Enjoyed The Odyssey? Test Your Knowledge on Movies Adapted From Classic Literature
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From Page to Screen — How Well Do You Know Your Adaptations?
With Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey making waves, it's the perfect time to test your knowledge of films inspired by classic literature. From Homer to Shakespeare, Austen to Dickens, Hollywood has long raided the literary canon for its greatest stories.
These questions are ideal for a pub quiz literature or film round — or just to find out who at the table actually paid attention in English class.
Round 1: Classic Literature Adaptations (Films)
- Which 2000 Coen Brothers film is a loose retelling of Homer's The Odyssey, set in 1930s Mississippi? (Answer: O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
- Which Shakespeare play is the basis for the 1994 Disney film The Lion King? (Answer: Hamlet)
- The 1995 film Clueless is a modern adaptation of which Jane Austen novel? (Answer: Emma)
- Which Dickens novel was adapted into a 1998 film starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow? (Answer: Great Expectations)
- The film 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is based on which Shakespeare play? (Answer: The Taming of the Shrew)
- Which Mary Shelley novel inspired the 1994 film starring Robert De Niro and Kenneth Branagh? (Answer: Frankenstein)
- The 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary is loosely based on which Jane Austen novel? (Answer: Pride and Prejudice)
- Which Homer epic poem is the source material for the 2004 film Troy, starring Brad Pitt? (Answer: The Iliad)
- The 1995 film Se7en draws thematic inspiration from which ancient text? (Answer: The Seven Deadly Sins / Dante's Inferno)
- Which F. Scott Fitzgerald novel has been adapted into a major film multiple times, most recently in 2013 with Leonardo DiCaprio? (Answer: The Great Gatsby)
Round 2: Spot the Source Material
- The film Apocalypse Now (1979) is based on which Joseph Conrad novella? (Answer: Heart of Darkness)
- Which Shakespeare play inspired the 1996 Baz Luhrmann film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes? (Answer: Romeo and Juliet)
- The 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean shares thematic DNA with which classic adventure genre — but which 1883 novel is often cited as the original pirate adventure? (Answer: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson)
- Which Tolstoy novel was adapted into a 2016 BBC miniseries starring Paul Dano and Lily James? (Answer: War and Peace)
- The film O (2001) is a high school retelling of which Shakespeare tragedy? (Answer: Othello)
- Which Bram Stoker novel has been adapted into more films than almost any other work of fiction? (Answer: Dracula)
- The 1999 film Cruel Intentions is based on which 18th-century French novel? (Answer: Les Liaisons Dangereuses)
- Which Charles Dickens novel features the character Ebenezer Scrooge and has been adapted into countless films? (Answer: A Christmas Carol)
- The 2013 film Warm Bodies is a zombie retelling of which Shakespeare play? (Answer: Romeo and Juliet)
- Which Homer epic is Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey based on? (Answer: The Odyssey)
Bonus: Tricky Adaptation Trivia
- The film She's All That (1999) is based on which George Bernard Shaw play? (Answer: Pygmalion)
- Which Dostoevsky novel inspired the 1956 film The Brothers Karamazov? (Answer: The Brothers Karamazov)
- The 2015 film The Martian was adapted from a novel by which author? (Answer: Andy Weir)
- Which Jane Austen novel features the Bennet family and their five daughters? (Answer: Pride and Prejudice)
- The 1998 film Ever After is a retelling of which classic fairy tale? (Answer: Cinderella)
How Did You Score?
20–25: Literary genius. You've clearly read the books and watched the films.
13–19: Solid effort — you know your classics.
7–12: Not bad, but maybe time to dust off some Shakespeare.
0–6: Don't worry — the films are a great place to start!
Want a Ready-Made Literature or Film Quiz Round?
Save yourself the prep time with our ready-made pub quiz packs — professionally written rounds on film, literature, pop culture and more, ready to use on the night.