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Shakespeare Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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Shakespeare Trivia

Shakespeare Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
Brush up your Shakespeare, and recall the writings of the Bard of Avon.
326 Shakespeare quizzes and 4,564 Shakespeare trivia questions.
1.
  One of Shakespeare's greatest monologues   great trivia quiz  
Fun Fill-It
 11 Qns
See how well you know one of Shakespeare's most famous monologues from 'The Merchant of Venice' by filling in the blanks.
Easier, 11 Qns, mazza47, Feb 14 24
Easier
mazza47 gold member
Feb 14 24
167 plays
2.
  Shakespeare or Marlowe?   best quiz  
Collection Quiz
 15 Qns
Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays, Marlowe wrote a mere six. But can you pick out 15 of Shakespeare's, while avoiding Marlowe's works?
Very Easy, 15 Qns, stedman, Sep 25 23
Very Easy
stedman editor
Sep 25 23
404 plays
3.
  The Ultimate Tragedy of Macbeth   great trivia quiz  
Fun Fill-It
 10 Qns
Can you supply the missing words, from the list given, of this most moving soliloquoy from one of Shakespeare's mighty plays - "The Tragedie (sic) of Macbeth".
Easier, 10 Qns, Creedy, Sep 15 23
Easier
Creedy gold member
Sep 15 23
163 plays
4.
The Bards World of Wild Magical Truth
  The Bard's World of Wild Magical Truth   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Let's bear witness to the magical moments of the Shakespeare canon with these beautiful images of the supernatural visiting the Bard's characters.
Average, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Nov 24 13
Average
merylfederman gold member
745 plays
5.
  Shakespeare For Dummies   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz for those of you like me who didn't pay enough attention in English lessons at school!
Easier, 10 Qns, Dizart, Mar 19 23
Easier
Dizart gold member
Mar 19 23
3858 plays
6.
  A Mixture Of Shakespeare Trivia   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Test your knowledge of Shakespeare and his work with this mixed bag of Bard-related trivia.
Average, 15 Qns, LadyNym, Feb 12 22
Recommended for grades: 10,11,12
Average
LadyNym gold member
Feb 12 22
619 plays
7.
  "O" For a Muse of Fire   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Can you match these Shakespeare characters beginning with "O" with the play in which they appear?
Easier, 10 Qns, stedman, Dec 20 20
Easier
stedman editor
Dec 20 20
574 plays
8.
  The Shakespeare Diaries editor best quiz   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In a tea chest in an ancient cottage, the diaries of William Shakespeare were recently discovered. I was tasked to translate them into modern English. The entries are rather oblique, but they all point to works by, or about, the great man.
Average, 10 Qns, darksplash, Mar 23 17
Average
darksplash
2716 plays
9.
  A Tea Time Quiz - Ten Shakespearean 'T's   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Grab a cup of tea and test your knowledge of Shakespeare with this quiz. All you have to do is correctly match each 'T' character with the short description given of the play in which they appear.
Average, 10 Qns, Fifiona81, Feb 04 17
Average
Fifiona81 editor
507 plays
10.
  Sad But True   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A Metallica quiz? Not even. This quiz will look at ten Shakespearean Tragedies and how they exemplify the phrase 'sad but true'. Each question will begin with a synopsis of the sad but true event portrayed.
Average, 10 Qns, tazman6619, Jan 27 12
Average
tazman6619 gold member
1783 plays
trivia question Quick Question
This sensitive king sincerely believed that "Not all the water in the rough rude sea / can wash the balm off from an anointed king."

