Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Thursday Quiz LXXII

The Thursday Quiz!

The Thursday Quiz is a twelve item is-it-or-isn't-it test of your knowledge, reasoning, stamina, and moxie!

Remember always the Fundamental Rules of the Thursday Quiz:


1. The Thursday Quiz is a POP quiz. No research, Googling, Wikiing, or use of reference books. Violators will never be able to look at themselves in the mirror again.

2. Don't get all stressed out about it! It's supposed to be fun!

The Novels of Charles Dickens

It is most amazing and most affecting how often coincidence and pathos collide in the works of the great Victorian master! Which of the following IS his novels? And which of the following ISN'T?

1. Adam Bede

2. Bleak House

3. Charles Middleworth

4. Dombey & Son

5. Hard Times

6. The Manor Intended

7. Martin Chuzzlewit

8. The Mayor of Castorbridge

9. Northanger Abbey

10. Our Mutual Friend

11. A Shropshire Lad

12. Vanity Fair

Submit your sprawling cast of answers in the comments.

26 comments:

PB said...

I relish these opportunities to display my ignorance.

1. no
2. yes
3. yes
4. no
5. yes
6. no
7. yes
8. yes
9. no
10. no
11. no (A.E. Housman - but even if it were Dickens, it wouldn't count because it's not a novel).
12. no

Cartophiliac said...

bleh, mostly guesses

1. isn't
2. is
3. is
4. isn't
5. is
6. isn't
7. isn't
8. is
9. isn't
10. is
11. isn't
12. isn't

The Calico Cat said...

1. isn't (Eliot?)
2. IS
3. isn't - total guess
4. IS
5. Are you trying to trick us by not using the complete title? IS
6. isn't - another total guess
7. Another partial title IS
8. Thomas Hardy - so isn't
9. isn't (Austen)
10. IS
11. isn't, but I can't think of the author's name right now.
12. Thackery - isn't

I almost miss those English classes - almost (I liked reading them, but I hated writing about them...)

MJ said...

1. isn't
2. is
3. isn't?
4. isn't?
5. is
6. isn't?
7. is?
8. isn't?
9. isn't
10. is
11. isn't?
12. isn't

Chuzzlewit and Castorbridge, nice

Christine M. said...

1. isn't
2. is
3. isn't
4. isn't
5. isn't
6. isn't
7. is
8. isn't
9. isn't
10. is
11. isn't
12. isn't

Elizabeth said...

1. The worst of times.
2. The best of times.
3. The worst of times.
4. The best of times.
5. The best of times.
6. The worst of times.
7. The best of times.
8. The worst of times.
9. The worst of times.
10. The best of times.
11. The worst of times.
12. The worst of times.

Yankee in England said...

I knew it was a only a matter of time before a topic I had some basic knowledge of came up. I do have to say in advance that I was watching a quiz show about two weeks ago where the contestant had to list 10 works by CD so have a little help there.

1. No
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. No
7. Yes but I thought the whole title was the life and adventures of. But I might be mixing this one up with Nicholas Nickleby.
8. NO
9. No
10. Yes
11. No
12. No

Anonymous said...

1 not
2 yes
3 not
4 yes
5 yes
6 not
7 yes
8 not
9 oh, not at all
10 yes
11 not
12 not

Anonymous said...

I spent part of one year after college attempting to read all of Dickens, chronologically. The worst part about it was that I didn't finish. The funniest part about it was that I began to think almost entirely in Dickensian English--and sometimes forgot to translate before I opened my mouth.

I also used to organize all my lit chronologically (I trick I tried in college in order to learn "the order of the canon"), so at some point I more or less knew the order of publication of his work--but that was a LONG time ago. Otherwise, I would have to be considered a viable entry in any upcoming Dorkfests.

Anonymous said...

1. Isn't
2. Is
3. Isn't
4. Isn't
5. Is
6. Isn't
7. Isn't
8. Isn't
9. Isn't
10. Is
11. Isn't
12. Isn't

Anonymous said...

1. no
2. yes
3. no
4. yes
5. yes
6. no
7. yes
8. no
9. no
10. yes
11. no
12. no

Maybe I should actually Read some Dickens sometime. Great Expectations is about where is began and ended for me.

Anonymous said...

1. Isn't
2. Is
3. Isn't
4. Is
5. Is
6. Isn't
7. Is
8. Isn't
9. Isn't
10. Is
11. Isn't
12. Isn't

When did the Monday quiz get harder than the Thursday quiz?

Anonymous said...

