famous first lines book trivia quiz

Dr. Seuss' real name was Theodor Geisel. The black humor of "Catch-22" made Joseph Heller one of the most highly regarded authors of the past century. kofiwidget2.init('Leave a Tip! var app_617d5174fb15ec00181ca85b;(function(d, t){var s=d.createElement(t),options={"appId":"617d5174fb15ec00181ca85b","width":"800","height":"800","async":true,"host":"quiz.tryinteract.com", "footer":"show"};s.src='https://i.tryinteract.com/embed/app.js';s.onload=s.onreadystatechange=function(){var rs=this.readyState;if(rs)if(rs!='complete')if(rs!='loaded')return;try{app_617d5174fb15ec00181ca85b=new InteractApp();app_617d5174fb15ec00181ca85b.initialize(options);app_617d5174fb15ec00181ca85b.display();}catch(e){}};var scr=d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0],par=scr.parentNode;par.insertBefore(s,scr);})(document,'script'); Want to take another literary quiz? ", Okay, these are three lines. Never let it be said that Charles Dickens was afraid of a long pileup of descriptive phrases! 2. The Overstory The Nickel Boys The Underground Railroad The Goldfinch 3. Countries of the World. It was published in 1971 and had 150 pages. It is considered a children's historical novel set in Elizabethan England at the end of the 16th Century. See how many of these iconic first lines you knowor make an educated guess for the ones you dont! To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy, For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more, Lee Child Jack Reacher Series | 6 for 30, Industry commitment to professional behaviour. "Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripityGood.". This is Ebenezer Scrooge's conclusion, after he learns some important life lessons in "A Christmas Carol." "He's more myself than I am. This book by Kurt Vonnegut has an odd subtitle: "or, the Children's Crusade, a Duty-Dance with Death." Tolkien wrote "The Hobbit" for his children. So what you're saying is that the deck is stacked against you, eh, Pip? As a book lover, it brings me great delight that Im married to another book lover. Here are some you may have missed. How well do you know your opening lines? What is the second Harry Potter book called? It was written, of course, by Charles Dickens. Can you guess these famous first lines from classic books? A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hill-side bank and runs deep and green. It's amazing to consider that this melancholy line, the last of "Gatsby," was written when Scott Fitzgerald was only 26. But what sort of vermin did he turn into? Written by Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat was published on March 12, 1957. ", "I'd known plenty of dead people, of course, but I'd never dated one.". Jude wants to be an architect, but England's class system - and misfortune in love - stand in his way. 'An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story', Stephen King once said. I got . Salinger is banned in many libraries for profanity, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual content and violence. "Chug, chug, chug. Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. How does 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' begin? "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.". Where do the Berenstain Bears live? "Not every 13-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial and found guilty.". Famous Novels, First Lines Quiz Can you identify these novels by their famous first lines? "Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt.". But can you actually match them to their books? Everybody's doing what they think they're supposed to do.". In the November/December 2018 issue, the back-page "Potpourri for the Pen" column featured a matching game in which readers had to match the first lines of famous books to their titles. Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. "Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women. Ergo, you may enjoy the challenge of testing your literary knowledge! 4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bront Tom Jones by Henry Fielding Dracula by Bram Stoker Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 5. ", This is the first sentence of the famous Tolstoy novel. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Sophies mummy said 'I wonder who that could be?'". Less literary and more hilarious, the 1979 story by Douglas Adams begs the question of the meaning of "life, the universe, and everything." "One man's life or death were a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge I sought.". "Rebecca" is probably Daphne duMaurier's best-known novel. This was the first novel of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Here are ten basic books questions to get your trivia juices flowing 1. The novel won Toni Morrison the Pulitzer Prize. "The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.". Which novel begins with this line: "Call me Ishmael"? Famous First Lines in Novels Quiz By: Nathan Chandler 4 min Image: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images About This Quiz Calling all bookworms: How well do you know literature? It'd kill your mammy., Alice Walker analyzed the oppression of Southern black women in 1982's "The Color Purple. Black boys in white suits up before me to commit sex acts in the hall and get it mopped up before I can catch them.. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle was written by Avi - also known as Edward Irving Wortis. Anastasia Steele first appears in which risqu 2011 novel by E.L. James? : Text Date Added: 08/14/2019 Category Description Based on its first line, name the book. START QUIZ If you really want to hear about it, the first thing youll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I dont feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.". This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a. "I am always saying 'Glad to've met you' to someone I'm not at all glad I met. Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises was written by Peter Lerangis. "Catch-22" is a novel about World War II pilots. The 1851 classic by Herman Melville boasts perhaps one of the most famous opening lines of all time. April 19, 2022 at 1:43 pm. START QUIZ "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter." Alice's Adventures in Wonderland The Tale of Peter Rabbit The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Because, you know, TV doesn't have any of those things. Sylvia Plath wrote just one novel, a bleak book called "The Bell Jar," before she committed suicide. It is the official children's book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. Registered office: 20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, London,SW1V 2SA, UK. For each of these book trivia questions, your players will be shown a first line of a book and then they will name the book. : Text Date Added: 08/14/2019 Category Description Based on its first line, name the book. I havent read anything by Catherine Gaskin, but from poking around, she looks like an interesting author! The novel came out in October 1847, only six weeks after it had been accepted for publication. As terribly as I scored on it, Im glad Ive already been reading more classics! Your email address will not be published. By Derek Bucket.". ", Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. This line sums up Thomas Hardy's doomed hero in a few words. If you're wondering why the full line isn't quoted, trust us, it's for the best. When you're going you think it's a big deal, but when it's over, nobody really thinks it's great unless they're beered up.". "But his dreams were as gigantic as his surroundings were small.". Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated.". That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly.". In a book by Leo Tolstoy, the first line is "Happy families are all alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." It's a fun book trivia category! ", This line is from Louisa May Alcott's famous book. Or what. Go here to discover which Victorian novel you should read next. They deal with the infamous Dust Bowl, and such hardships as little money and shelter. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. It was also made into a film both in 1971 and 2005. It was published on June 3, 1969. As a new month begins, test your knowledge of the best opening lines in literature. Generations of readers have Ray Bradbury's classic novel about book burning to thank for knowing that. Alice in Wonderland was written under the pen name of Lewis Carol. Nope, this quote comes from Their Eyes Were Watching God , Zora Neale Hurston's 1920s-set coming-of-age tale that is celebrated as a staple of both African American and women's literature. Chandler also wrote "Farewell, My Lovely" and "The Lady in the Lake. All that cold, cold, wet day.". "Look, I didnt want to be a half-blood.". "They say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did.". Very fun post! But with others, there isn't one clear winner. Famous Opening Lines Quiz - By Repsaj600 Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 3 Countries of the World 4 Click the 'E' Bordering Countries Literature Poem QUIZ LAB SUBMISSION Random Literature or Poem Quiz Famous Opening Lines She was having tea with her mummy in the kitchen. He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf stream and he had gone 84 days now without taking a fish. Many readers point to this as the theme of Ernest Hemingway's classic. Spoiler alert: The "we're not savages" thing proves to be wrong. This book is a perennial classic by poet and memoirist Angelou. Sep 28, 2018. 535. "I didn't know how long I had been in the king's prison.". March Challenge Prompt: A classic collection of fairy tales. How well do you remember the first lines from these famous children's books? The Little Engine that Could was written by Watty Piper. 3. "There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.". Not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. Written by Charles Dickens and published in 1843, A Christmas Carols tells the story of the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.. It was too wet to play. Generations of children and adults have since taken it to their hearts. "Things are a lot different around here since that Unicorn moved in.". Timed Quiz Game. ", A black woman named Janie Crawford throws off the bonds of racial inequality in "Their Eyes Were Watching God. Be sure to cry at your own mother's funeral or else. Written by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was a fantasy novel published on October 16, 1950. I love classics! This 1953 novel, "The Go-Between," is by far the best-known book by L.P. Hartley. Mark Twain called a classic "a book everyone wants to have read, but nobody wants to read." Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield. But with others, there isn't one clear winner. "The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it.". Deeply insightful or painfully self-indulgent? 4. J.R.R. Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield. Published in 1938, "Murphy" was Samuel Beckett's exploration of a weird guy named Murphy who hangs out alone in the dark and befriends hookers. "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.. I chose a good reading challenge for myself this year to read more classics. (We can't tell you the answers here; you'll run across all three in the quiz). The final clause about "a Duty-Dance" rarely makes it into references to this anti-war novel. Tess is speaking here to her mother, who did not warn her of the dangers of her sophisticated "cousin" Alec. From Bridget Jones to Apocalypse Now to Conversations With Friends, books have been used onscreen to tell us more about characters or just make a brilliant in-joke. "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. ", This quote is from the "Manual of Muad'Dib" in Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic. Written by A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh was published in 1926. In Bram Stoker's book, this line appears first in German, then is translated into English. The catch in "Catch-22" was that anyone who went to the Army's psychologists asking to be let out of combat missions, based on an irrational fear of them, couldn't be taken off combat duty. Published in 1939, "Goodbye to Berlin" is a portrait of the German people just before they are swept into World War II. "Here is Edward Bear, coming down the stairs now, bump bump bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin". Sample Hard Question:All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Why didn't you warn me?". Famous First Lines from Books Quiz As a book lover, it brings me great delight that I'm married to another book lover. It was published in 1996 and was the first book in what is now a 5-book series. Written by George Eliot, "Middlemarch" is made up of eight installments from the early 1870s. We give the first lines, can you name the books? Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns. Good luck! It was awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. 6 / 10. "The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.". "Beloved" is the harrowing story of a mother who kills her daughter rather than have her grow up a slave in the pre-emancipation South. It's a fun book trivia category! "Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.". "I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.". Answer: Jane Eyre was the first novel by Charlotte Bront to be published. Fly Away Home was written by Eve Bunting. The Literary World (Famous Novels) Question: Who wrote Jane Eyre? 1. His insight into the regrets of midlife was remarkable for such a young man. Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes. "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.". "It was the day my grandmother exploded.". "War is peace. This book about preteens shipwrecked on an island is a perennial student favorite, largely because of its relatively short length and involving plot. What did Harper Lee have against blue jays?! Popular Quizzes Today. It was 226 pages and published in 1990. In the movie, it was moved up to a prologue segment about heroine Bella's near-death. Play < Autobiographies & Authors 3 Previous. "Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.". ", The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.". Click here to read my affiliate policy. For this quiz, we've picked what we feel is the best-known, most-quoted line. Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting. Also popular are the later lines about "fear the mind-killer. For each of these book trivia questions, your players will be shown a first line of a book and then they will name the book. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon.com. Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. "In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.". Famous First Lines Book Trivia Quiz #180 Category Number: 180 Text, Audio, or Picture Round? You better not never tell nobody but God. One of the nerdy things we like to do is quiz each other on quotes from books, especially the opening lines. Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress. John Toole killed himself before his outrageously hilarious "A Confederacy of Dunces" became recognized as a lasting work of art. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was written by Barbara Robinson and illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown. "Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley.". "It was love at first sight. So we stayed in the house. Famous (well, kinda famous) First Lines - 25 questions - 6 mins The first lines of "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Moby Dick" were used in other quizzes, so I had to dig a little deeper. This is probably the most famous line in Antoine St. Exupery's beloved book. Black Beauty was written by Anna Sewell in 1877. "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb and he almost deserved it. ", "We've got to have rules and to obey them. I believe that the right books can capture your heart and allow you to live life with a sense of wonder. Famous First Lines Book Trivia Quiz Category Number: 180 Text, Audio, or Picture Round? Hosting by Black Chicken Floral designs by Judith Glover Book and tea cup illustration by Anna Carnes. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky). ", Before Dodie Smith became famous for "The Hundred and One Dalmatians," she wrote "I Capture the Castle. Neverland became a world-famous place thanks to J.M. You'll be pushed to recall the titles that go with the first lines of popular novels from the last ten years. And good luck! She followed it up with "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys. To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth. Lima Beans 4. Based on its first line, name the book. Suddenly there was a ring at the door. "What is essential is invisible to the eye.". ", Theyre out there. Find out here if you are in the first rank or an April fool, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Flashman at the Charge by George Macdonald Fraser, Cities of the Red Night by William Burroughs, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson, The Books of Albion: The Collected Writings of Peter Doherty, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sodom and Other Writings by the Marquis de Sade, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Bridge to Terabithia was written by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Donna Diamond. 2. It was published in 1938. