Test your knowledge of classic novels, poetry, and world languages with free quizzes — no sign-up required
Dive into the world of words with our Literature & Language quiz collection. Covering classic and contemporary fiction, poetry, grammar, etymology, and world languages, these quizzes are ideal for bookworms, language learners, and anyone who appreciates the power of a well-crafted sentence.
Questions range from the plots of iconic novels and the lives of celebrated authors to grammar rules, famous quotes, and the origins of everyday words and phrases. Whether you're a Dickens devotee, a Shakespeare scholar, or just someone who loves a good crossword, there's a quiz here to test your literary limits.
Browse the questions below — click any answer to reveal it.
This popular Japanese verse form uses only 17 syllables
Answer: Haiku
23 different pilgrims tell their stories in this late-14th century classic
Answer: The Canterbury Tales
In a classic nursery rhyme, there are 24 of these baked in a pie
Answer: Blackbirds
Around 360 B.C. this Greek philosopher wrote about Socrates & Atlantis
Answer: Plato
In 1806 this man published his first American English dictionary
Answer: Webster
This alphabet is made up of 22 letters including Yud & Bet
Answer: The Hebrew
A disorder where objects appear shrunken,Lilliputian hallucinations derives its name from what novel?
Answer: Gulliver’s Travels
Which of the following words means “belonging to them”?
Answer: Their
Who is the author of “Black Beauty”?
Answer: Anna Sewell
How many vowels are in the word “beautify”?
Answer: 4
What is the motto of the three muskateers?
Answer: All for one & one for all
On television, Dr. Gregory House’s apartment number is “221B,” a nod to what famous literary sleuth’s address?
Answer: Sherlock Holmes
In the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could”, what is the engine attempting to deliver?
Answer: Toys
In the classic book “The Swiss Family Robinson,” the Robinsons build a makeshift house where?
Answer: In a Tree
In the famous Latin saying “veni, vidi, vici,” what does “vidi” mean?
Answer: I Saw
In the novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” Madame Defarge spends most of her time doing what?
Answer: Knitting
Which of these Stephen King novels features a villain who sometimes goes by the alias “Bob Gray”?
Answer: It
Thought to be the source of a classic joke, “Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there…?” is a line from what Shakespeare play?
Answer: Macbeth
How many syllables are in the word “amphibian”?
Answer: 4
What does “mono” mean?
Answer: One
What famous Christmas poem was written by Clement C. Moore?
Answer: Twas The Night Before Christmas
Who wrote "Ender's Game"?
Answer: Orson Scott Card
Rejected as movie script, Broadway loved this fragile Tennessee Williams drama.
Answer: The Glass Menagerie
Who is Scout's brother in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
Answer: Jem Finch
What does "quid pro quo" mean in English?
Answer: Something for something
What is "e.g." an abbreviation of?
Answer: Exempli Gratia
Who owns Curious George?
Answer: The Man in the Yellow Hat
Which author wrote “Green Eggs and Ham”?
Answer: Dr Seuss
In what book did we meet the Eoli and the Morlocks?
Answer: The Time Machine
In what country do people normally answer the phone by saying “Moshi, moshi”?
Answer: Japan
This 5-letter word is from the French & means "to make one's first appearance".
Answer: Debut
What is the main language spoken in Brazil?
Answer: Portuguese
He wrote "Tree at My Window" a few years after "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".
Answer: Robert Frost
The first paragraph of this Ralph Ellison novel says, "People refuse to see me".
Answer: Invisible Man
Much of this 1925 great novel takes place in the West Egg area of Long Island.
Answer: The Great Gatsby
Gregory Maguire's novel "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" is a revision of this fairy tale.
Answer: Cinderella
Agatha Christie mystery in which an heiress is murdered on an Egyptian cruise.
Answer: Death on the Nile
He's the troubled young narrator of "The Catcher in the Rye".
Answer: Holden Caulfield
It was Bond, James Bond in this 1953 book, Ian Fleming's first bond novel.
Answer: Casino Royale
Published in 2011, Stephen King’s “11/22/63” is a time travel novel that centers around what event in history?
Answer: JFK Assassination
In “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the Cheshire cat leaves behind what conspicuous feature when it disappears?
Answer: Enormous Grin
In “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde turns into a giant what?
Answer: Blueberry
Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is set primarily in Verona, a city in what country?
Answer: Italy
Where was Dorothy travelling to in her quest to meet the Wizard of Oz?
Answer: The Emerald City
Known for their classic fairy tale collections, the Brothers Grimm had what first names?
Answer: Jacob & Wilheim
Ben Franklin sold this publication in 1757, but it continued until 1796
Answer: Poor Richard's Almanack
Also called a “serial” comma, the optional comma placed before the “and” at the end of a written list is called a what?
Answer: Oxford Comma
A type of film, like Western or gangster, having similar elements of plot & character.
Answer: Genre
What does the Latin word "Verbatim" means?
Answer: Word for Word
In this Tolstoy work, Countess Bezuhov finds herself, like Mary MacGregor, torn between two lovers.
Answer: War And Peace