From Quiz "Shakespeare Grab Bag"




11.
  Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz takes a dive into one of Shakespeare's most popular sonnets.
Average, 10 Qns, skylarb, Oct 20 21
Average
skylarb
Oct 20 21
621 plays
12.
  The Life and Death of King John   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you know a bit of medieval history, OR if you've read the play, you'll get my hints about characters in William Shakespeare's "The Life and Death of King John" (usually called simply "King John"). So plunge into the fray!
Average, 10 Qns, nannywoo, Jan 04 21
Average
nannywoo gold member
Jan 04 21
409 plays
13.
  Shakespeare's Garden editor best quiz   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A quiz about the many herbs, flowers, trees, and plants mentioned in Shakespeare's plays and poems. Enjoy & Good Luck!
Difficult, 15 Qns, jouen58, Dec 09 16
Difficult
jouen58
2097 plays
14.
  Shakespeare Grab Bag   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
I knew I'd get around to Shakespeare eventually...Enjoy this veritable grab bag, covering Shakespeare's plays, poetry, and life.
Tough, 20 Qns, skylarb, Dec 19 13
Tough
skylarb
1820 plays
15.
  Legend of Shakespeare - Sonnet II   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare wrote a total of 154 sonnets in his career. This quiz only covers one of these, Sonnet II.
Average, 10 Qns, salami_swami, Nov 26 13
Average
salami_swami gold member
306 plays
16.
  R - Rated Moments in Shakespeare   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
You might think that Shakespeare is all about doublet and hose, Elizabethan propriety, and the strictly PG. Let me disabuse you of that notion as we explore the violent, the racy, and the titillating of Billy's canon. Spoiler warning up front!
Tough, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Feb 13 12
Tough
merylfederman gold member
568 plays
17.
  All's Well That Ends Well    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together," remarks one of the minor characters in this teasingly complex and unlucky play of Shakespeare's, which ought to be better known than it is.
Average, 20 Qns, londoneye98, Nov 24 18
Average
londoneye98 gold member
Nov 24 18
378 plays
18.
  William Shakespeare's Quiz   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Did the Bard really write a Trivia quiz on his own plays? Submit thyself to the inquisition and to thine own conclusion come.
Tough, 10 Qns, uglybird, Oct 17 10
Tough
uglybird
1331 plays
19.
  Forecasting the Weather   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many of Shakespeare's characters suffered at the hands of the weather, or made reference to it in their speeches. If only they'd listened to the weather forecast, they might have avoided some of the problems that befell them.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Mar 18 14
Average
rossian editor
672 plays
20.
  Through Shakespeare's Eyes   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
To William Shakespeare, eyes were the window to the soul. They were also many other things - how many of these references do you recogn'eyes'? Let's see...
Average, 10 Qns, MissCirrus, Mar 27 16
Average
MissCirrus gold member
416 plays
21.
  Shakespeare's 'Non-Historical' Queens   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Lots of English queens appeared in Shakespeare's history plays, but his tragedies, comedies and "problem plays" also contained their fair share of female royalty. This quiz is about them.
Average, 10 Qns, Fifiona81, Oct 06 18
Average
Fifiona81 editor
Oct 06 18
271 plays
22.
  Shakespeare, eh?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I tried to make this one fun and challenging. I probably failed miserably, but let's see what you think.
Average, 10 Qns, jmomsu, Dec 07 09
Average
jmomsu
4190 plays
23.
  Legend of Shakespeare - Sonnet I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets in his career. This quiz only covers one of these sonnets; sonnet number 1.
Average, 10 Qns, salami_swami, Nov 21 13
Average
salami_swami gold member
343 plays
24.
  Kingdoms Without Kings   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There are many times in Shakespeare's works where a kingdom will be between rulers, have a confusion as to who is the king, or otherwise be a seemingly rudderless ship. Answer these questions about such instances - Long live the King! Whoever that is...
Average, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Dec 01 12
Average
merylfederman gold member
349 plays
25.
  Shakespeare's Sonnets    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the sonnets of William Shakespeare. You will not have to identify sonnets by number. But it is likely to be quite challenging if you are not a Shakespeare buff!
Tough, 10 Qns, daver852, Oct 26 15
Tough
daver852 gold member
347 plays
26.
  Prayer and Invocation in Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare's characters will every so often pray or invoke supernatural powers - can you answer these questions about such religious and supernatural moments?
Average, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Jul 05 13
Average
merylfederman gold member
291 plays
27.
  Hey, I'm Not Shakespeare!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare is so famous that many people think he was the only writer in Elizabethan England. I'm going to let some contemporaries of the Bard tell you about themselves in their own words, and your job is to identify them. Let's have some fun.
