Matsuo Basho Quiz Questions
1. Matsuo Basho was a renowned poet from which country?
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) Korea
(d) India
2. What is the primary form of poetry that Matsuo Basho is associated with?
(a) Sonnet
(b) Ode
(c) Haiku
(d) Epic
3. Matsuo Basho lived during which period in Japanese history?
(a) Heian Period
(b) Kamakura Period
(c) Muromachi Period
(d) Edo Period
4. How many lines are typically found in a haiku?
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 5
5. A haiku follows a specific syllable count pattern. What is it?
(a) 5-7-5
(b) 7-5-7
(c) 5-5-7
(d) 7-7-5
6. Haiku often focus on nature. Which of the following is a common theme in Basho’s haiku?
(a) Love and romance
(b) War and conflict
(c) The fleeting nature of life
(d) Political commentary
7. Which of the following is a famous haiku by Matsuo Basho?
(a) “Autumn moon – A frosted leaf/On a withered branch.”
(b) “The old pond – A frog jumps in – The sound of water.”
(c) “Winter moon – A crow cries alone/In the withered fields.”
(d) “Summer grass – A dream of the past – A butterfly flits.”
8. In the haiku “An old pond – A frog jumps in – The sound of water,” what is the central image?
(a) The old pond
(b) The frog
(c) The sound of water
(d) The fleeting moment
9. Matsuo Basho is famous for his travelogue called:
(a) “The Tale of Genji”
(b) “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
(c) “The Pillow Book”
(d) “The Tale of Heike”
10. In “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” Basho describes his journey through:
(a) The mountains of Japan
(b) The coastal regions of Japan
(c) The cities of Japan
(d) The countryside of Japan
11. Matsuo Basho’s poetry has influenced which of the following?
(a) Modern Japanese literature
(b) Western haiku poets
(c) Contemporary music
(d) All of the above
12. Which Western poet is known for writing haiku-inspired poems?
(a) William Shakespeare
(b) Robert Frost
(c) Ezra Pound
(d) Walt Whitman
13. Matsuo Basho’s philosophy emphasized:
(a) Material wealth
(b) Political power
(c) The simple life and connection with nature
(d) Religious devotion
14. Basho often used the concept of “karumi,” which translates to:
(a) Heaviness
(b) Lightness
(c) Darkness
(d) Strength
15. Basho often used which literary technique to create a sense of immediacy and presence?
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Personification
(d) Kigo
16. What was Matsuo Basho’s original name before he adopted the pen name “Basho”?
(a) Munefusa
(b) Kinjo
(c) Sosetsu
(d) Sotsu
17. Matsuo Basho died in the year:
(a) 1644
(b) 1666
(c) 1694
(d) 1716
18. What is the significance of Basho’s “Narrow Road” journey?
(a) It was a pilgrimage to a sacred shrine
(b) It was a search for personal enlightenment
(c) It was a political mission
(d) It was a literary tour
19. The concept of “wabi-sabi” is often associated with Matsuo Basho’s poetry. What does wabi-sabi emphasize?
(a) Perfection and beauty
(b) Wealth and power
(c) Simplicity and finding beauty in imperfection
(d) Religious devotion
20. Basho’s poetry often evokes a sense of:
(a) Loneliness and isolation
(b) Joy and celebration
(c) Anger and frustration
(d) Love and passion
21. Matsuo Basho was a proponent of:
(a) Materialism
(b) Consumerism
(c) Minimalism
(d) Hedonism
22. Basho’s poetry often explores the relationship between:
(a) Humans and technology
(b) Humans and animals
(c) Humans and nature
(d) Humans and gods
23. What is the name of Basho’s famous travelogue?
(a) “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
(b) “The Path of the Wanderer”
(c) “The Journey of the Sage”
(d) “The Road to Enlightenment”
24. In what century did Matsuo Basho live?
(a) 16th century
(b) 17th century
(c) 18th century
(d) 19th century
25. Where was Matsuo Basho born?
(a) Kyoto
(b) Edo (Tokyo)
(c) Osaka
(d) Ueno, in Iga Province
Matsuo Basho Quiz Questions with Answers
1. Matsuo Basho was a renowned poet from which country?
(b) Japan
2. What is the primary form of poetry that Matsuo Basho is associated with?
(c) Haiku
3. Matsuo Basho lived during which period in Japanese history?
(d) Edo Period
4. How many lines are typically found in a haiku?
(b) 3
5. A haiku follows a specific syllable count pattern. What is it?
(a) 5-7-5
6. Haiku often focus on nature. Which of the following is a common theme in Basho’s haiku?
(c) The fleeting nature of life
7. Which of the following is a famous haiku by Matsuo Basho?
(b) “The old pond – A frog jumps in – The sound of water.”
8. In the haiku “An old pond – A frog jumps in – The sound of water,” what is the central image?
(d) The fleeting moment
9. Matsuo Basho is famous for his travelogue called:
(b) “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
10. In “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” Basho describes his journey through:
(a) The mountains of Japan
11. Matsuo Basho’s poetry has influenced which of the following?
(d) All of the above
12. Which Western poet is known for writing haiku-inspired poems?
(c) Ezra Pound
13. Matsuo Basho’s philosophy emphasized:
(c) The simple life and connection with nature
14. Basho often used the concept of “karumi,” which translates to:
(b) Lightness
15. Basho often used which literary technique to create a sense of immediacy and presence?
(d) Kigo
16. What was Matsuo Basho’s original name before he adopted the pen name “Basho”?
(a) Munefusa
17. Matsuo Basho died in the year:
(c) 1694
18. What is the significance of Basho’s “Narrow Road” journey?
(b) It was a search for personal enlightenment
19. The concept of “wabi-sabi” is often associated with Matsuo Basho’s poetry. What does wabi-sabi emphasize?
(c) Simplicity and finding beauty in imperfection
20. Basho’s poetry often evokes a sense of:
(a) Loneliness and isolation
21. Matsuo Basho was a proponent of:
(c) Minimalism
22. Basho’s poetry often explores the relationship between:
(c) Humans and nature
23. What is the name of Basho’s famous travelogue?
(a) “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”
24. In what century did Matsuo Basho live?
(b) 17th century
25. Where was Matsuo Basho born?
(d) Ueno, in Iga Province