Ever played Final Jeopardy! and found yourself stumped by the last answer, that one final hurdle between you and absolute victory? You're not alone. But don't worry, we've got a rundown of some of the most challenging Final Jeopardy answers and categories, so you can brush up and impress your friends or opponents next time you play.
Final Jeopardy, also known as "The King of Games," is where champions are made and legends are born. The clue, revealed on the iconic Lear jet-shaped sign, is worth $2,000 and can test the most seasoned trivia buff. Let's dive into some of the most memorable Final Jeopardy answers, past and present.
Literature Final Jeopardy Answers
Literature is a fan favorite, but it can also be a minefield. Remember when Alex Trebek revealed, "The last words in 'Moby-Dick' are, 'Well, then, call me Ishmael'?" Alex might as well have said, "Shiver thy timbers, you're going home!"
But the ultimate literary mind bender? "XXIII books of the Old Testament" stumped contestants in 2003. Only the most devout Bible scholars knew the answer: "The 23rd book of the Old Testament is 'Daniel'."
Novels
Novels can trip up even the most avid readers. In 2006, the clue was, "This novel's protagonist is identified only as 'Ich.'" Many contestants fell for 'Ich' being German for 'I,' thinking of "The Name of the Rose." But the correct answer was Robert Walser's "Jakob von Gunten"!
In 2013, the clue was, "The title character of this novel by Gabriel García Márquez first says the name of this Connor in 1962." Only a fraction of players knew it was "Connor McKenzie" from "One Hundred Years of Solitude"!"
Poetry
Poetry can be even trickier. In 2015, the category was "Famous Last Lines." The clue was, "That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." Only die-hard Lovecraft fans knew this line from "The Call of Cthulhu"!
And who could forget the 2017 "WWDHDL" clue, "What Would Dickens Have Done with Length?" Answer? "A Tale of Two Cities" – "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... correspondingly negligible number of words."
History Final Jeopardy Answers
History lovers beware: Final Jeopardy has a habit of ’80s-ing the contestants. In 1992, the clue was, "In 1865, this man successfully plotted to assassinate Abraham Lincoln." Only the history buffs knew John Wilkes Booth wasn't the only conspirator: the answer was Lewis Powell.
In 2010, Alex Trebek asked, "This English king, who died in 1066, had once been the Duke of Normandy." Many players thought of William III or IV, but the correct response was William the Conqueror.
United States History
American history experts, step up! In 2016, the clue was, "This 34th president had a heart attack while playing golf on this Marine Corps base in 1955." Most players thought of Camp Pendleton, but it was Brig. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's Pine Knoll course at Camp David.
In 2019, the super�画 final answer came: "This statesman's second inaugural address, given on March 4, 1865, concluded with the words, 'With malice toward none; with charity for all... let us strive on to finish the work we are in... to bind up the nation's wounds... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.'" Only the most studious knew it was Abraham Lincoln's.
World History
World history aficionados, gather 'round! In 1999, the clue was, "This 2nd-century B.C.Chinese emperor is credited with inventing paper." Many players thought of Confucius, but it was Cai Lun.
In 2008, the final answer was, "The world's oldest continuously operating parliament is in this Reykjavik-bound country." Cue the puzzled looks... answer: Iceland's Althingi.
So, the next time you find yourself stuck on that Final Jeopardy answer, remember, it's not just about knowing the facts, it's about knowing the forgotten, the obscure, the obscure within the forgotten. And who knows, maybe you'll be the one facing Alex Trebek with that knowing smirk, confidently buzzing in with the winning answer.