Tough, 10 Qns, daver852, May 31 12
Tough
daver852 gold member
455 plays
28.
  Bleeding Off the Page    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz contains questions relating to blood from many of Shakespeare's plays.
Average, 10 Qns, jashed, Feb 24 13
Average
jashed
406 plays
29.
  Shakespeare's Tragedies and Dramas    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz about Shakespeare's tragedies and dramas. Hope you enjoy it.
Average, 10 Qns, robert362, Apr 11 19
Average
robert362
Apr 11 19
1922 plays
30.
  General Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
This is a quiz on Shakespeare: sonnets, poems, plays, quotes and the man himself. I hope it's not too hard.
Tough, 25 Qns, meals, Feb 23 11
Tough
meals
1394 plays
31.
  Shakespeare for Teenagers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz intended for the people who don't really like Shakespeare, or perhaps do not fully understand his plays. Hopefully this will provide some perspective.
Average, 10 Qns, munchkinwizard, Dec 27 18
Average
munchkinwizard
Dec 27 18
1162 plays
32.
  Troilus and Cressida    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare tells the tale of a prince and a Trojan woman who fall in love during the Trojan War.
Average, 10 Qns, pennie1478, Dec 22 16
Average
pennie1478 gold member
318 plays
33.
  Shakespeare Plots, Characters, Quotes    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Discussing Shakespeare without a basic knowledge of the plots, characters etc. would not be a very sensible thing to do. So a quick revision of some 'Basics' via a li'l quiz cannot be a waste of time.
Average, 10 Qns, chrissie_26, Feb 13 21
Average
chrissie_26
Feb 13 21
1796 plays
34.
  Shakespeare's Music   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare uses music very cleverly to heighten moods or to change or dispel moods. I love his songs particularly when played on historic instruments. Let this quiz take you through some of his musical interludes.
Average, 10 Qns, jeremyB, Mar 25 04
Average
jeremyB gold member
438 plays
35.
  Shakespearean Apocrypha    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In 1623, "Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies", aka the First Folio, published the accepted canon of 36 plays, but others were not in it. Can you answer these questions about plays not in the First Folio?
Average, 10 Qns, Red_John, Dec 05 20
Average
Red_John
Dec 05 20
159 plays
36.
  Shakespeare and More   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are a few questions about appearances of the Bard's works in today's world, as well as some tidbits about some lesser-known plays and sonnets. Enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, GypsyQueen, Sep 19 13
Tough
GypsyQueen
1236 plays
37.
  "Coriolanus" by William Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The title "Coriolanus" by Shakespeare is usually one of the last to be remembered when compiling a list of the works by the Bard of Avon. So, how much do you remember or know about the play? Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, zippolover, Dec 22 16
Average
zippolover
193 plays
38.
  Shakespeare for Dummies..."Timon of Athens"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Don't panic! Someone brought up the fact that there were a few works by Shakespeare that did not have quizzes written for them. You will not have to be an English professor to get some of these questions. Give it try! Remember to look for hints.
Average, 10 Qns, dcpddc478, Jun 16 12
Average
dcpddc478
267 plays
39.
  Shakespeare's Birds    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare clearly possessed some fundamental ornithological knowledge. But exactly which birds did he refer to in his plays?
Tough, 10 Qns, HobbitLady, Mar 12 13
Tough
HobbitLady
227 plays
40.
  Shakespeare, Original Plays    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is based on all Shakespeare plays and what they are about. This is fairly hard but fun especially if you like or enjoy Shakespeare plays. One of the plays for example is "Romeo and Juliet". I hope you enjoy it very much.
Easier, 10 Qns, elise8986, Aug 10 15
Easier
elise8986
936 plays
41.
  Shakespeare's Riddles   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Many of Shakespeare's plays contain riddles or contests. This tricky quiz features several of the most famous scenes. Can you solve these questions on questions?
Difficult, 15 Qns, jeremyB, Aug 09 10
Difficult
jeremyB gold member
933 plays
42.
  Shakespeare's Comedies    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A general quiz on Shakespeare's comedies.
Tough, 10 Qns, speara, Feb 18 09
Tough
speara
592 plays
43.
  "Pericles" by Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This, my second Shakespeare quiz, was again prompted by the "All The Internet's A Stage" challenge in the Quiz Author Lounge.
Average, 10 Qns, zippolover, Dec 21 16
Average
zippolover
221 plays
44.
  The Upstart Crow: A Literary Mystery    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the famous quotation concerning an "upstart Crow" that is said to be the first mention of William Shakespeare in print. It is likely to be very difficult if you do not have some familiarity with Elizabethan history and literature.
Difficult, 10 Qns, daver852, Jun 17 14
Difficult
daver852 gold member
222 plays
45.