1 no
2 yes
3 no
4 yes
5 yes
6 no
7 yes
8 no
9 no
10 yes
11 no
12 no

d said...

dangit! i completely forgot it was thurs this morning. sometimes working from home is a curse.

1n/2y/3n/4y/5y/6n/7y/8n/9n/10y/11n/12n

self written extra credit:
oliver twist y
a tale of two cities y
a christmas carol y
a prayer for owen meany n

Kritkrat said...

1 no
2 yes
3 no
4 yes
5 yes
6 no? I've never even heard of that...
7 yes
8 no
9 no
10 yes
11 no
12 no

Anonymous said...

1. Isn't
2. Is
3. Isn't
4. Is
5. Is
6. Isn't
7. Is
8. Isn't
9. Isn't
10. Is
11. Isn't
12. Isn't

Had to guess on a couple. Wasn't sure and usually when I get all excited to meet someone who wants to talk about Dickens or another author I like, he or she brings up a title I had no idea was ever a book at all. So I just listen.

Chance said...

Ain't my style, said Casey.

Love the new masthead. Was it proclaimed already? Am I way behind the times? Have I missed the bus? I believe I recall something vaguely about its designer.

Anyway, it's all great: font, the way the S and C look like a river, the map. Love it.

Michael5000 said...

The answers -- as I hardly need mention -- are as follows:

1. Adam Bede - NO (Eliot)

2. Bleak House - YES

3. Charles Middleworth - NO (made up)

4. Dombey & Son - YES

5. Hard Times - YES

6. The Manor Intended - NO (made up)

7. Martin Chuzzlewit - YES

8. The Mayor of Castorbridge - NO (Hardy)

9. Northanger Abbey - NO (Austin)

10. Our Mutual Friend - YES

11. A Shropshire Lad - NO (Housman)

12. Vanity Fair - NO (Thackary)

Michael5000 said...

Now then -- what IS it with you people and Victorian literature? How many blogs could run this quiz and have people quacking that it's too easy? How am I ever going to break through to mass appeal when my core audience has that kind of attitude? I ask ya.

Anyway.

It was a horserace today, as a record-breaking TEN entrants had all of the answers correct. First over the line was the Calico Cat, returning to Gold Star form after several dry months in the Quiz, which were mitigated somewhat by the arrival of her firstborn. It's her third Gold Star.

Elizabeth grabs the Silver, her tenth Star and her third in the last five weeks.

The TQLXXII Blue Star goes to Yankee in England; it's her first Blue and her second Star overall.

Green Stars all around: Mrs.5000 and Critical Bill come back after Monday's EPs to sweep the week; Sandy, d, and Boo all got one; Kadonkadonk got her first one! It's Kadonk's third Star, as her recent hot streak continues.

Finally, sister jen grabs her first ever Quiz bling, becoming the 48th human to take home a TQ Star. Well done!

Michael5000 said...

@Calico: Well done! Brownie points for naming the actual authors, where available.

@sis: I always like to see people planning ahead for DorkFest. I have the same issue with thinking in Dickenspeak when I'm reading him.

@Sandy: May I recommend Martin Chuzzlewit?

@Critical Bill: All depends on your stash of knowledge. I would have had trouble with this one, but could have IDed those cities in my sleep.

@d: Extra credit for the extra credit...

@Chance: It's been there for six weeks or so. Kate of katenben made it. I like it too!

Anonymous said...

Of course you meant Austen. Since I have a star now, I can say that, right?

What color is my start? I don't have, shall we say, Full Grasp of the medals as yet.

Michael5000 said...

@sis: Of course you meant Star. It's Green! It's a Green Star!!

The Calico Cat said...

Very clever/tricky of you to make up a few of your own... :o)

Chance said...

Six weeks? Umpossible!

Eversaved said...

It is really a shame I did not see this contest until it is too late. I mean I don't mean to brag or anything, but, well...I would have gotten a Gold Star for sure. I was obsessed with Dickens when I was in high school. Totally normal, right? Right!?

Elaine said...

At gunpoint I was forced to read both _David Copperfield_ and _The Old Curiosity Shop_ (TWO volumes) and only in my fifties was I able to read _Great Expectations_, his most UnDickensian work. I had already visited _A Tale of Two Cities_ because in 8th grade I was hopelessly romantic. I recovered.

I think is IS answers are 2,4,5,7,10. I am positive of 3 answers. I know darn well he did not write _Vanity Fair_ which I also had to read in 9th grade, and he's no Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy! Studs Terkel wrote ONE _Hard Times_ but somehow I think maybe Chas wrote one by that title. I think you are messing with us with the Middleworth title.
this is my first quiz...