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written by Mark Twain. "Once there was a little girl called Sophie. "Why didn't you tell me there was danger in men-folk? Charlotte Bronte's beloved novel takes place at Thornfield Hall, where Jane works as a governess. For this quiz, we've picked what we feel is the best-known, most-quoted line. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness". "In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.". "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie. Question: What was the first book in the Harry Potter series? "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.". I obviously need it by how I scored on this quiz! ", "I am not afraid of storms, because I am learning how to sail my ship. Barrie's "Peter Pan. Lewis. Can you identify these classic first lines from literature? Which author wrote the 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird? Paulo Coelho's book about following one's "personal legend" has become a deeply polarizing book. "When you want something, the whole universe conspires to help you get it.". . Countries of the World. Its such a gift to be able to read from masterful storytellers like these! "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Lemony Snicket was a pen name for American author, Daniel Handler. ', '#d13d50', 'A0A6FP0KU');kofiwidget2.draw(); Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I approve of that reading challenge(: I hope you find some new favourites in the months to come! It's a fun book trivia category! "A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. ", Written by C.S. Undoubtedly, these famous quotes ring a bell. "You dont know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that aint no matter. There's also a robot named Marvin, which is cool. "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.". "From the pleasantly situated old town of Mayenfield a footpath leads up through shady green meadows to the foot of the mountains, which, as they gaze down on the valley, present a solemn and majestic aspect.". Written later in his life, this book was largely responsible for Hemingway winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. Considered by some to be the greatest novel of the 20th century, this line from George Orwell's "1984" sets the reader up for a whole lot of confusion, chaos and uncertainty. For each of these book trivia questions, your players will be shown a first line of a book and then they will name the book. "I will live in the past, the present and the future!". How well do you know the famous opening lines mentioned in this quiz? Every book has a first line and some famous books have famous opening lines. How well do you know the famous opening lines mentioned in this quiz? Take this first lines from books quiz to see how many first sentences you know! Thomas Pynchon published the post-World War II novel "Gravity's Rainbow" in 1973. For each of these book trivia questions, your players will be shown a first line of a book and then they will name the book. It's one of the lines that stick in readers' memories, along with, "The children of the night what music they make! Written in 2005 by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief was the first novel in the Percy Jackson & Olympians series. Published in 2013, The School for Good and Evil was written by Soman Chainani. "One Thousand and One Nights". Watty Piper was a pen name for Arnold Munk. You'll have to read Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" to find out. "You better not never tell nobody but God. "Anna Karenina" is his second-most-famous work, overshadowed slightly by "War and Peace. Take this first lines from books quiz to see how many first sentences you know! ", "Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved.". Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield. Find if you're a true expert Written By Mamta Raut Do you consider yourself a true Novel Expert? "A green hunting cap squeezed the top of a fleshy balloon of a head.". One may as well begin with Helen's letters to her sister. "The Fault in Our Stars" is all about love in the face of death. Good suggestions! Some people love it and find it inspirational; others find it misleading and likely to promote self-centeredness. 1. "This is the saddest story I have ever heard.". You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.- C. S. Lewis. This realistic wartime account details the Lost Generation, or the boys who turned into men during World War I. Scotland becomes a bewitching and wonderful place in "The Crow Road," an ominous and funny look at human life. Take the famous first lines of books quiz to find out how many you can identify correctly. Curious George was written by H.A. ", "Mother died today. This line comes late in Stephenie Meyer's first novel. 26 . In The Hobbit, what sort of creature is Smaug? Famous First Lines - 10 questions - 4 mins It was published in 1997. Written by Johanna Spyri, Heidi was first published in 1881 in Switzerland. Eighteen episodes make up "Ulysses," the groundbreaking novel by James Joyce. Jean Rhys used "Wide Sargasso Sea" to explore themes of inequality in society and relationships. With some books, pretty much everyone agrees on what its most famous line is - this is true of the opening line of "Pride and Prejudice," which you'll find on everything from dishtowels to bookmarks. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.". It was published in 1952 by Harper & Brothers. Popular Quizzes Today. Written by J.R.R. Open a modal to take you to registration information, Button that open a modal to initiate a challenge. It was first released in the United Kingdom. Novel by Opening Lines Quiz Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Ballon d'Or Winners by Age 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Countries of the World Literature Author Random Literature or Author Quiz Novel by Opening Lines Can you name the these famous novels from their opening lines?