  "The Two Noble Kinsmen" by Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This very easy quiz was written for the "All The Internet's A Stage" challenge in The Quiz Author Lounge, my first!
Average, 10 Qns, zippolover, Dec 22 16
Average
zippolover
262 plays
46.
  Shakespeare or Scripture?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Bible or the Bard? Each of the following quotes are either Shakespeare citations, or quotations from the King James translation of Proverbs. See whether you can determine which is which. Have fun!
Average, 10 Qns, avrandldr, Oct 31 06
Average
avrandldr
904 plays
47.
  Who? What? When? Where? Why? (for Shakespeare)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quick little quiz. We all know the 5 W's, right? Let's apply them to the perennial author, Shakespeare.
Tough, 10 Qns, omar7812, Dec 28 16
Tough
omar7812
200 plays
48.
  The Merry Wives of Windsor    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"The Merry Wives of Windsor" is one of the comedic plays by William Shakespeare; well everyone is alive and laughing at the end! Will you be laughing at the end of this quiz?
Average, 10 Qns, lonely-lady, Dec 22 16
Average
lonely-lady
201 plays
49.
  Shakespeare's Henry VIII    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays about a very well known historical figure.
Tough, 10 Qns, speara, Dec 21 16
Tough
speara
279 plays
50.
  The Printing of Shakespeare's First Folio    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
We know a great deal about Shakespeare's plays (well, some do), but the printing of his works is a little more difficult. Good luck to all who participate.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, bookworld, Aug 13 09
Very Difficult
bookworld
381 plays
51.
  The Bawdy Bard    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There's not much information on the Bard's private life, which leads us to speculate on William Shakespeare's inspiration and influences in general. Imagine him then, during a typical day, speaking with those who knew him - in the language we love!
Tough, 10 Qns, bagendbo, Jul 06 05
Tough
bagendbo
532 plays
52.
  Malvolio's Mix-ups    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Clues consist of the first, last, second, and second to last letter in the name of a character or play by the Bard. You rearrange the letters I give you and fill in the missing ones to make the correct answer. Sample question: M-O-A-I. Answer: Malvolio.
Average, 15 Qns, Arget_Aiedail, Mar 16 20
Average
Arget_Aiedail
Mar 16 20
304 plays
53.
  Shakespeare's Plays    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quick Shakespeare quiz for you. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, sally101, Aug 30 20
Average
sally101
Aug 30 20
1468 plays
54.
  Know Your Shakespeare?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
characters, quotes and definitions
Average, 10 Qns, ayatollah, Apr 12 13
Average
ayatollah
1915 plays
55.
  Much Ado About NOThing    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
One thing on my bucket list was to read all of William Shakespeare's works. I'm failing in my quest. I have, however, read enough of them to create this quiz. I will give you a play and you tell me which of the four choices is NOT in it.
Average, 10 Qns, ticky100, Dec 03 13
Average
ticky100 gold member
240 plays
56.
  Shakespeare-    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is another Shakespeare quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, rosalita, Oct 13 14
Average
rosalita
1986 plays
57.
  Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Just ten questions about Shakespeare and his works. Hope you enjoy it!
Tough, 10 Qns, Vicki19, Mar 05 06
Tough
Vicki19
1807 plays
58.
  Shakespeare' s Sonnet-mania!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Another quiz about The Bard! This quiz will focus on Shakespeare's sonnets.
Tough, 10 Qns, ecc, Dec 10 03
Tough
ecc
335 plays
59.
  Brush Up on Your Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A mixed bag of questions about good old Shakespeare.
Difficult, 10 Qns, kelby_lake, Jan 31 10
Difficult
kelby_lake
501 plays
60.
  The Great Shakespeare Hoax    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many people are unaware of this fascinating episode involving an attempt to palm off a bogus work as being a newly discovered and "unknown" work by the Master. This quiz, therefore, will be difficult for most - but should be interesting and informative.
Difficult, 10 Qns, robert362, Oct 04 19
Difficult
robert362
Oct 04 19
344 plays
61.
  The Sonnets of William Shakespeare    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare not only wrote great plays, but great poetry as well. This quiz will feature some of my favorite sonnets. Perhaps some are favorites of yours as well.
Tough, 10 Qns, dormouse99, Jun 28 14
Tough
dormouse99
390 plays
62.
  Shakespearean Contemporaries    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Shakespeare may have been the giant, but there were others who were noteworthy. Moreover, some would claim that the Bard was a fraud and the works were done by someone else. Who could that be? There are many candidates that have been advanced.
Average, 10 Qns, robert362, Oct 26 01
Average
robert362
440 plays
63.
  Short Shakespeare Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
A short quiz on the most renowned author of all time, William Shakespeare. Good luck!
Tough, 5 Qns, leAnn7, Sep 07 08
Tough
leAnn7
818 plays
Related Topics
  Authors Q-S [Literature] (931 quizzes)

