Where tarot figures look: a quiz on the gaze
The King of Swords' level stare, the Hanged Man's closed eyes, a dancer's turned back: name the cards from where their figures look and read the hint.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
Why does it matter where a figure looks?
This quiz is about where the figures of the Tayna deck are looking. Whether a figure looks at us, into the distance, down, over a shoulder or nowhere at all often reveals the card's meaning as clearly as the objects in its hands. The questions check whether you remember these gazes and what they say.
A direct gaze usually means openness and honesty. The King of Swords sits upright and faces us, neither angry nor smiling, the look of someone ready to hear both sides. Justice looks calmly and directly at you: there is no hiding from this card, yet no reason to fear it, because it judges by facts.
A lowered or closed gaze points inward. The young man on the Four of Cups looks down and misses the cup being offered to him. The Hanged Man closes his eyes in a pause he has chosen, and the woman on the Nine of Pentacles closes hers in quiet confidence. The man on the Nine of Swords has buried his face in his hands and does not even glance at the swords: the weight comes from within.
Backs turned and glances over the shoulder
Figures with their backs to us can feel unsettling, but in our deck they are almost always an invitation. The middle dancer on the Three of Cups, wrapped in crimson, seems to ask you into the circle. The couple on the Ten of Cups delight in a rainbow, and the man on the Three of Wands watches his ships leave. A turned back means we are looking where the figure looks.
A glance over the shoulder signals alertness. The Page of Swords stands on a hill looking off to the side, not hostile, just unwilling to miss anything. The Page of Cups studies the fish from his cup calmly and with mild surprise, while the craftsman on the Eight of Pentacles never looks around at all: his whole attention sits beneath the chisel.
Each run draws five questions from a pool of twelve, with the options shuffled every time. Answers are final, but you can replay as often as you like. Tayna keys are awarded for a run with no mistakes. Every explanation links to the card page with the full scene, so if a picture slips your mind, take a look and try again.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. Which ruler faces us directly, ready to hear both sides?
Right answer: King of Swords
The King of Swords sits upright and faces us, neither angry nor smiling: the gaze of someone ready to hear both sides.
2. Where is the man on the Nine of Swords looking?
Right answer: Nowhere: face in his hands
His face is in his hands and he does not even look at the swords: the weight comes from within, like looping thoughts.
3. Which figure with its back to us seems to invite you into the circle?
Right answer: Three of Cups
The middle dancer on the Three of Cups turns her back to us in a crimson cloak and seems to invite you to join.
4. What does Justice's calm, direct gaze tell you?
Right answer: No hiding, but nothing to fear
There is no hiding from this card, but no reason to fear it either: Justice judges by facts, not by anxiety.
5. Whose eyes are lowered even though three whole cups stand in the grass before him?
Right answer: Four of Cups
The young man on the Four of Cups sits under a tree, arms crossed and eyes down, missing the fourth cup from the cloud.
6. If a figure on a card has its back to us, the card speaks of deceit.
Right answer: Myth
The man seeing off his ships on the Three of Wands and the couple greeting the rainbow on the Ten of Cups both face away.
7. Which rider has stopped to study a coin on his palm?
Right answer: Knight of Pentacles
The Knight of Pentacles' horse stands still while he studies the pentacle, weighing where to put his strength.
8. How does the Page of Cups look at the fish from his cup?
Right answer: Calmly, with mild surprise
He looks at the fish calmly and with mild surprise: he is just learning to understand his feelings, without fear.
9. Who tilts his head back to gaze up at the top of his wand?
Right answer: Page of Wands
The Page of Wands studies his wand as if realizing for the first time he holds a living flame: curiosity beats fear.
10. Why does the Page of Swords look off to the side, over his shoulder?
Right answer: He does not want to miss a thing
The Page stands on high ground and watches every direction: alert, but not hostile.
11. Who never looks around, with all attention on one point beneath the chisel?
Right answer: Eight of Pentacles
The Eight of Pentacles craftsman never looks around: his focus is on the chisel, his finished work hangs beside him.
12. What do The Hanged Man and the Nine of Pentacles woman share?
Right answer: Calmly closed eyes
The Hanged Man closes his eyes in a chosen pause, the Nine of Pentacles woman in calm confidence: nothing to prove.