Literary quiz 2016: Christmas in books and music

So here it is … Slade in 1974. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

1. Which story begins with a Christmas goose being dropped in the street?

   1. Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Blue Carbuncle”

   2. Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep

   3. Charles Dickens’s The Haunted Man

2. In which literary work does a man dressed as a woman fall in love with a woman dressed as a man at Christmas?

   1. In which literary work does a man dressed as a woman fall in love with a woman dressed as a man at Christmas?

   2. The Picture of Dorian Gray

   3. Twelfth Night

   4. War and Peace

3. Who regrets the vulgarity of Christmas while Christmas shopping?

   1. Emma Woodhouse in Emma

   2. Mary Smith in Cranford

   3. Margaret Schlegel in Howards End

4. Which story features a mur-der-ous Christmas Day Punch and Judy show?

   1. Henry James’s “The Pretty Corner”

   2. MR James’s “The Story of an Appearance and a Disappearance”

   3. Charles Dickens’s “The Trial for Murder”

5. The protagonist of which novel sets out one Christmas on a long sea voyage?

   1. Treasure Island

   2. Moby-Dick

   3. Robinson Crusoe

6. A misanthrope’s neighbour tries to tempt him to church at Christmas by having her son sing carols to him and offering him lard cakes, in which novel?

   1. Silas Marner

   2. A Handful of Dust

   3. Wuthering Heights

7. 

   In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what presents does Father Christmas give Lucy?

   1. A bow and arrows

   2. A shield and a sword

   3. A healing cordial and a dagger

8. What is John Masefield, author of 1935 festive classic The Box of Delights, also known for?

   1. He was astronomer royal

   2. He was poet laureate

   3. He was dean of Westminster Abbey

9. In Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising, set over Christmas, which figure from English mythology makes an appearance?

   1. Merlin

   2. Herne the Hunter

   3. Gogmagog

10. From which town did Dr Seuss’s Grinch steal Christmas?

    1. Whoville

    2. Wellville

    3. Whereville

11. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, what do the Dursleys give Harry for Christmas?

    1. An invisibility cloak

    2. Bertie Botts’ vomit-flavoured jellybeans

    3. A 50-pence piece

12. Who says “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents”?

    1. Katy in What Katy Did

    2. Jo March in Little Women

    3. Laura in Little House on the Prairie

13. 

    In which year did “Merry Xmas Every-body” by Slade reach No 1?

    1. 1972

    2. 1973

    3. 1974

14. In which film did the song “White Christmas” first appear?

    1. White Christmas

    2. Going My Way

    3. Holiday Inn

15. Which much-loved artist had the UK No 1 Christmas single in 1993?

    1. Cliff Richard

    2. Mr Blobby

    3. Michael Jackson

16. Which song has twice been Christmas No 1 for the same artist(s)?

    1. "Mary's Boy Child"

    2. "Do They Know It's Christmas"

    3. "Bohemian Rhapsody"

17. Who released the 2009 album Christmas in the Heart?

    1. Robbie Williams

    2. Paul McCartney

    3. Bob Dylan

18. Chris Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” was inspired by a journey from London to where?

    1. Middlesbrough

    2. Manchester

    3. Macclesfield

Solutions

1:A, 2:C, 3:C, 4:B, 5:B, 6:A, 7:C, 8:B, 9:B, 10:A, 11:C, 12:B, 13:B, 14:C, 15:B, 16:C, 17:C, 18:A - Rea hails from Middlesbrough

Scores