  Plays [Literature] (58 quizzes)


Shakespeare Trivia Questions

1. Which Shakespearean sonnet begins, "Let me not to the marriage of true minds?"

From Quiz
Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds

Answer: Sonnet 116

Sonnet 18 begins "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" while Sonnet 2 kicks off with "When forty winters shall besiege thy brow." The opening line of Sonnet 23 is "As an unprefect actor on the stage..."

2. In what European city was "The Taming of the Shrew" set?

From Quiz Who? What? When? Where? Why? (for Shakespeare)

Answer: Padua, Italy

This play revolves around Katherina, the eldest daughter of a Padua lord, and Katherina's younger sister, Bianca. While there are men who want to marry Bianca, she is forbidden from marrying until Katherina, the "shrew", is married.

3. Shakespeare's sonnets were first published in 1609. But there is an earlier reference to the sonnets in the book "Palladis Tamia, Wit's Treasury," by Francis Meres in 1598. What word does Meres use to describe the sonnets?

From Quiz Shakespeare's Sonnets

Answer: Sugared

"The witty soul of Ovid lives in mellifluous & honey-tongued Shakespeare, witness his Venus and Adonis, his Lucrece, his sugared sonnets among his private friends, &c." Meres' work also cites several of Shakespeare's plays, which has helped in dating them. It is unknown how Meres, an obscure cleric living in Rutland, would have learned about the sonnets. No connection has ever been found linking him to Shakespeare.

4. In "The Merry Wives of Windsor" Sir John Falstaff, who had already appeared in earlier plays by William Shakespeare, got the major role this time. What was he like?

