What do you know about Gothic architecture? Take our gothic architecture quiz!

CORRECT ANSWERS: 0

Long before the term was used to refer to that weird, pale kid next door, Gothic was a style of architecture. In this quiz we'll learn what made Gothic architecture all the rage in medieval Europe.

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Question 2 of 21

What did the term "Gothic" originally mean?

dark
rude and barbaric
ornate

... Proponents of classical architecture derisively referred to this angular style as "gothic," after the "rude and barbaric" tribes of Germanic Goths.

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Question 3 of 21

During what years did Gothic architecture flourish?

1600s to 1800s
late 12th to mid-16th centuries
14th to 16th centuries

... Gothic architecture originated in France in the late 12th century and spread throughout Europe through the mid-1500s.

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Question 4 of 21

What is a rose window?

a window dedicated to the Virgin Mary
a circular window divided into segments
a picture window

... This round, segmented window is a central feature in Gothic cathedrals.

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Question 5 of 21

What was the enclosed doorway at the western end of a cathedral called?

sunset portal
nave
Galilee porch

... The term Galilee porch refers to Christ leading his disciples into Galilee after his resurrection.

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Question 6 of 21

Gargoyles are a favorite sight on Gothic cathedrals. What function do they serve?

protection from evil spirits
rain spouts
lightning rods

... Carved into the shapes of animals or demons, gargoyles serve as rain spouts.

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Question 7 of 21

What is a flying buttress?

a gargoyle with wings
a tall tower
a wall support

... A symbol of the Gothic style, a supportive flying buttress is arched and connects with a load-bearing wall.

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Question 8 of 21

What is considered the first building in Gothic style?

Windsor Castle
the Church of Saint-Denis
Notre Dame Cathedral

... The Church of Saint-Denis in France was completed in 1144.

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Question 9 of 21

What is the tallest church in the world?

Ulm Minster
Westminster Abbey
Notre Dame Cathedral

... The Gothic-style Ulm Minster, begun in 1377, but not finished until 1890, has a tower that soars to 528 feet (160.9 meters).

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Question 10 of 21

What did innovations in wall support allow in a Gothic building?

porticos
columns
more windows

... Flying buttress and ribbed vaults meant walls did not have to be so substantial, allowing for more windows.

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Question 11 of 21

What common type of Gothic arch looks as though it's been flattened?

two-dimensional arch
lancet arch
depressed arch

... The depressed arch, wider that it is tall, seems to have been flattened.

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Question 12 of 21

Where could you find the Five Sisters Window?

York Minster
Westminster Abbey
Florence Cathedral

... The Five Sisters is in York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.

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Question 13 of 21

This Paris church is known for its numerous stained glass windows.

Notre Dame Cathedral
La Sainte-Chappelle
Chateau de Vincennes

... La Sainte-Chappelle was consecrated in 1248.

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Question 14 of 21

How many years did it take to build Notre Dame Cathedral?

25
103
182

... Initial construction took 182 years, but renovations have continued through the centuries.

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Question 15 of 21

What is an example of Early English Gothic style?

Westminster Abbey
St. Paul's Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral

... Early English is often called lancet style, and Salisbury Cathedral boasts many narrow lancet windows.

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Question 16 of 21

What is Europe's oldest active synagogue?

Old Synagogue
Old New Synagogue
New Synagogue

... Old New Synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic, was finished in 1270 and was one of Prague's first Gothic buildings.

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Question 17 of 21

Who built Malbork Castle?

the Pope
William the Conqueror
Teutonic Knights

... The Teutonic Knights completed the brick Gothic structure in 1406.

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Question 18 of 21

What was the resurgence of Gothic architecture in the 1800s called?

Gothic revival
neo-Gothic
both the above

... Gothic revival, or neo-Gothic, was a movement that took hold in England in the 19th century.

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Question 19 of 21

In what year was Henry VII Lady Chapel completed?

1526
1426
1256

... Henry VII Lady Chapel, finished in 1526, at Westminster Abbey, is considered to be the last true Gothic building.

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Question 20 of 21

What did the architectural details of a Gothic cathedral convey?

the wealth of the patron
the power of the church
the majesty of God

... Every feature, from the massive size to the decoration, was purportedly meant to illustrate the majesty of God.

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Question 21 of 21

What building was called the "Cathedral of Commerce" upon its 1913 completion?

the Empire State Building
the Woolworth Building
the New York Stock Exchange

... The Woolworth Building's soaring spire is reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral.

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