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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Take the Ultimate English Literature Quiz - Prove Your Knowledge!

Ready to ace this classic literature trivia? Dive in and challenge your Shakespeare and novel knowledge!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Layered paper art of open book quill poem sheet and Shakespeare mask on sky blue background for English literature quiz

This classic English literature quiz helps you practice novels, poetry, famous quotes, and Shakespeare in a quick, fun round. Play to spot gaps before class and learn a fun fact or two, then try more classics practice for a longer set or extra practice.

Who wrote "Pride and Prejudice"?
Emily Dickinson
Mary Shelley
Charlotte Bronte
Jane Austen
Jane Austen published "Pride and Prejudice" in 1813, establishing her as a leading novelist of the Regency era. The novel explores themes of marriage, social class, and morality through the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Austen's wit and keen observations of society have made this work a lasting classic.
Who wrote "Romeo and Juliet"?
John Donne
Ben Jonson
William Shakespeare
Christopher Marlowe
William Shakespeare is credited with writing "Romeo and Juliet" around 1595 - 1596. The tragedy tells the story of two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. This play is one of Shakespeare's most famous and frequently performed works.
What epic poem begins with "Sing, O muse, the anger of Achilles"?
The Iliad
The Aeneid
The Odyssey
Metamorphoses
The opening line "Sing, O muse, the anger of Achilles" comes from Homer's "The Iliad," which recounts events during the Trojan War. The poem focuses on the wrath of Achilles and its consequences for the Greeks. It is one of the foundational works of Western literature.
In which century did Geoffrey Chaucer write "The Canterbury Tales"?
15th century
12th century
14th century
16th century
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales" in the late 14th century, with work beginning around 1387. The collection of stories told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury provides vivid insights into medieval society. Chaucer is often called the 'Father of English literature' for his pioneering use of Middle English.
What is the name of the protagonist in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"?
Victor Frankenstein
Robert Walton
Henry Clerval
The Creature
Victor Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the Creature in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel. His ambition to conquer death and the natural order leads to tragic consequences. The novel explores themes of responsibility, hubris, and the nature of humanity.
Which novel features the character Heathcliff?
Jane Eyre
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Middlemarch
Wuthering Heights
Heathcliff is the brooding antihero of Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. His passionate and often cruel obsession with Catherine Earnshaw drives the novel's tragic plot. The novel is celebrated for its complexity and emotional intensity.
Who wrote the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?
Percy Shelley
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
William Wordsworth
John Keats
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a lengthy poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, first published in 1798 in "Lyrical Ballads." It tells the tale of a mariner who brings a curse upon himself and his ship after killing an albatross. The poem is noted for its supernatural elements and vivid imagery.
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, who kills Banquo?
Banquo's son
Macbeth
Ross
Macduff
Macbeth arranges the murder of Banquo in Act 3, Scene 3, fearing Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne. He hires murderers to ambush Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo is killed off-stage, and Fleance escapes, fulfilling part of the witches' prophecy.
"Call me Ishmael" is the opening line of which novel?
Billy Budd
Typee
The Old Man and the Sea
Moby-Dick
Herman Melville begins "Moby-Dick" with the immortal line "Call me Ishmael," establishing the narrator's identity and perspective. Published in 1851, the novel explores themes of obsession, revenge, and man's relationship to nature. Ishmael's narrative guides readers through Captain Ahab's quest for the white whale.
Which Brontë sister wrote "Jane Eyre"?
Emily Bronte
Anne Bronte
Charlotte Bronte
Elizabeth Bronte
Charlotte Brontë published "Jane Eyre" in 1847 under the pen name Currer Bell. The novel's strong, independent heroine and exploration of morality and social criticism made it an immediate success. It remains a landmark work in Victorian literature.
In "Great Expectations", what is the name of Pip's love interest?
Clara
Biddy
Estella
Miss Havisham
Estella is the adopted daughter of Miss Havisham and Pip's object of affection in Charles Dickens's novel "Great Expectations" (1861). She is raised to break men's hearts as part of Miss Havisham's revenge on the male sex. Pip's infatuation with Estella drives much of the story's plot.
Which epic poem by John Milton deals with the fall of Lucifer?
Paradise Lost
Areopagitica
Paradise Regained
Samson Agonistes
John Milton's "Paradise Lost," first published in 1667, portrays the rebellion of Lucifer and his expulsion from Heaven. The poem explores themes of free will, obedience, and redemption. Milton wrote it in unrhymed blank verse, influencing English epic poetry.
Who is the narrator of "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James?
Miles
Dr. Montague
Flora
The Governess
Henry James's novella "The Turn of the Screw" (1898) is narrated by the unnamed Governess hired to care for two children at a remote estate. Her first-person account builds suspense and ambiguity as she describes supernatural occurrences. The reliability of her narrative is a key point of literary debate.
In Shakespeare's King Lear, which daughter is the youngest?
Cordelia
Edgar
Regan
Goneril
Cordelia is the youngest daughter of King Lear in Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear," believed to have been written around 1605 - 1606. Her honesty and loyalty stand in contrast to her elder sisters Goneril and Regan. Lear's refusal to grant her a dowry for speaking the truth triggers the play's central conflict.
What is the name of the estate in Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility"?
Rosings Park
Norland Park
Barton Park
Mansfield Park
In "Sense and Sensibility" (1811), the Dashwood family initially resides at Norland Park before financial circumstances force their move. The estate represents the family's social status and security. Austen's portrayal of inheritance and property rights is central to the novel's themes.
In Hamlet, what is the name of the court jester whose skull is exhumed in the graveyard scene?
Osric
Polonius
Yorick
Rosencrantz
In Act 5, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the gravedigger unearths the skull of Yorick, the king's former jester, whom Hamlet knew in his youth. Hamlet reflects on mortality and the inevitability of death as he holds the skull. This moment is one of the play's most famous meditations on life and death.
What meter does Milton use in "Paradise Lost"?
Spenserian stanza
Dactylic hexameter
Unrhymed iambic pentameter
Heroic couplet
John Milton's "Paradise Lost" is written in blank verse, specifically unrhymed iambic pentameter. This choice freed him from the constraints of rhyme while maintaining a rhythmic structure suitable for epic poetry. Milton's use of blank verse influenced many later English poets.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Quotes -