From Quiz The Merry Wives of Windsor

Answer: Overweight, obnoxious and loud

Sir John Falstaff appeared in both parts One and Two of "Henry IV" and in "Henry V". It has been suggested that "The Merry Wives of Windsor" was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I, but there is no evidence to prove this to be the case. Although Falstaff was a jolly man, he was well past his prime and living on his memories, deluded no doubt, by the copious amounts of alcohol that he consumed on a daily basis.

5. 'Twelfth Night' features a shipwreck which separates Viola from her twin brother. What is his name?

From Quiz Forecasting the Weather

Answer: Sebastian

Viola is rescued from the wreck, but believes Sebastian has been drowned. She disguises herself as a young man, and takes a position as a servant to Duke Orsino, who uses 'him' as an intermediary to woo the reluctant Olivia. Viola falls in love with Orsino, while Olivia falls for Viola (in her masculine disguise). Fortunately, Sebastian has also survived and, after some confusion due to the likeness between the twins, Sebastian is able to marry Olivia while Viola captures the heart of Orsino. Antonio is the sea captain who rescues Sebastian while Malvolio is the steward for Olivia.

6. At the opening of the play, there are riots in Rome. Why is this?

From Quiz "Coriolanus" by William Shakespeare

Answer: The grain stores have been closed to the public

Rome was in disarray following the removal of the most recent ruler. Food was in short supply and the grain stores were closed to the public. The public rioted. They did not want the grain for free, but they did want to set the price.

7. Written between 1588 and 1593, "Titus Andronicus" tells the story of Titus, a General in the Roman army. Which character does NOT appear in this play?

From Quiz Much Ado About NOThing

Answer: Verges

"Titus Andronicus" is believed to be Shakespeare's first tragedy. Saturninus was the son of the late emperor of Rome. Lucius was a son of Titus Andronicus. Valentine was a kinsman of Titus.

8. A famously plot-relevant moment of prayer comes to us from "Hamlet", where Hamlet witnesses someone kneeling in a solemn moment - and cannot bring himself to confront someone at prayer. Who exactly is spared because of his/her reverent behavior?

From Quiz Prayer and Invocation in Shakespeare

Answer: Claudius

Claudius, the king of Denmark and murderer of the former king Hamlet, is terrified by the re-enactment of his crime in the play within the play, and immediately runs off to pray. Hamlet, finally convinced of Claudius' guilt, tries to kill the man but believes that killing a man in prayer would send him to heaven - hardly fair for his father's murderer. After Hamlet leaves, Claudius reveals that since he is so guilty, he wasn't quite able to pray in the first place.

9. The wife of two kings and the mother of two kings, what formidable older woman in Act 1 of Shakespeare's "King John" asserts, "I am a soldier and now bound for France"?

From Quiz The Life and Death of King John

Answer: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor makes this statement as she offers the bastard Philip Faulconbridge a knighthood and change of name, recognizing the family resemblance to one of her sons (1.1.150). The historical Eleanor was first married to Louis VII of France, but he divorced her after disastrous events in war and on a crusade to the Holy Land drove him away from his powerful, vital wife into the arms of the church, especially since they had produced two daughters but no male heir. Eight weeks after her divorce thirty-year-old Eleanor married nineteen-year-old Henry of Anjou, who would become Henry II of England. With Henry, Eleanor gave birth to eight children, including Richard I and John, who became kings of England. Another son, Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, was the father of Arthur, who appears as a character in Shakespeare's "The Life and Death of King John"; one of her daughters, Queen Eleanor of Castile, was the mother of Blanche, another character in the play.

10. In the Shakespeare play of the same name, where was Pericles the Prince of?

From Quiz "Pericles" by Shakespeare

Answer: Tyre

Pericles was based on several other earlier works rather than historical fact. Tyre is an ancient Phoenician city and is the fourth largest city in modern day Lebanon. It is a major port and attracts many tourists.

11. "The Two Noble Kinsmen" play is an adaptation of an earlier work by Geoffrey Chaucer. Which one?

