Quizology.Online

Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • The Game is Afoot — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Arthur Conan Doyle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons


    The first of today’s questions relates to the date, May 22nd. The remainder follow on a theme.

    One

    The writer who created Sherlock Holmes was born on this day in 1859. Who was he, and in what city was he born?

    Answers: Arthur Conan Doyle; Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish writer, is best known for creating the detective Sherlock Holmes, inspired by his medical professor, Dr. Joseph Bell. Conan Doyle’s medical background influenced his writing, evident in both his Sherlock Holmes stories and his semi-autobiographical novels. Despite the popularity of Holmes, Conan Doyle believed his other works, particularly historical fiction, deserved more recognition.

    Two

    In the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, who played the role of Dr. Watson, and who directed the film?

    Answers: Jude Law; Guy Ritchie.

    Sherlock Holmes (2009), directed by Guy Ritchie, stars Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. Set in 1890, they investigate Lord Blackwood, played by Mark Strong, who seems resurrected. The screenplay, by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, and Simon Kinberg, is based on a story by Wigram and Johnson. Released by Warner Bros. on 25—26 December 2009, it grossed $525 million, earning Downey a Golden Globe and two Academy Award nominations.

    Three

    Who was Sherlock Holmes’ elder brother, and by how many years is he older? (FYI, the answer to the age gap part of the question is one of the first five prime numbers.)

    Answers: Mycroft Holmes; Seven years.

    Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother, is a government official with a unique role, described as a ‘central exchange’ for information across departments. He appears in several stories, including The Greek Interpreter and The Bruce-Partington Plans, where his superior deductive abilities are noted. Mycroft’s exact position is not named, but it is implied to be highly influential and essential to the British government.

    Four

    The day that Sherlockians celebrate as Sherlock Holmes’s ‘birthday’ has both a Shakespearean and religious festival connection. What is that date?

    Answer: 6 January.

    Sherlock Holmes’s birth date is celebrated on 6 January, a date chosen by readers and scholars, known as Sherlockians, as it aligns with the character’s symbolic nature of revealing hidden truths. Although Arthur Conan Doyle never explicitly stated Holmes’s birth date, clues in the canon suggest he was born around 1854. The connection is that Twelfth Night is the only Shakespeare play Holmes quotes twice, and Twelfth Night, the religious feast of the Epiphany, is on 6 January.

    Five

    In the world of Sherlock Holmes, which street urchin gang is led by a boy named Wiggins?

    Answer: Baker Street Irregulars.

    The Baker Street Irregulars are a group of street boys employed by Sherlock Holmes as intelligence agents. Led by Wiggins, they run errands and gather information for Holmes, who values their sharp minds and ability to gather information. The group appears in three Sherlock Holmes stories, including the novels A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four, and the short story The Adventure of the Crooked Man.

    The Game is Afoot

    The post title is a quote by Sherlock Holmes from the short story Adventure of the Abbey Grange by Arthur Conan Doyle. It was originally used in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1.

  • The Game is Afoot

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The writer who created Sherlock Holmes was born on this day in 1859. Who was he, and in what city was he born?

    Two

    In the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, who played the role of Dr. Watson, and who directed the film?

    Three

    Who was Sherlock Holmes’ elder brother, and by how many years is he older? (FYI, the answer to the age gap part of the question is one of the first five prime numbers.)

    Four

    The day that Sherlockians celebrate as Sherlock Holmes’s ‘birthday’ has both a Shakespearean and religious festival connection. What is that date?

    Five

    In the world of Sherlock Holmes, which street urchin gang is led by a boy named Wiggins?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • It Puzzles the Will, part 2 — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    William Shakespeare.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions build on yesterday’s theme and are all connected to Shakespeare.

    One

    Which Shakespeare play is named after a medieval royal who, in 1050, made a pilgrimage to Rome?

    Answer: Macbeth.

    Macbeth, King of Scotland from 1040 to 1057, succeeded Duncan I after killing him in battle. His reign was mostly peaceful, but he was killed in 1057 by forces loyal to Malcolm III. Shakespeare’s character Macbeth, is an inaccurate fictionalised account of the historical Macbeth.

    Two

    Which final novel by John Steinbeck derives its title from a quote in Shakespeare’s Richard III?

