Quizzes

Quiz: Which Literary Creature Are You?

Steph Auteri

Senior Contributor

Steph Auteri is a journalist who has written for the Atlantic, the Washington Post, Pacific Standard, VICE, and elsewhere. Her more creative work has appeared in Creative Nonfiction, under the gum tree, Poets & Writers, and other publications, and she is the Essays Editor for Hippocampus Magazine. Her essay, "The Fear That Lives Next to My Heart," published in Southwest Review, was listed as a Notable Essay in Best American Essays 2021. She also writes bookish stuff here and at the Feminist Book Club, is the author of A Dirty Word, and is the founder of Guerrilla Sex Ed. When not working, she enjoys yoga, embroidery, singing, cat snuggling, and staring at the birds in her backyard feeder. You can learn more at stephauteri.com and follow her on Insta/Threads at @stephauteri.

This quiz to find your literary creature match is sponsored by How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery.

A restorative memoir from author, naturalist, and adventurer Sy Montgomery reflects on the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals—Sy’s friends—and the truths revealed by their grace. It also explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world.


As the Halloween season (and yes, it is a full-on season) approaches, it seems people can’t help but get into the holiday spirit. People are plastering their walls with creepy decor. Putting together their costumes. Streaming their favorite horror flicks. Adding to the stack of horror novels on their nightstand.

But…but what if you could live your favorite horror novel? Think about it. If you could be any terrifying creature from literature, which one would you be? Take the quiz below to find out.

Did we get you? Are you inspired to get in touch with your evil side?