Poetry Trivia Questions
In case you missed them, here are the past five Columbia Granger's World of Poetry trivia questions of the day.
February 8
February 7
Question:
What twentieth century Spanish poet's works were banned in his country for 40 years after his assassination at the hands of a nationalist militia?
Answer
Federico García Lorca. After being shot by Franco's forces in Granada (for either his homosexuality or his liberal politics, or both) and thrown in an unmarked grave, García Lorca's works were largely banned in Spain until Franco's death.
February 6
Question:
What Cuban poet and writer is famous for his role in liberating Cuba from Spain in the 1890s?
Answer
José Martí. In 1895, Martí published the Manifesto of Montecristi , proclaiming the independence of Cuba from Spain and the equality of all races. The same year, Martí was killed fighting the Spanish alongside other Cuban patriots during the Spanish American War.
February 5
Question:
What poet had the nickname "Possum"?
Answer
T.S. Eliot. Ezra Pound gave him the name, which appears in Pisan Canto 74. ("Yet say this to the Possum, a bang, not a whimper / with a bang not with a whimper.") Eliot took up the name for his final work, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats .
February 4
Question:
What English Romantic poet died while in Greece to help the cause of liberty?
Answer
Lord Byron. Byron didn't see military action in Greece; he was there to fight for Greek independence from Turkey when he was struck down by a fever which he contracted while planning a bold attack on the Turkish fortress at Lepanto.