    Answer: The Winter of Our Discontent.

    John Steinbeck’s final novel The Winter of Our Discontent, published in 1961, draws its title from the opening lines 

    Now is the winter of our discontent
    Made glorious summer by this sun of York.
    — Richard III by William Shakespeare

    Three

    The Tragedy of … is a Shakespeare play which is set during the Trojan War. Complete the title?

    Answer: Troilus and Cressida.

    The Tragedy of Troilus and Cressida, often known simply as Troilus and Cressida, a play by William Shakespeare, is set during the Trojan War and explores the love affair between Troilus and Cressida amidst the backdrop of the war. The play’s tone shifts between comedy and tragedy, making it a subject of critical debate.

    Four

    Which 1948 Shakespeare adaptation became the first British film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture?

    Answer: Hamlet.

    Laurence Olivier’s 1948 film adaptation of Hamlet, which he adapted, directed, and starred in, won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Actor. Despite its accolades, the film was controversial among Shakespearean purists due to Olivier’s significant alterations to the original play.

    Five

    An album by Mumford and Sons is named after a song in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. Which album?

    Answer: Sigh No More.

    Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons’ debut album, was released in 2009 and achieved significant success, peaking at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and Billboard 200. It received critical acclaim, including a Mercury Prize nomination and a BRIT Award for Best British Album. Its name comes from the song Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, which itself is from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

    Title info (if any)

    It Puzzles the Will

    It Puzzles the Will.
    — Hamlet

    The title seemed fitting as it’s a Shakespearean quote for a Will-themed puzzle.

  • It Puzzles the Will, part 2

    William Shakespeare.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions build on yesterday’s theme and are all connected to Shakespeare.

    One

    Which Shakespeare play is named after a medieval royal who, in 1050, made a pilgrimage to Rome?

    Two

    Which final novel by John Steinbeck derives its title from a quote in Shakespeare’s Richard III?

    Three

    The Tragedy of … is a Shakespeare play which is set during the Trojan War. Complete the title?

    Four

    Which 1948 Shakespeare adaptation became the first British film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture?

    Five

    An album by Mumford and Sons is named after a song in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. Which album?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • It Puzzles the Will — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    The unaltered title page from 1609 edition of Shake-Speares Sonnets.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question concerns an event that happened on May 20th and, like the others, is connected to ‘Shakespeare’. 

    One

    On this day, Shakespeare’s sonnets were first published. In what town or city, and in which century, was this?

    Answer: London; 17th century.

    In London on 20 May 1609, Thomas Thorpe produced the first publication of Shakespeare’s Sonnets — with the hyphen in the name. It’s unclear whether Thorpe used an authorised manuscript of Shakespeare as his source or an unauthorised copy. This publication is the primary source of the sonnets and contains 154 sonnets and the poem A Lover’s Complaint. The sonnets explore themes like time, love, and mortality, with the first 126 addressed to a young man and the last 28 to a woman.

    Two

    Who portrayed Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love?

    Answer: Judi Dench.

    Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 romantic comedy film about a fictional love affair between William Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps during the writing of Romeo and Juliet. The film received critical acclaim, grossed $289 million, and won seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

    Three

    Falstaff is a comic opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian-language libretto was adapted by Arrigo Boito from the play … and scenes from Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2, by William Shakespeare. 

    This quote from the text of the Wikipedia article about Verdi’s Falstaff has had a Shakespeare play removed from it. What play?

    Answer: The Merry Wives of Windsor.

    Falstaff is a comic opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Shakespeare’s works. Though not as popular as his earlier operas, it is now part of the standard repertory, championed by conductors like Toscanini, Karajan, Solti, and Bernstein.

    Four

    In Julie Taymor’s 2010 film adaptation of which Shakespeare play did Helen Mirren play Prospera, Duchess of Milan?

    Answer: The Tempest.

    The Tempest (2010) is a fantasy comedy-drama film based on Shakespeare’s 1611 play. Written and directed by Julie Taymor, who deviates from the original by changing the main character, Prospero, into a female, Prospera, played by Helen Mirren.

    Five

    The port-city of Messina is the setting for a Shakespeare comedy. What comedy, and on what island is the port-city of Messina?

