Page-Turner Quest: A Fun Literature Trivia for Curious Kids

Dive into a playful quiz of books, authors, and story twists—perfect for kids 12+ who love reading and surprises. Test your knowledge and unlock literary fun!

  1. Which novel features a boarding school with magical subjects taught by a headmaster with a lightning scar?
    1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
    2. The Magician's Nephew
    3. A Separate Peace
    4. The Secret Garden
  2. What is the term for a recurring idea, symbol, or image that appears throughout a literary work?
    1. Allegory
    2. Theme
    3. Motif
    4. Foreshadowing
  3. Which author created the detective Sherlock Holmes in Victorian London?
    1. Agatha Christie
    2. Arthur Conan Doyle
    3. Edgar Allan Poe
    4. Wilkie Collins
  4. Which epic poem tells the journey of Odysseus returning home after the Trojan War?
    1. Aeneid
    2. The Iliad
    3. The Odyssey
    4. Argonautica
  5. Which 20th-century novel introduced the dystopian concepts of Big Brother and Newspeak?
    1. Nineteen Eighty-Four
    2. Brave New World
    3. Fahrenheit 451
    4. We
  6. What is the name for the narrator who is also a character in the story and uses 'I' to tell events?
    1. Third-person omniscient narrator
    2. First-person narrator
    3. Second-person narrator
    4. Objective narrator
  7. Which children's fantasy series features a wardrobe leading to a snowy land ruled by a lion named Aslan?
    1. The Dark Is Rising
    2. Harry Potter
    3. The Chronicles of Narnia
    4. The Wizard of Oz
  8. Which Shakespeare play centers on two young lovers from feuding families in Verona?
    1. Hamlet
    2. Romeo and Juliet
    3. A Midsummer Night's Dream
    4. Othello

Answers and explanations

  1. Question: Which novel features a boarding school with magical subjects taught by a headmaster with a lightning scar?
    Answer: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
    Explanation: This is J.K. Rowling’s first novel in the Harry Potter series, introducing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, while the protagonist, Harry, is noted for his lightning-shaped forehead scar. The book launched a global phenomenon that popularized modern YA,
  2. Question: What is the term for a recurring idea, symbol, or image that appears throughout a literary work?
    Answer: Motif
    Explanation: A motif is a recurring idea, symbol, or image that appears throughout a literary work to reinforce themes or mood. Fun fact: motifs can be as simple as repeated weather imagery or as complex as recurring objects that track a character’s development, helping readers notice deeper patterns.
  3. Question: Which author created the detective Sherlock Holmes in Victorian London?
    Answer: Arthur Conan Doyle
    Explanation: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes in the late 19th century; Holmes first appeared in A Study in Scarlet (1887). The character helped popularize forensic science and the modern detective genre, influencing real-world criminal investigation methods.
  4. Question: Which epic poem tells the journey of Odysseus returning home after the Trojan War?
    Answer: The Odyssey
    Explanation: The Odyssey, attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, narrates Odysseus's long, adventurous voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. It's a foundational epic of Western literature and introduced enduring themes like cunning, hospitality, and the hero's struggle against fate.
  5. Question: Which 20th-century novel introduced the dystopian concepts of Big Brother and Newspeak?
    Answer: Nineteen Eighty-Four
    Explanation: George Orwell's 1949 novel coined the terms Big Brother and Newspeak to depict totalitarian surveillance and language control; it's a landmark dystopian work that still influences discussions about privacy and propaganda today. An interesting fact: Orwell originally titled it 'The Last Man in Europe
  6. Question: What is the name for the narrator who is also a character in the story and uses 'I' to tell events?
    Answer: First-person narrator
    Explanation: A first-person narrator tells the story from their own perspective using 'I' or 'we.' This viewpoint creates intimate access to the narrator's thoughts and feelings but can be limited by their personal knowledge and bias.
  7. Question: Which children's fantasy series features a wardrobe leading to a snowy land ruled by a lion named Aslan?
    Answer: The Chronicles of Narnia
    Explanation: C. S. Lewis's series begins with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where children step through a wardrobe into Narnia — a wintry realm ruled by the noble lion Aslan. The books are beloved for their blend of myth, adventure and Christian allegory and have influenced generations of fantasy writers
  8. Question: Which Shakespeare play centers on two young lovers from feuding families in Verona?
    Answer: Romeo and Juliet
    Explanation: Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet follows two young lovers whose families, the Montagues and Capulets, are locked in a bitter feud in Verona; their secret romance and its tragic consequences have made the play an enduring symbol of romantic love and the costs of hatred. Fun fact: the play has a