From Quiz "The Two Noble Kinsmen" by Shakespeare

Answer: The Knight's Tale

During the Prologue, the audience is informed that the play is based upon the earlier work. A previous adaptation by Richard Edwardes already existed prior to 1614, the probable date of "The Two Noble Kinsmen".

12. From which country does the lead character, Timon, hail?

From Quiz Shakespeare for Dummies..."Timon of Athens"

Answer: Greece

Timon is a wealthy Greek man who enjoys pleasing his friends. He is kind and generous to a fault, and somewhat naive. This play follows his journey down the path of life, and his acquisition of knowledge through his interactions with fellow mankind. It examines both the best and the worst in man. It is an introspective look at true friendship and its rarity and value. It is believed that Shakespeare many have gotten his inspiration for this work from "The Misanthrope" by Lucian (125-200). Considered one of Shakespearean more obscure works, it is well worth reading.

13. "From fairest creatures we desire increase." This is the first line of Shakespeare's first sonnet. This is a metaphor for what?

From Quiz Legend of Shakespeare - Sonnet I

Answer: Agriculture

When Shakespeare wrote "fairest creatures", he meant anything that is living and is "most beautiful". When he said "increase", he was referring to procreation. The entire line is actually about wanting to increase the harvest. The metaphor here is explaining that, when breeding, the best are used (same with plants as it is with the animals). If the best are used, the best offspring are born. The "lesser" plants and animals will create lesser offspring, but Shakespeare is saying that we desire the best. To "modernize" this line, it could read simply: "From the best creatures we want better."

14. By modern critical convention, "All's Well That Ends Well" is listed among Shakespeare's so-called "problem plays". Which other three plays of the Bard's are traditionally lumped together with "All's Well" in this category?

From Quiz All's Well That Ends Well

Answer: "Hamlet", "Measure for Measure" and "Troilus and Cressida"

"Problem play" was a term invented by the distinguished nineteenth-century scholar F. S. Boas, and is notoriously hard to define accurately - not that this has noticeably affected its general popularity in academic circles. Different critics have interpreted the phrase in a variety of ways, with pretty confusing results. To refer to "All's Well", as the late Professor Frank Kermode once did, as "a Jacobean problem comedy", sounds impressive in a vague sort of way, but so far as I know he never explained exactly what he meant by it. Having mocked Professor Boas,the original author of the "problem play" tag, for his terminological inexactitude, the twentieth-century critic Ernest Schanzer - rather amusingly, I think - then published a lengthy work entitled "The Problem Plays of Shakespeare", in which he almost completely ignored "All's Well That Ends Well", "Troilus and Cressida" and "Hamlet" and instead devoted himself to long and searching chapters on the particular problems he found in "Measure for Measure", "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra". One in the eye for the critical consensus there!

15. William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in which English town?

From Quiz Shakespeare For Dummies

Answer: Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, was the scene of Shakespeare's birth, and his death in 1616. He spent much of his working life in London, however. The town is now home to the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

16. On which play does Hamlet base the play he puts on for the court?

From Quiz Brush Up on Your Shakespeare

Answer: The Murder of Gonzago

Hamlet bases his play on 'The Murder of Gonzago'. The play is intended to provoke Claudius into admitting that he murdered Hamlet's father.

17. What year was Shakespeare's First Folio printed?

From Quiz The Printing of Shakespeare's First Folio

Answer: 1623

1603 James I came to the throne of England upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I. James was also King James VI of Scotland. 1616 is the year that Shakespeare died. Some people say he was getting drunk with some of his mates, was caught in a thunderstorm, and died of pneumonia. Interesting as this story might be there is no evidence to suggest it is true. 1632 is the date of the 2nd Folio.

