Name the Wands card from its scene: a tarot quiz
A balcony over the sea, an arch with bouquets, a scuffle on a ploughed field, a rider by an arena: name the Wands card from its scene. Five a round.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
How do you recognize a Wands card by its scene?
In this quiz you read a short description of a scene and pick which of four Wands cards it belongs to. The descriptions come from what is actually painted on the cards of the Tayna deck: the people, their poses and clothes, the landscape and the time of day. Each round has five questions out of twelve.
The quiz trains your visual memory. Once you can recognize a scene at a glance, the meaning of the card tends to surface on its own: in tarot the picture is not decoration but a clue.
What should you look at so you don't mix them up?
Start with the people. How many are there, what are they doing, where are they looking? One figure on a balcony is weighing a choice, a group under an arch is celebrating, young men on a ploughed field are clashing, a rider with a wreath is being cheered. The pose nearly always says more than the background.
Then look at the setting. The sea with ships, a castle behind the figures, a dusty road to a village, a hilltop, a rocky ledge above a valley: each card has its own landscape, and it is tied to the meaning. Somewhere the hero stands high and holds the line, somewhere he trudges under a load, somewhere he gazes far ahead.
Finally, notice the light. The fire suit is full of sunset and evening skies, and that is no accident: the fire here is warm and alive, sometimes tired at the end of the day. Compare a few cards side by side and you will see how one story of the suit unfolds from scene to scene.
How to play
Choose one of the four cards, then read the explanation, which points out the giveaway detail and what it means. You cannot change an answer, but you can replay as much as you like, with scenes reshuffled each time. A flawless round earns Tayna keys.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. Which Wands card shows a figure in a red cloak on a stone balcony?
Right answer: Two of Wands
A balcony above a sea with ships is the Two of Wands: a view from above and a choice of where to aim.
2. On which Wands card do two people raise bouquets under an arch?
Right answer: Four of Wands
An arch of wands, petals and guests by a castle: the celebration of the Four of Wands, a first shared milestone.
3. All four Wands court cards are set in the middle of a desert.
Right answer: Myth
The Page and Knight are among desert peaks, but the Queen and King sit on thrones decorated with lions.
4. On which Wands card does a man glance over his shoulder, as if expecting another trial?
Right answer: Nine of Wands
A bandaged head, torn clothes and a wary look: the Nine of Wands, the last line of defense.
5. On which Wands card does a youth in a green tunic stand on a hilltop, feet planted wide?
Right answer: Seven of Wands
A hilltop and a wand held on a diagonal: the Seven of Wands, holding your ground under pressure from below.
6. On which Wands card do young men clash noisily on freshly ploughed ground?
Right answer: Five of Wands
Clods of earth flying and wands crossed overhead: the Five of Wands, a contest of equals with no winner yet.
7. What do the scenes of the Two and Three of Wands share?
Right answer: A view of the sea with ships
Both show a sea with ships below: first the view and the choice of a path, then waiting for results.
8. On which Wands card does a figure in a red tunic trudge down a dusty road toward a village?
Right answer: Ten of Wands
A bent back, a dusty road and red-roofed houses ahead: the Ten of Wands, a heavy load near the finish.
9. On which Wands card does a rider pass the arches of a great stone arena?
Right answer: Six of Wands
Banners, petals and an arena in the distance: the Six of Wands, coming home with a win for all to see.
10. Sunset or evening light is a common detail on the Wands cards.
Right answer: True
The sun sets on the Two, the Four, the Nine and behind the Page, and the King's castle stands in evening light.
11. On which Wands card does a figure in a green cloak stand with their back to us on a rocky headland?
Right answer: Three of Wands
A headland, a sunset bay and ships far off: the Three of Wands, a venture sent out into the world.
12. Which Wands card has no people at all, with a quiet lake valley below?
Right answer: Eight of Wands
No people, just wands flying in formation over a lake and hills: the Eight of Wands, everything in motion.