Q 01/05

In which month does the Swedish Academy normally announce the literature laureate?

A) October

B) December

C) May

D) February

Answer · why

A) October

Literature is traditionally the last of the prizes presented at the December ceremony.

Q 02/05

Alfred Nobel's will says the literature prize should go to work 'in an ___ direction'.

A) Truthful

B) Idealistic

C) Humane

D) Beautiful

Answer · why

B) Idealistic

The Swedish word idealisk has been reinterpreted repeatedly, from 'lofty idealism' to championing human rights.

Q 03/05

Alfred Nobel signed his final will in Paris in which year?

A) 1888

B) 1878

C) 1895

D) 1901

Answer · why

C) 1895

He left 94 per cent of his assets, 31 million kronor, to fund the five prizes.

Q 04/05

Who was the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1901?

A) Leo Tolstoy

B) Rudyard Kipling

C) Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

D) Sully Prudhomme

Answer · why

D) Sully Prudhomme

The French poet won on his first nomination; Tolstoy never won at all.

Q 05/05

Who is the youngest ever literature laureate, aged 41 in 1907?

A) Rudyard Kipling

B) Albert Camus

C) Sinclair Lewis

D) Boris Pasternak

Answer · why

A) Rudyard Kipling

He was also the first English-language recipient.