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Fun Trivia : Shakespeare Encyclopedia FunTrivia

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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information

  • There are a total of 455 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.

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Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

    Shakespeare

    In the movie 'Shakespeare in Love' what work was young Will writing that turned out to be one of his most famous plays?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Romeo and Juliet.

    What year was Shakespeare born?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      1564.

    What is Hamlet's mother's name?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Gertrude.

    How many of Shakespeare's plays were published during his lifetime?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      18.

    What Lethal Weapon actor starred in a somewhat recent version of Hamlet?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Mel Gibson.

    What solo singing artist's CD shares the same name as Hamlet's Ophelia?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Natalie Merchant.

    Whom does the king send to spy on Hamlet?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

    In 'The Winter's Tale' who is Leontes wife?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Hermione.

    In 'Julius Caesar', who is the conspirator who convinces Brutus to go against Caesar?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Cassius.

    What are the two family names in Romeo and Juliet?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Montague and Capulet .

    What Titanic actor starred in the Modern version of Romeo and Juliet?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Leonardo DiCaprio .

    What band sang the song 'Henry The Eight', the same name as one of Shakespeare's plays?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Herman's Hermits.

    When Hamlet's father dies, his brother takes the throne and also marries his wife. What is this brother's name?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Claudius.

    Who is Romeo in love with before he meets Juliet, who never appears as a character in the play?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      Rosaline.

    In 'Henry the Fourth', what country is Henry the king of?A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia

      England.

    The rock-opera musical 'Hair' may seem an unusual place to find Shakespeare, but near the end of the second act, two cast members recite a passage from the Bard. Which play is it from?Shakespeare and More

      Hamlet. 'What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason!' This passage can be found in 'Hamlet', Act II, scene II, when the young prince is speaking to his 'friends' Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

    Which play was 'West Side Story' based on?Shakespeare and More

      Romeo and Juliet. This 1961 remake of Shakespeare's most famous play featured warring street gangs. Originally, the conflict was to be over religion, not race. Maria was supposed to be Roman Catholic and Tony Jewish. But the producers and directors considered the religious conflict too trite and it was changed to a racial issue. Which is a little like 'Othello', I guess!

    How many lines are in a Shakespearean sonnet?Shakespeare and More

      Fourteen. A Shakespearean sonnet contains fourteen lines of ten syllables each, written in iambic pentameter. The last two lines are a couplet. Shakespeare wrote well over a hundred sonnets.

    Who wrote the famous song, 'Greensleeves'?Shakespeare and More

      No one knows for sure. Though occasionally accredited to the Bard, and more often to King Henry VIII of England, 'Greensleeves' was penned by an unknown author.

    Which of Henry VIII's wives appear in Shakespeare's play, 'Henry VIII'?Shakespeare and More

      Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. The play is only about Henry's first two wives. This is the order in which he married and divorced: Catherine of Aragon (his brother's widow, divorced), Anne Boleyn (the mother of Elizabeth I, beheaded), Jane Seymour (gave him a son, died shortly after), Anna of Cleves (divorced), Catherine Howard (beheaded), Catherine Parr (survived her horny husband). There. Recite THOSE and show everyone how smart you are!

    Which is NOT one of the 'Great Tragedies' of Shakespeare?Shakespeare and More

      'Cymbeline'. 'Cymbeline' is not considered a great tragedy, probably because it doesn't have the depth and richness of his other plays. Also because it's one of the romances, along with 'Measure for Measure', 'The Tempest' and 'The Winter's Tale'. (Thanks for the help, scottandrewh!

    Which Shakespearean character is NOT one of the daughters of 'King Lear'?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Katharina. Katharina comes from 'Taming of the Shrew'

    Of which character does Hamlet remark: 'Thou wretched, rash intruding fool'?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Polonius. Lots of people fare poorly in this one.

    Everyone knows that Brutus betrayed 'Julius Caesar'. What happened to Brutus at the end of the play?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      He committed suicide. Murderers can't enjoy happy endings

    Which character is NOT in 'The Tempest'?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Puck. Puck is from 'Midsummer Night's Dream'

    'Othello' kills Desdemona because he believes that she has betrayed him with another man. Who is this 'other man'?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Cassio. Iago's work - pure evil.

    In 'Antony and Cleopatra', Antony meets defeat. Who is the victor?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Octavian. Octavian is also known as Octavius and as Augustus Caesar

    In 'Macbeth', the murder of the king is the pivotal act about which the story revolves. Who is the king?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Duncan. Good King Duncan

    'Troilus and Cressida' uses what war as background?Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas

      Trojan War. Colorful characters from mythology abound

    'O for a muse of fire,that would ascend the brightest heaven of {invention;} a kingdom for a stage, princes to act, and monarchs to behold the swelling scene.' Is the opening line to which play?Shakespeare-

      Henry V.

    What is the name of Othello's wife?Shakespeare-

      Desdemona.

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