18. It is well known that Henry VIII had six wives. Who is Henry's wife at the beginning of the play?

From Quiz Shakespeare's Henry VIII

Answer: Katherine of Aragon

At the beginning of the play Henry is still married to his first wife. During the course of the play he divorces Katherine and marries Anne Boleyn. The play ends with Princess Elizabeth's (future Queen Elizabeth I's) christening. The King's third wife was Jane Seymour, his fourth was Anne of Cleves, his fifth was Katherine Howard, and his last was Katherine Parr. An easy way of remembering their fate is: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

19. Complete the famous opening words of 'Twelfth Night': "If music be the food of love..."

From Quiz Shakespeare's Comedies

Answer: play on

Spoken by Orsino, Duke of Illyria, who is in love with Olivia.

20. Ahh! It's Friday and school's over. I head to the mall with my best friend and immediately spot my crush, Rachel. She's the most popular girl in school and the captain of the cheerleader's squad. What would Romeo say about her?

From Quiz Shakespeare for Teenagers

Answer: "See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!"

Romeo says this line in "Romeo and Juliet" during the balcony scene. They are from families that hate one another, yet their love finds a way to overcome that obstacle.

21. "A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." Is this quote from Proverbs, or Shakespeare?

From Quiz Shakespeare or Scripture?

Answer: P & Proverbs

This quote is Proverbs 10:1. One of the pinnacles of Hebrew poetry was parallelism--being clever in a proverb entailed not cleverly rhyming words, but cleverly pairing ideas. In this verse, as in many proverbs, a fruit of wisdom and a fruit of foolishness (the effects of a son's choices on the parents) are succintly contrasted.

22. When the play began, Troilus was speaking to Panderus about Cressida. Who was Cressida to Pandarus?

From Quiz Troilus and Cressida

Answer: Niece

When the play took place, it had been seven years since the Trojan war began. Troilus was a Trojan prince and Cressida was the niece of Pandarus. He was trying to get Troilus and Cressida together, even remarking that Troilus was the strongest of all the Trojan men. Cressida loved Troilus, but she loved his pursuit of her better.

23. What is the name of the would-be forger?

From Quiz The Great Shakespeare Hoax

Answer: William Ireland

William Henry Ireland is infamous as the man-who-would-be-Shakespeare.

24. This question concerns "Sonnet 116" - "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." When Shakespeare refers to a "bark," what is he speaking of?

From Quiz Shakespeare' s Sonnet-mania!

Answer: a ship

"It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken." Here, Shakespeare is likening the steadfastness of love to a star by which ships used to take measurements to determine their course.

25. "I may command where I adore; But silence, like a Lucrece knife, With bloodless stroke my heart doth gore: M, O, A, I, doth sway my life." This riddle is dropped in the way of whom, as part of a trap?

From Quiz Shakespeare's Riddles

Answer: Malvolio

Malvolio, Olivia's steward in "Twelfth Night", is tricked into thinking that his mistress loves him and conned into some amusing inappropriate behaviour. He comes such a cropper that we begin to feel sorry for him. Shakespeare does not explain why the letters don't really fit Malvolio's name.

26. William Shakespeare is visiting his mother - Mary Arden, in Stratford, and she asks him if he'd like a "sop 'o' the moonshine?" What do you think she wants him to have?

From Quiz The Bawdy Bard

Answer: A dish of eggs cooked in oil

Kent - [to Oswald]" What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me!.. you rogue .. I'll make a sop 'o' the moonshine of you ..! ("King Lear" Act II.(ii) line 30)

27. This sonnet is probably one of Shakespeare's most famous, if not the most famous (period). It starts with the line 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'. What number is it?

From Quiz The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

Answer: Number 18

Indeed sonnet 18 is well known. It has been taught to many a literature class, and featured in many other places. For example, it was featured in the films 'Shakespeare In Love' (which makes a lot of sense), and 'Clueless'. I'm sure there are many many more.

28. In which year was Shakespeare born?

From Quiz General Shakespeare

Answer: 1564

Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564, in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxfordshire, England, to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, and was baptized in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford on the 25th.

29. In which play does the following quote appear? 'To be or not to be, that is the question'

From Quiz Shakespeare's Plays

Answer: Hamlet

The famous quote said by Hamlet, Prince of Denmark himself.

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