    Answers: Much Ado About Nothing; Sicily.

    Much Ado About Nothing, a Shakespearean comedy, centres on two Messina romances. Claudio and Hero’s love faces challenges from Don John, while Benedick and Beatrice’s witty banter drives the humour.

    It Puzzles the Will

    It Puzzles the Will.
    — Hamlet

    The title seemed fitting as it’s a Shakespearean quote for a Will-themed puzzle.

  • It Puzzles the Will

    The amended title page from first edition of Shake-Speares Sonnets.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question concerns an event that happened on May 20th and, like the others, is connected to ‘Shakespeare’. 

    One

    On this day, Shakespeare’s sonnets were first published. In what town or city, and in which century, was this?

    Two

    Who portrayed Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love?

    Three

    Falstaff is a comic opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian-language libretto was adapted by Arrigo Boito from the play … and scenes from Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2, by William Shakespeare. 

    This quote from the text of the Wikipedia article about Verdi’s Falstaff has had a Shakespeare play removed from it. What play?

    Four

    In Julie Taymor’s 2010 film adaptation of which Shakespeare play did Helen Mirren play Prospera, Duchess of Milan?

    Five

    The port-city of Messina is the setting for a Shakespeare comedy. What comedy, and on what island is the port-city of Messina?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Happy Birthday, Mr. President — Answers

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
    Image Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

    Five questions which in some way are connected to today, May 19th.

    One

    The world’s first national park service was established in 1911 in which country?

    Answer: Canada.

    In 1911, Canada established the first national parks service in the world. What began as a cluster of parks in the Rocky Mountains gradually became a national system, fostering tourism and economic growth while upholding conservation ideals. In 1914, the definition of a “Dominion Park” was expanded to include significant historic places, laying the groundwork for a modern system of iconic national parks and national historic sites, which welcome millions of visitors annually, and initiating a tradition of national and international leadership in the management of protected places that continues to this day.
    — Parks Canada

    Two

    Colin Chapman, an English engineer born in 1928, founded which sports car company, and Formula One team?

    Answer: Lotus Cars; Team Lotus.

    Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, was an English design engineer known for his lightweight, high-handling sports cars. Under his direction, Team Lotus achieved significant success in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500.

    Three

    In 1959, the North Vietnamese Army’s Group 559 was established to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam. The supply route to fulfil this brief became known as what? And what countries, other than North and South Vietnam, did the route traverse?

    Answer: Ho Chi Minh trail; Laos and Cambodia.

    The Ho Chi Minh Trail, a logistical network of roads and trails, ran from North to South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia, supporting the Viet Cong and People’s Army of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Despite being heavily targeted by air interdiction, the trail effectively supplied troops in the south.

    Four

    Charlotte, the future queen consort of George III, was born in 1744 in the small duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This duchy was part of what empire?

    Answer: Holy Roman Empire.

    Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761 to 1818, was the longest-serving queen consort. She was a patron of the arts, introduced the Christmas tree to Britain, and was deeply affected by her husband’s illness and the French Revolution.

    Five

    On this day Marilyn Monroe famously sang Happy Birthday, Mr. President at a gala to mark John F. Kennedy’s birthday. The gala, a Democratic Party fundraiser, was held ten days before the president’s birthday. What age would the president become on that birthday, and where was the gala held?

    Answers: 45 years of age; Madison Square Gardens, NYC.

    Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy at a 1962 gala, inserting ‘Mr. President‘ for his name and adding a snippet of Thanks for the Memory with new lyrics.

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President

    [Chorus]
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday, Mr President
    Happy birthday to you 

    [Verse]
    Thanks, Mr President, for all the things you’ve done
    The battles that you’ve won
    The way you deal with U.S. Steel and our problems by the ton
    We thank you so much 

    [Outro]
    Everybody, happy birthday

    [Chorus]
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday, Mr President
    Happy birthday to you 

    [Verse]
    Thanks, Mr President, for all the things you’ve done
    The battles that you’ve won
    The way you deal with U.S. Steel and our problems by the ton
    We thank you so much 

    [Outro]
    Everybody, happy birthday
    — Lyrics from Genius.com

  • Happy Birthday, Mr. President

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
    Image Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

    Five questions which in some way are connected to today, May 19th.

