Monstrous Trivia
By Deanna Mascle
1. The Abominable Snowman, Yeti, Bigfoot, and Sasquatch appear
in one form or another in which epics?
A. Ancient Sumaria epic
B. Russian literature
C. Anglo-Saxon literature
D. Greek mythology
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
TOPICS: The “wild man of the woods” is a familiar figure in
folklore from Enkidu of the Gilgamesh Epic, the Russian leshiy,
Grendel in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, and Silenus and the
satyrs in Greek mythology. Contemporary reports are regarded by
some as little more than modern variations of this ancient
theme, but it could be argued that the widespread presence of
these creatures in folklore indicates that they have actually
existed since ancient times and may still inhabit remote regions
of the earth. Some theorists propose that the sightings are of
an unknown species of ape or of isolated surviving Neandertal
specimens. Other theorists associate sightings of these
creatures with the activity of extraterrestrial beings.
2. During the times of wooden sailing vessels, sea serpents were
widely believed to have destroyed many ships. Scientific
evidence suggests what today?
A. A sea serpent is a marine creature of snakelike form and
monstrous size
B. A large sea serpent is alive and well in Loch Ness
C. Exaggerated descriptions of sea snakes or oarfishes have
probably been responsible for most reports of sea serpents
D. Floating seaweeds have probably also contributed to this myth
E. There is no scientific evidence as yet supports the existence
of snakelike sea monsters
E. There is no scientific evidence as yet supports the existence
of snakelike sea monsters
TOPICS: Of course our oceans are the last frontier with many
unexplored regions and new species being discovered all the
time, so who really knows? Or perhaps they were a holdover from
the time of the dinosaurs that has only died out in modern
times?
3. Which is NOT another word for demon?
A. Panis
B. Jinn
C. Oni
D. Fata
D. Fata
TOPICS: Hindu scriptures called the Vedas, composed between
about 1500 BCE and about 1000 BCE, describe a variety of evil
beings, including the asuras and the panis, who harm people and
work against the Hindu gods. Muslim writings describe a group of
evil beings, called jinn, who cause destruction and preside over
places where evil activities take place. The words fae and
faerie came to English from Old French which originated in the
Latin word "Fata"
4. Demons are a part of folklore throughout the world including
such familiar creatures as vampires, who suck the blood of
living victims. Which demon is not correctly matched to its
power?
A. The storm-bringing oni
B. The drowning kelpy
C. Iblis the fire-bringer
D. Daimon delivering punishment from the Gods
C. Iblis the fire-bringer
TOPICS: the Japanese oni are said to bring on storms. In
Scotland kelpies haunt pools the better to drown unwary
travelers. The original jinn (from Islam) was called Iblis, who
was cast out by Allah for refusing to worship Adam, the first
man. The study of demons is called demonology. Some ancient
societies, including those in Egypt and Babylonia (now Iraq),
believed that such spirits were responsible for the functions of
the body and that demons caused specific illnesses. The word
demon originated from an ancient Greek term, daimon, which
referred to beings whose special powers placed them between
people and the gods. These beings had the ability either to
improve people's lives or carry out the punishment of the gods.
5. Which quality is not true of the dragon?
A. Reptilian
B. Winged
C. Fire breathing
D. Hooved
D. Hooved
TOPICS: The dragon is a legendary reptilian monster, rather
serpent-like in form, that is usually represented as having
wings, huge claws, and fiery breath.
6. In some folklore of antiquity, the dragon symbolizes
destruction and evil while others attributed more beneficent
powers to the beast. Which belief is not accurately matched to
its believers?
A. Mesopotamia linked the dragon to chaos and destruction
B. Ancient Hebrews and Christians both portray the dragon as a
symbol of death and evil
C. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that dragons had the
ability to understand and to convey to mortals the secrets of
the earth
D. Among the Chinese people, the dragon is traditionally
regarded as a symbol of bad luck
D. Among the Chinese people, the dragon is traditionally
regarded as a symbol of bad luck
TOPICS: In Christian art, the dragon is a symbol of sin. It is
often represented as crushed under the feet of saints and
martyrs, symbolizing the triumph of Christianity over paganism.
The dragon is deified in the Daoist (Taoist) religion and was
the national emblem of the Chinese Empire. .
7. Who were the Titans?
A. The demons who created the world, according to Norse
mythology
B. The first dragons, according to Chinese mythology
C. A monstrous breed of sea serpents, according to Egyptian
mythology
D. The supreme rulers of the universe, according to Greek
mythology
D. The supreme rulers of the universe, according to Greek
mythology
TOPICS: The Titans were giants who were similar to humans but
possessed immense size and strength. Titans, in Greek mythology,
12 children of Uranus and Gaea, Heaven and Earth, and some of
the children of the 12. Often called the Elder Gods, they were
for many ages the supreme rulers of the universe and were of
enormous size and incredibly strong. Cronus, the most important
of the Titans, ruled the universe until he was dethroned by his
son Zeus, who seized power for himself.
8. Vampires are known to be dead people who rises from the grave
during the night, often in the form of a bat, to suck the blood
of sleeping humans. Various talismans and herbs supposedly avert
vampires, but what can destroy a vampire?
A. Sunlight
B. Cremation
C. Stake through the heart
D. B or C
D. B or C
TOPICS: While popular media have perpetuated the idea of
sunlight as the enemy of vampires most older literature does not
support this theory. According to tradition, they can be
destroyed only by cremation or by stakes driven through their
hearts. Belief in vampires originated in ancient times and was
especially widespread among the Slavs.
9. The Werewolf, according to ancient superstition, is a man who
is transformed, or transforms himself, into a wolf in nature and
appearance. Werewolf is an Old English word that means what?
A. Man-wolf
B. Man-monster
C. Not-wolf
D. Monster-wolf
A. Man-wolf
TOPICS: In Old English werewulf means man-wolf. The werewolf,
sometimes transformed under the influence of a full moon, roams
about at night, devouring infants or corpses. Stories of such
transformations are given in the works of several classical
writers and the superstition was common throughout Europe in
late medieval times, when many men were accused and convicted of
being werewolves. The term lycanthropy refers to the delusion
that one has become a wolf.
10. How old was Mary Shelley when she conceived and wrote
"Frankenstein"?
A. 10
B. 20
C. 40
D. 60
B. 20
TOPICS: Mary Shelley (1797-1851), published her first and most
important work, the novel Frankenstein, in 1818 when she was 20.
The work was an immediate critical and popular success and has
been repeatedly dramatized for both the theater and motion
pictures. The story of Frankenstein, a student of the occult,
and the monster he assembles from parts of human corpses added a
new word to the English language: A “Frankenstein” is any
creation that ultimately destroys its creator.
About the Author: Deanna Mascle shares more Fun
Facts with her trivia blog at http://trivialtopics.net
Source: www.isnare.com
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