16th Century Literature Quiz - The Tudor Society

A quiz on 16th century literature and authors...

16th century Literature

Q1) Who wrote "In Praise of Folly" in 1509?

Niccolò Machiavelli

Thomas More

Desiderius Erasmus

François Rabelais

Correct! It was first published in 1511. Erasmus wrote it while he was staying with Thomas More.

Wrong! It was Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. He wrote it while he was staying with Thomas More.

Q2) Which of William Shakespeare's play is recorded as being the first to be performed and printed?

Henry VI

Romeo and Juliet

Macbeth

As You Like It

Correct! It was recorded by Philip Henslowe as being performed at the Rose Theatre on 3 March 1592 and Parts 1 and 2 were printed in 1594.

Wrong! It was Henry VI. It was recorded by Philip Henslowe as being performed at the Rose Theatre on 3 March 1592 and Part 1 and 2 were printed in 1594.

Q3) Thomas More's book about a fictional island society was called...

Endymion

Utopia

Locrine

Arcadia

Correct! Its full Latin title was "Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia"

Wrong! It was was Utopia, or Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia.

Q4) Thomas More also wrote an historical work, which king was it a history of?

Henry VII

King Arthur

Richard III

Edward IV

Correct! He never actually finished it and it was published after his death.

Wrong! It was Richard III.

Q5) Who wrote "The Book of The Courtier", which was published in 1528 and which is considered one of the most important Renaissance works of the Italian Renaissance?

Niccolò Machiavelli

Giovanni Della Casa

Stefano Guazzo

Baldassare Castiglione

Correct! Thomas Cromwell is believed to have owned a copy.

Wrong! It was Baldassare Castiglione. Thomas Cromwell is believed to have owned a copy.

Q6) Niccolò Machiavelli is famous for a political treatise in which he puts forward his views on the importance of a strong ruler who was not afraid to be harsh with his subjects and enemies, what was it called?

Il Principe

Discorsi

Mandragola

Asino d'oro

Correct! Otherwise known as The Prince.

Wrong! It was Il Principe, or The Prince.

Q7) In which year is Martin Luther said to have posted his "The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" on the door of All Saints Church, Wittenberg?

1515

1519

1521

1517

Correct! Although it is unclear whether the work was actually posted on the church door.

Wrong! It was in 1517, although it is unclear whether the work was actually posted on the church door.

Q8) This press was granted letters patent in 1534 by Henry VIII and is the world's oldest printing and publishing house.

Oxford University Press

Cambridge University Press

The Stationers' Company

London Press

Correct!

Wrong! It's Cambridge University Press.

Q9) Who wrote the late 16th century epic poem "The Faerie Queene"?

Philip Sidney

William Shakespeare

Edmund Spenser

Thomas Kyd

Correct!

Wrong! It was Edmund Spenser

Q10) In 1544 Catherine Parr anonymously published her English translation of "Psalmi seu precationes" (Psalms or Prayers). Who wrote the original?

Thomas More

John Fisher

Thomas Wolsey

Henry VIII

Correct!

Wrong! It was John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and he published it in around 1525.

Q11) In 1545, Roger Ascham, scholar and tutor to Princess Elizabeth, published his work "Toxophilus" - what was its subject?

Poisons

Medicine

Education

Archery

Correct! Its full title was "Toxophilus or the Schole or Partitions of Shooting" and it was about longbow archery.

Wrong! It was about longbow archery and its full title was "Toxophilus or the Schole or Partitions of Shooting".