    One

    The world’s first national park service was established in 1911 in which country?

    Two

    Colin Chapman, an English engineer born in 1928, founded which sports car company, and Formula One team?

    Three

    In 1959, the North Vietnamese Army’s Group 559 was established to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam. The supply route to fulfil this brief became known as what? And what countries, other than North and South Vietnam, did the route traverse?

    Four

    Charlotte, the future queen consort of George III, was born in 1744 in the small duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This duchy was part of what empire?

    Five

    On this day Marilyn Monroe famously sang Happy Birthday, Mr. President at a gala to mark John F. Kennedy’s birthday. The gala, a Democratic Party fundraiser, was held ten days before the president’s birthday. What age would the president become on that birthday, and where was the gala held?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • In the Beginning II — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Each question refers to a quote from the beginning of a novel and has some questions about the quote.

    One

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of … on which a … and a … lay crossed.

    The opening words of Ulysses by James Joyce are quoted above. What three words have been omitted?

    Answers: Lather; mirror; razor.

    Ulysses, set in Dublin on 16 June 1904, parallels Homer’s Odyssey and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It explores themes like antisemitism, sexuality, and Irish nationalism through its allusive and stylised narrative.

    Two

    Once there were four children whose names were Peter, …, Edmund, and ….

    What are the two girls’ names missing from these opening lines?

    Answer: Susan; Lucy.

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, published in 1950, is the first part of the seven part The Chronicles of Narnia. It tells the story of four children who discover Narnia through a wardrobe. They help Aslan defeat the White Witch and establish the Golden Age of Narnia.

    Three

    It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a … man in possession of a good …, must be in want of a ….

    What three words are omitted from the opening words of an 1813 English novel, and what is that novel?

    Answers: Single; fortune (and) wife. Pride and Prejudice.

    Pride and Prejudice, a novel of manners by Jane Austen, follows Elizabeth Bennet’s character development as she learns about hasty judgements and the difference between superficial and actual goodness. The novel explores the societal pressures faced by the Bennet family, particularly the need for their daughters to marry well to secure their future.

    Four

    The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. They set forth at daybreak to see a man beheaded, twenty in all, and … rode among them, nervous with excitement. This was the first time he had been deemed old enough to go with his lord father and his brothers to see the king’s justice done. It was the ninth year of summer, and the seventh of …’s life.

    The same name has been omitted twice from the above opening quote. What is that name, and what 1996 novel is the quote from?

    Answers: Bran; A Game of Thrones.

    A Game of Thrones, the first novel in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, is an epic fantasy set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The novel, praised for its political intrigue and historical influences, won the 1997 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel and was later adapted into the HBO television series Game of Thrones.

    Five

    Physicist Leonardo Vetra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own. 

    What novel, published in 2000, opens with the above quote? Who wrote it, and what recurring protagonist is introduced in it?

    Answers: Angels & Demons; Dan Brown (and) Robert Langdon.

    Angels & Demons, a 2000 mystery-thriller novel by Dan Brown, introduces Robert Langdon and features conspiracies, secret societies, and the Catholic Church.

  • In the Beginning II

    Each question refers to a quote from the beginning of a novel and has some questions about the quote.

    One

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of … on which a … and a … lay crossed.

    The opening words of Ulysses by James Joyce are quoted above. What three words have been omitted?

    Two

    Once there were four children whose names were Peter, …, Edmund, and ….

    What are the two girls’ names missing from these opening lines?

    Three

    It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a … man in possession of a good …, must be in want of a ….

    What three words are omitted from the opening words of an 1813 English novel, and what is that novel?

    Four

    The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. They set forth at daybreak to see a man beheaded, twenty in all, and … rode among them, nervous with excitement. This was the first time he had been deemed old enough to go with his lord father and his brothers to see the king’s justice done. It was the ninth year of summer, and the seventh of …’s life.

    The same name has been omitted twice from the above opening quote. What is that name, and what 1996 novel is the quote from?

    Five

    Physicist Leonardo Vetra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own. 

    What novel, published in 2000, opens with the above quote? Who wrote it, and what recurring protagonist is introduced in it?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.