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Quiz about Which Play
Quiz about Which Play

Which Play? Trivia Quiz


It struck me that if Shakespeare's plays had really happened, they'd be breaking news, so I've written some news stories about a few of his plays. Contains spoilers!

A multiple-choice quiz by VerticalDancer. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
316,069
Updated
Oct 08 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
4422
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (10/10), scottm (10/10), matthewpokemon (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. It has today been reported that there has been mass bloodshed in the royal family. It appears that not only has Princess Regan poisoned her sister, Princess Goneril, she has also committed suicide. Further, there are unconfirmed reports that King's estranged youngest daughter, Princess Cordelia, has been hanged by a ship's captain. The king himself, who has been reported to be in bad mental health for some time now, has died of grief. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In breaking news this evening, we have received unconfirmed reports that two dead teenagers have been found in the vault of one of the most prominent families in Verona. While names are restricted at this time, we have been informed that one is male and one is female, and according to locals near the scene, they had planned to marry against their families' wishes. Although medical details have not yet been released, it is rumoured that the girl committed suicide by stabbing herself, and it appears as though the boy drank a poisonous liquid. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Police today attended the scene of Dunsinane Castle in Scotland. Mass bloodshed has taken place at the castle, and the King of Scotland himself has been killed. Although the King has always been rumoured to be protected by a charm preventing him from being killed by any man born of a woman, reports say that Macduff, a man born by Caesarian section, was able to kill the King during battle. Scottish residents are said to be delighted that power has been seized by Malcolm. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In entertainment news this evening, it appears that Queen Titania, the queen of the fairies, has fallen for an amateur actor during his rehearsals in the forest surrounding Athens. No-one is more bemused than the actor himself, because as well as being the object of Titania's obsession, he woke up that morning to find himself with an ass's head instead of his own. It is rumoured that other love-triangles are afoot in the forest, as the well-known socialites Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena have also been seen arguing in the vicinity. Perhaps there is a Puckish influence in the forest lately? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. We have managed to obtain exclusive footage of Rosalind coming out of the Forest of Arden this evening. Rosalind, who was banished with her father by the presumptuous duke, was feared dead after her disappearance some weeks ago. However, it has emerged that she has been living in the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia, disguised as a man. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. And back to entertainment news, we are pleased to bring you footage of Petrucchio and Katharina's wedding in Padua this evening. Some viewers will recognise Petrucchio as the mysterious stranger who dropped into town a week ago and managed to sweep the tempestuous Katharina off her feet. Local residents have expressed no little surprise at this turn of events, as it was feared that Baptista, Katharina's long-suffering father, would never manage to marry her off due to her famed rages and short temper. We offer our congratulations to the happy couple and our very best wishes to Petrucchio in handling his new bride. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In gossip this evening, we are astounded to learn that Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio, has eloped with a sailor some twice her age. We have been reliably informed that, had it not been for the worthy efforts of Iago and Roderigo, Desdemona and her new husband would have set sail for Spain this evening. However, their plan was foiled and it appears that the Duke himself has had to be called in to settle the matter. As he has advised Brabantio to accept the marriage, it has been declared valid, but we believe that a marriage which starts in such an underhand way can only be doomed to disaster, particularly with the many green-eyed monsters surrounding both Desdemona and her husband. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In world news, we go live to our reporter in Greece, where a mass slaughter took place this afternoon. We understand that two men who had previously been scorned by various citizens of the capital returned with the intention of razing the city to the ground. Although one appears to have repented at the last minute, we understand that Alcibides has killed every person who slighted himself and his friend throughout the years. Sadly it appears that the other man, previously a wealthy benefactor in the city, has now died. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Still on world news, let's move on to Denmark, from where we have received disturbing news of insanity showing in the royal family. The heir presumptive appears to be seeing ghosts (namely, that of his father) and is reported to have been seen in a graveyard conversing with a skull which he has apparently named Yorick. Even more disturbingly, it appears that the prince may have killed the court chamberlain. He has been behaving so erratically that his girlfriend has been seen muttering to herself down by the river in a deranged fashion. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. To wrap up with an entertainment piece, we bring you some lighter news from Ephesus. It has been reported in the local press that two sets of twins were separated at birth with none of the twins being aware that he had a twin at all. One half of each set was sent to Syracuse and the other half remained in Ephesus. The Syracusian halves recently came to Ephesus, and there has been much confusion in the city with debt officers, abbesses, husbands, wives and girlfriends mistaking one set of twins for the other. This tale has a happy ending, however, as both sets of twins have now been reunited with each other and their loved ones. Hint





Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 1: 10/10
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Mar 17 2024 : matthewpokemon: 10/10
Feb 29 2024 : wwwocls: 5/10
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. It has today been reported that there has been mass bloodshed in the royal family. It appears that not only has Princess Regan poisoned her sister, Princess Goneril, she has also committed suicide. Further, there are unconfirmed reports that King's estranged youngest daughter, Princess Cordelia, has been hanged by a ship's captain. The king himself, who has been reported to be in bad mental health for some time now, has died of grief.

Answer: "King Lear"

"King Lear" is one of Shakespeare's tragedies (which may seem obvious from the above but then again, some of his comedies appear strangely like tragedies for me!). It starts with King Lear banishing his youngest daughter because she tells him she loves him as much as meat needs salt, which isn't quite good enough for the magnificently insecure king.
2. In breaking news this evening, we have received unconfirmed reports that two dead teenagers have been found in the vault of one of the most prominent families in Verona. While names are restricted at this time, we have been informed that one is male and one is female, and according to locals near the scene, they had planned to marry against their families' wishes. Although medical details have not yet been released, it is rumoured that the girl committed suicide by stabbing herself, and it appears as though the boy drank a poisonous liquid.

Answer: "Romeo and Juliet"

Another of the tragedies, "Romeo and Juliet" has been made into film many times, one of the most recent of which is Baz Luhrmann's version made in 1996 with Claire Danes and Leonardo di Caprio in the title roles.
3. Police today attended the scene of Dunsinane Castle in Scotland. Mass bloodshed has taken place at the castle, and the King of Scotland himself has been killed. Although the King has always been rumoured to be protected by a charm preventing him from being killed by any man born of a woman, reports say that Macduff, a man born by Caesarian section, was able to kill the King during battle. Scottish residents are said to be delighted that power has been seized by Malcolm.

Answer: "Macbeth"

"Macbeth" includes various forays into the completely surreal, including his meeting with three witches on the moor ("Bubble bubble toil and trouble ...") and the entirety of Birnam Wood moving slowly towards Dunsinane Castle (actually, Malcolm and Macduff's army is hidden behind it). It is reputed to be ill-luck to call it "Macbeth" and so it is also known as "The Scottish Play".
4. In entertainment news this evening, it appears that Queen Titania, the queen of the fairies, has fallen for an amateur actor during his rehearsals in the forest surrounding Athens. No-one is more bemused than the actor himself, because as well as being the object of Titania's obsession, he woke up that morning to find himself with an ass's head instead of his own. It is rumoured that other love-triangles are afoot in the forest, as the well-known socialites Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena have also been seen arguing in the vicinity. Perhaps there is a Puckish influence in the forest lately?

Answer: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

The fairy King, Oberon, had asked his servant to play a practical joke on his wife Titania by putting love drops in her eyes while she was sleeping. However as it turns out you can never trust a fairy servant these days and Puck managed to also put it onto Lysander's eyes, making him fall in love with Helena, while Titania fell in love with the actor whom Puck had bewitched to have an ass's head.
5. We have managed to obtain exclusive footage of Rosalind coming out of the Forest of Arden this evening. Rosalind, who was banished with her father by the presumptuous duke, was feared dead after her disappearance some weeks ago. However, it has emerged that she has been living in the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia, disguised as a man.

