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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Nursery Rhyme Trivia: Can You Name Them All?

Ready for a quiz on nursery rhymes? Ace our fun nursery rhyme quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a nursery rhyme trivia quiz on a teal background.

This nursery rhyme trivia quiz helps you recall classic lines, characters, and titles from the rhymes you grew up with. Play at your own pace to see what you remember and spot a few gaps; if you're stuck, check the answer guide after you finish.

Which nursery rhyme features a cow jumping over the moon?
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Humpty Dumpty
Hey Diddle Diddle
In 'Hey Diddle Diddle', the famous line 'the cow jumped over the moon' appears in the rhyme, making it instantly recognizable. .
How many bags of wool are mentioned in 'Baa Baa Black Sheep'?
Two bags full
One bag full
Four bags full
Three bags full
The rhyme repeats: 'Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.' .
What did Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch?
A pail of water
Some fresh milk
A loaf of bread
A basket of eggs
The opening line of the rhyme states: 'Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.' .
Where did Humpty Dumpty sit before his great fall?
On a stump
On a fence
On a log
On a wall
The rhyme begins 'Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,' which is why most illustrations show him perched there. .
What was Little Miss Muffet eating when she was frightened by a spider?
Jam and honey
Curds and whey
Bread and butter
Cheese and crackers
The rhyme explicitly states 'eating her curds and whey' before the spider fright. .
Which character had a little lamb that followed her to school?
Mary
Sophie
Emily
Lucy
In 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' Mary's lamb famously follows her to school one day. .
Which animal is not mentioned in 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm'?
Cow
Pig
Horse
Duck
The rhyme lists many farm animals like cows, ducks, pigs, but it never mentions a horse. .
At what time did the mouse run up the clock in 'Hickory Dickory Dock'?
Two
Four
One
Three
The rhyme continues 'the clock struck one, the mouse ran down,' making 'one' the correct hour. .
In 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider', where did the spider climb up?
Window ledge
Tree trunk
Water spout
Garden wall
Lyrics go 'the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout,' identifying the spout. .
In 'Sing a Song of Sixpence', what happened when the pie was opened?
The king started to cry
The pies began to fly
The children started to dance
The birds began to sing
The verse reads 'when the pie was opened, the birds began to sing,' referring to blackbirds in the pie. .
How many men did the Grand Old Duke of York march to the top of the hill?
Ten thousand
Twenty thousand
Fifteen thousand
Five thousand
The rhyme begins 'Oh, the grand old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men.' .
In 'Little Bo Peep', what has Bo-Peep lost?
Her sheep
Her sheepdog
Her straw hat
Her basket
The opening line is 'Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep,' making that the answer. .
What activity is described in 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush'?
Climbing a tree
Dancing in a circle
Sailing a boat
Chasing a squirrel
This rhyme is traditionally a ring game where participants dance around in a circle. .
What did Georgie Porgie do when the girls came out to play?
He shared his toys with them
He danced with them happily
He kissed them and made them cry
He sang a sweet song
The rhyme goes 'Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry.' .
'Ring a Ring o' Roses' is commonly thought to refer to which historical event?
The Industrial Revolution
The War of the Roses
The Great Plague
The American Revolution
Many people believe this nursery rhyme alludes to the Great Plague of London, although scholars debate this origin. .
In which nursery rhyme do we hear 'all the king's horses and all the king's men'?
Little Miss Muffet
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Humpty Dumpty
Jack and Jill
The concluding lines of 'Humpty Dumpty' mention those exact words, describing the failed rescue. .
Who is credited as the author of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'?
A. A. Milne
Jane Taylor
Beatrix Potter
Lewis Carroll
The poem was written by English poet Jane Taylor and first published in 1806. .
What dish is described as hot, cold, and in the pot in a nursery rhyme?
Pumpkin pie
Berry jam
Pease porridge
Apple sauce
The rhyme goes 'Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot nine days old.' .
What does Mary have in 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary'?
A garden of roses
Little birds that sing
Gold rings and diamond wings
Silver bells and cockle shells
The rhyme asks 'How does your garden grow?' and replies 'With silver bells, cockle shells...' .
Which nursery rhyme features the line 'pop goes the weasel'?
Ride a Cock-Horse
Oranges and Lemons
London Bridge
Pop Goes the Weasel
That exact phrase is the title and key lyric of the song 'Pop Goes the Weasel.' .
In 'Sing a Song of Sixpence', how many blackbirds were baked in a pie?
Sixteen
Thirty-two
Twelve
Twenty-four
The rhyme specifically says 'Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,' which is twenty-four. .
Who played the fiddle in 'Hey Diddle Diddle'?
The cat
The cow
The dish
The dog
The rhyme mentions 'the cat and the fiddle,' signifying the cat plays the fiddle. .
Which publisher first printed 'Mother Goose's Melody' in English in 1765?
Randolph Caldecott
Charles Perrault
Beatrix Potter
John Newbery
John Newbery published the first English edition of 'Mother Goose's Melody' around 1765, helping popularize nursery rhymes. .
Who compiled the 1609 collection 'Deuteromelia', which included 'Three Blind Mice'?
Samuel Pepys
William Blake
Thomas Ravenscroft
Edward Lear
Thomas Ravenscroft compiled 'Deuteromelia or The Second part of Musicks Melodie' in 1609, which contained early nursery rhymes like 'Three Blind Mice.' .
In what year was 'Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book', one of the earliest known nursery rhyme collections, published?
1810
1789
1725
1744
'Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book' was released in London in 1744, marking one of the first printed nursery rhyme collections. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Classic Verses -