    Identify and match famous lines from classic novels, poetry, and Shakespearean works.

  2. Analyze Literary Themes -

    Examine core themes and motifs across different periods of classic English literature.

  3. Identify Key Characters -

    Recognize and describe major characters from renowned novels, plays, and poems.

  4. Interpret Poetic Devices -

    Understand and explain common poetic techniques such as meter, rhyme, and metaphor in classic poetry.

  5. Compare Genre Conventions -

    Contrast the styles and conventions of novels, plays, and poetry within the English literary canon.

  6. Evaluate Your Knowledge -

    Assess your strengths and pinpoint areas for further reading and study in classic literature trivia.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Literary Periods and Movements -

    Whether you're gearing up for an English Literature Quiz or tackling classic literature trivia, knowing the timeline from the Renaissance through Modernism is essential. Use a simple mnemonic like "Runners Make Victorian Mornings Gleam" to recall Renaissance, Medieval, Victorian, Modernist, and Gothic eras (source: Oxford University's English Faculty guide).

  2. Decode Shakespeare's Genres -

    Familiarize yourself with the key differences between Shakespearean tragedies and comedies, such as Hamlet's existential depth versus Twelfth Night's mistaken identities. Try categorizing each play by the primary emotion - "grief" or "glee" - to boost recall for your next Shakespeare quiz (source: Folger Shakespeare Library).

  3. Analyze Novel Themes and Characters -

    For novel trivia questions, focus on central themes like social class in Pride and Prejudice or moral ambiguity in Wuthering Heights. Create character charts linking protagonists to their defining traits and conflicts - Elizabeth Bennet's wit versus Heathcliff's brooding intensity - to strengthen thematic understanding (source: Cambridge University Press).

  4. Master Poetry Forms and Devices -

    Recognize forms like the sonnet, villanelle, and free verse, and practice scanning iambic pentameter to hear rhythms in your head. Use the SOAPSTone mnemonic (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone) for quick analysis during a poetry quiz online (source: Purdue OWL).

  5. Practice Close Reading Techniques -

    Annotate passages using the Cornell note-taking method to jot down keywords, themes, and literary devices in the margins. Highlight significant quotes - such as "All the world's a stage" from As You Like It - and write a one-sentence interpretation beside each for rapid recall in any classic literature trivia challenge (source: Harvard Writing Center).

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