Answer: "As You Like It"

Unlike most of Shakespeare's plays which are definitively set in a specific country, the location of the Forest of Arden is never stated. It could refer to either Arden in England or the Ardennes in France. The play was probably published in around 1599/1600.
6. And back to entertainment news, we are pleased to bring you footage of Petrucchio and Katharina's wedding in Padua this evening. Some viewers will recognise Petrucchio as the mysterious stranger who dropped into town a week ago and managed to sweep the tempestuous Katharina off her feet. Local residents have expressed no little surprise at this turn of events, as it was feared that Baptista, Katharina's long-suffering father, would never manage to marry her off due to her famed rages and short temper. We offer our congratulations to the happy couple and our very best wishes to Petrucchio in handling his new bride.

Answer: "The Taming of the Shrew"

"The Taming of the Shrew" is possibly the least feminist play in the world, with Petrucchio's marriage to Katharina being due to a bet. Katharina is then subject to all kinds of reverse psychology until she's ready to swear that black is white if that is what Petrucchio wishes her to say.
7. In gossip this evening, we are astounded to learn that Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio, has eloped with a sailor some twice her age. We have been reliably informed that, had it not been for the worthy efforts of Iago and Roderigo, Desdemona and her new husband would have set sail for Spain this evening. However, their plan was foiled and it appears that the Duke himself has had to be called in to settle the matter. As he has advised Brabantio to accept the marriage, it has been declared valid, but we believe that a marriage which starts in such an underhand way can only be doomed to disaster, particularly with the many green-eyed monsters surrounding both Desdemona and her husband.

Answer: "Othello"

Agatha Christie's book "Curtain: Poirot's Last Case" was based around this play, and she describes Iago in the book as the perfect murderer. She states (through Poirot) that Shakespeare was backed into a corner by his own genius and had to resort to the handkerchief dropping incident in desperation in order to reveal Iago as the true murderer, which would never really have happened as Iago was too good.
8. In world news, we go live to our reporter in Greece, where a mass slaughter took place this afternoon. We understand that two men who had previously been scorned by various citizens of the capital returned with the intention of razing the city to the ground. Although one appears to have repented at the last minute, we understand that Alcibides has killed every person who slighted himself and his friend throughout the years. Sadly it appears that the other man, previously a wealthy benefactor in the city, has now died.

Answer: "Timon of Athens"

I hadn't read "Timon of Athens" until I researched for this quiz but it's really good! Poor Timon - he was the wealthy benefactor to all his friends, but when he lost his money they all turned against him. Timon took off to other parts and remade all his money, but swore vengeance on Athens.

When he met Alcibides, who had a similar grudge, they plotted to murder everyone in the city. Luckily Timon - who wasn't quite as sensitive about the whole situation - pulled out and managed to convince Alcibides only to murder the men who had slighted himself and Timon.

Whilst this might not be a perfect result, it was better than the alternative of murdering them all!
9. Still on world news, let's move on to Denmark, from where we have received disturbing news of insanity showing in the royal family. The heir presumptive appears to be seeing ghosts (namely, that of his father) and is reported to have been seen in a graveyard conversing with a skull which he has apparently named Yorick. Even more disturbingly, it appears that the prince may have killed the court chamberlain. He has been behaving so erratically that his girlfriend has been seen muttering to herself down by the river in a deranged fashion.

Answer: "Hamlet"

Hamlet seems to have spawned the most quotes of any Shakespearean play, including "To be or not to be, that is the question", "Neither a borrower nor a lender be", "To thine own self be true", "In my mind's eye" and "The lady doth protest too much", to name a few.
10. To wrap up with an entertainment piece, we bring you some lighter news from Ephesus. It has been reported in the local press that two sets of twins were separated at birth with none of the twins being aware that he had a twin at all. One half of each set was sent to Syracuse and the other half remained in Ephesus. The Syracusian halves recently came to Ephesus, and there has been much confusion in the city with debt officers, abbesses, husbands, wives and girlfriends mistaking one set of twins for the other. This tale has a happy ending, however, as both sets of twins have now been reunited with each other and their loved ones.

Answer: "The Comedy of Errors"

I always think that less actually happens in this play than in many of Shakespeare's other plays, but the wit in the dialogue seems to be the focus of the play rather than the actual storyline.
Source: Author VerticalDancer

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