    By taking the nursery rhyme trivia quiz, readers will accurately remember and recite beloved nursery rhyme verses.

  2. Identify Missing Lyrics -

    Participants will practice filling in blank lines, strengthening their ability to retrieve lyrics from memory.

  3. Discover Historical Trivia -

    Quiz takers will learn interesting facts and origins behind popular nursery rhymes, enriching their contextual knowledge.

  4. Apply Memory Strategies -

    Users can adopt effective techniques demonstrated in the quiz to improve recall during and after the challenge.

  5. Enhance Recitation Confidence -

    Instant feedback empowers participants to recognize strengths and address gaps in their nursery rhyme knowledge.

  6. Share Quiz Insights -

    Readers will be encouraged to share results and fun trivia with friends or family, fostering an engaging learning atmosphere.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Origins & Roud Index Classification -

    Tracing nursery rhymes like Mother Goose back to the 17th century helps you ace nursery rhyme trivia by understanding historical context. According to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library's Roud Folk Song Index, over 200 traditional verses are catalogued, offering a solid basis for any quiz on nursery rhymes. Memorizing classification numbers (e.g., Roud #128 for "Jack and Jill") can be a fun mnemonic trick.

  2. Common Themes & Moral Lessons -

    Nineteenth-century collections from institutions like Harvard's Folklore & Mythology department show that many nursery rhymes taught cautionary tales or social norms. Recognizing themes of morality or humor in your nursery rhymes quiz reveals hidden meanings - "Ring Around the Rosie" may reference the plague, for instance. This insight enriches a quiz about nursery rhymes and deepens appreciation.

  3. Rhyme Schemes & Linguistic Patterns -

    Linguists at Oxford University note that AABB and ABAB patterns dominate classic rhymes, making lines easier to memorize during a nursery rhymes quiz with answers. Spotting internal rhymes like "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall" accelerates recall under timed quiz conditions. You can even jot a quick meter chart (e.g., "x / x / x /") to map syllable stresses.

  4. Mnemonic Devices & Memory Aids -

    Cognitive studies from the University of Waterloo highlight how alliteration and rhythm act as natural memory anchors for nursery rhyme trivia. Create a simple acronym using initial letters - e.g., "BBS" for "Baa Baa Black Sheep" - to trigger recall when facing a nursery rhyme quiz. Repeating each rhyme three times aloud solidifies long-term retention.

  5. Cultural Variations & Global Adaptations -

    The British Library's digital archives reveal versions of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in over 20 languages, illustrating global reach. Familiarity with these adaptations can give you an edge on any quiz about nursery rhymes and broaden your cultural literacy. Spotting subtle lyric changes also boosts performance in advanced nursery rhyme trivia rounds.

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