uses Raskolnikov's psychological turmoil to explore morality and redemption. The novel was published in 1866 and remains a cornerstone of Russian literature.
Which author wrote "Ulysses", a novel set largely in Dublin?
Virginia Woolf
James Joyce
Thomas Mann
Marcel Proust
James Joyce published Ulysses in 1922, chronicling a single day in Dublin through experimental techniques. The novel parallels Homer's Odyssey and uses stream-of-consciousness narration. Its groundbreaking style has influenced modernist literature.
In "The Great Gatsby," the green light at the end of Daisy's dock primarily symbolizes:
Wealth and social status
Gatsby's unattainable dreams
Tom Buchanan's power
Nick Carraway's conscience
The green light represents Jay Gatsby's hope and longing for Daisy Buchanan and the future he imagines with her. It stands across the water, just out of reach, mirroring his unfulfilled ambitions. The symbol underscores themes of the American Dream and idealism.
Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" ends with which reflection?
That roads lead everywhere
That taking the less traveled road "has made all the difference"
That he regrets his choice
That he will never return
The poem concludes with the narrator noting that choosing the less traveled path "has made all the difference." Frost's tone is often debated - some see irony, others earnest reflection. The closing lines emphasize choice and individualism.
What literary device involves an interruption in the chronological sequence of events?
Foreshadowing
Onomatopoeia
Irony
Flashback
A flashback inserts past events into the narrative to provide background or context. It disrupts linear time and reveals character motivations. Authors use flashbacks to enrich storytelling and deepen emotional impact.
What term describes a vivid description of a work of art within a literary text?
Anachronism
Ekphrasis
Allegory
Paradox
Ekphrasis is the literary depiction of a visual art object or scene, often detailed and dramatic. Famous examples include Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Writers use ekphrasis to explore themes and bridge visual and verbal arts.
The famous soliloquy beginning "To be, or not to be" appears in which Shakespeare play?
Macbeth
Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet
King Lear
Prince Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1 of Hamlet contemplates life, death, and suicide. It's one of Shakespeare's most quoted passages, reflecting existential angst. The speech deepens our understanding of Hamlet's introspection.
A villanelle is characterized by:
A 14-line sonnet
Unrhymed iambic pentameter
A 19-line poem with two refrains and two repeating rhymes
Four-line stanzas with alternate rhyme
The villanelle consists of five tercets followed by a concluding quatrain, totaling 19 lines. It uses two refrains and two repeating rhyme sounds. Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night" is a famous example.
Who wrote the existentialist play "Waiting for Godot"?
Albert Camus
Jean-Paul Sartre
Samuel Beckett
Arthur Miller
Samuel Beckett's 1953 play portrays two characters waiting for someone named Godot. It's a cornerstone of the Theatre of the Absurd, exploring themes of meaninglessness and hope. Beckett's sparse dialogue highlights existential questions.
Which novel is known for pioneering the stream-of-consciousness technique?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mrs Dalloway
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway uses interior monologues to depict characters' thoughts and perceptions in real time. Published in 1925, it exemplifies modernist narrative innovation. The technique immerses readers in a character's mental flow.
What is the literary device "chiasmus"?
A mild or indirect term substituted for one considered harsh
A rhetorical figure in which words are repeated in reverse order
An exaggeration for effect
A question asked for rhetorical effect
Chiasmus arranges parallel phrases in an ABBA structure, reversing elements for emphasis. An example is "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You." It adds balance and depth to prose and poetry.
Which concept refers to the shaping of a text's meaning by other texts?
Symbolism
Euphony
Semiotics
Intertextuality
Intertextuality describes how texts reference, echo, or transform other texts. Coined by Julia Kristeva, it highlights the network of literary influences. This concept is central to postmodern and literary theory.
In poetry, a sestet refers to:
A three-line stanza
A six-line stanza or poem
A nine-line stanza
A five-line stanza
A sestet is a six-line stanza form, often appearing as the second part of an Italian sonnet. It follows the octave and provides resolution or counterpoint to the first eight lines. Its structured form shapes thematic development.
What term describes a narrator who is not a character within the story world?
Homodiegetic narrator
Unreliable narrator
Heterodiegetic narrator
Omniscient narrator
A heterodiegetic narrator tells the story from outside the fictional world and is not a participant in the events. This perspective allows for broader knowledge of all characters and events. Gérard Genette's narratology distinguishes it from homodiegetic narration.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Apply literary devices -

    Use your knowledge of terms such as metaphor, simile, and alliteration to answer medium-level literature trivia questions.

  2. Recall classic authors and works -

    Retrieve key details about renowned writers and their famous texts to confidently tackle trivia literature questions.

  3. Interpret poetic themes -

    Analyze themes and imagery within poems to enhance your performance on lit trivia challenges.

  4. Navigate medium-level trivia -

    Employ strategic reasoning to approach and solve questions in this literature trivia quiz with greater accuracy.

  5. Evaluate reading comprehension -

    Assess your quiz results to identify strengths and areas for improvement in your literary knowledge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Literary Devices Mastery -

    Familiarize yourself with devices like metaphor, simile, alliteration, and personification using the Purdue OWL guide (owl.purdue.edu). Try the mnemonic "MAPP" (Metaphor, Alliteration, Personification, Pun) to recall core definitions swiftly. Spotting these in texts sharpens your edge on literature trivia quiz questions.

  2. Narrative Perspective & Point of View -

    Review first-person, third-person limited, and omniscient viewpoints with examples from the MLA handbook or the University of North Carolina Writing Center. Remember "I see" for first-person and "He knows it all" to differentiate omniscient POV. Recognizing POV quickly boosts your speed on lit trivia.

  3. Sonnet Structures & Rhyme Schemes -

    Study the Shakespearean (ABAB CDCDEFEF GG) versus Petrarchan (ABBA ABBA CDECDE) sonnet patterns via the Folger Shakespeare Library. Use the rhyme scheme chant "ABAB CDCD EFEF GG" to lock in the Shakespearean form. Knowing these schemes earns points on poetry-focused trivia literature questions.

  4. Major Literary Periods Timeline -

    Map key eras - Renaissance, Neoclassical, Romantic, Victorian - using a Britannica timeline (britannica.com). Employ the phrase "Rabbits Never Run Very Fast" (Renaissance, Neoclassical, Romantic, Victorian, Fiction) to memorize sequence. A clear timeline helps you place works and authors quickly.

  5. Iconic Opening Lines & Flashcards -

    Compile famous openings like "Call me Ishmael" (Melville) and "It was the best of times" (Dickens) using flashcards inspired by JSTOR memory studies. Quiz yourself daily in random order to strengthen recall under quiz conditions. Recognizing these lines instantly can be a trivia lifesaver.

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