Narnia and the Classics of Children's Fiction – answers and explanations
Here are the answers to all 15 questions in the Narnia and the Classics of Children's Fiction quiz, each with a short explanation. From Narnia to Wonderland — how well do you know the books you grew up with? Haven't played yet? Take the quiz first and compare your score.
Play the quiz · 15 questions1. In Narnia, which sweet does the White Witch use to tempt Edmund Pevensie?
Answer: Turkish Delight
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the White Witch gives Edmund Pevensie enchanted Turkish Delight, which makes him crave more and betray his siblings. Chapter four of the 1950 book is actually titled 'Turkish Delight', then an expensive imported treat in Britain.
2. Which Wonderland character is forever shouting 'Off with their heads!'?
Answer: The Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) constantly orders beheadings, crying 'Off with his head!' at the slightest provocation. Her sentences are never actually carried out, as the King quietly pardons the condemned.
3. In Peter Pan, what did the crocodile swallow that warns Hook it is nearby?
Answer: A ticking clock
In J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, the crocodile that bit off Captain Hook's hand also swallowed a clock, and its ticking warns Hook it is near. Hook's real dread, voiced in chapter 5, is that the clock will one day run down and the crocodile will reach him silently.
4. Who is the terrifying headmistress of Crunchem Hall in Roald Dahl's Matilda?
Answer: Miss Trunchbull
Miss Agatha Trunchbull is the tyrannical headmistress of Crunchem Hall in Roald Dahl's 1988 novel Matilda, a former hammer thrower who hurls pupils and locks them in the Chokey. Kind teacher Miss Honey turns out to be her niece and takes over the school at the end.
5. Which magical nanny arrives at the Banks family home by umbrella?
Answer: Mary Poppins
P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins first blew in on the east wind in 1934; Disney's 1964 film starred Julie Andrews in the role.
6. Which Narnia book opens: 'There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb'?
Answer: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) begins with the line introducing Eustace Clarence Scrubb, adding that he almost deserved the name. Eustace, cousin of the Pevensies, later turns into a dragon on the voyage and is changed by the experience.
7. Lewis Carroll was the pen name of which Oxford mathematician?
Answer: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), a mathematics lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford. He created the name by latinising Charles Lutwidge into Carolus Ludovicus, reversing the order and anglicising it, first using it in 1856.
8. In The Wind in the Willows, whose craze for motorcars lands him in jail?
Answer: Toad
In Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (1908), Mr Toad of Toad Hall becomes obsessed with motorcars, steals one from an inn yard and is sentenced to twenty years in prison for theft, dangerous driving and cheek to the police.
9. In Peter Pan, what is the name of Peter's tiny fairy companion?
Answer: Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell, a jealous little fairy who mends pots and kettles, is Peter's companion in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan.
10. What is the surname of Charlie, the hero of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
Answer: Bucket
Charlie Bucket is the poor boy who finds the fifth golden ticket in Roald Dahl's 1964 novel. Salt, Teavee and Beauregarde are the surnames of three of the other ticket winners: Veruca, Mike and Violet.
11. Which book opens: 'Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud...'?
Answer: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997) opens with the Dursleys of number four, Privet Drive proudly claiming to be perfectly normal. The line begins chapter one, 'The Boy Who Lived', set in Little Whinging, Surrey.
12. In Roald Dahl's book, what do the letters BFG stand for?
Answer: Big Friendly Giant
The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams and blows them into children's bedrooms; Dahl's book was published in 1982.
13. In The Magician's Nephew, what name does the White Witch go by in Charn?
Answer: Jadis
In The Magician's Nephew (1955), the witch later known as the White Witch of Narnia is Jadis, last Queen of Charn, who destroyed all life in her world with the Deplorable Word. Digory wakes her by ringing an enchanted bell.
14. Which gruff, solitary animal of the Wild Wood helps Toad in The Wind in the Willows?
Answer: Badger
Badger, the gruff recluse who lives in a huge underground sett in the Wild Wood, was a friend of Toad's late father and leads the rescue of Toad Hall from the weasels, stoats and ferrets in Kenneth Grahame's 1908 novel.
15. Which Wonderland character vanishes slowly, leaving only its grin behind?
Answer: The Cheshire Cat
The Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) fades away gradually until only its grin remains, prompting Alice's remark about never having seen a grin without a cat.