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Quiz about Plays by the Bard
Quiz about Plays by the Bard

Plays by the Bard Trivia Quiz


Join me in celebrating the plays of William Shakespeare (Apr. 23, 1564 - Apr. 23, 1616).

A multiple-choice quiz by skunkee. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
skunkee
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
238,018
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
2654
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Lord_Digby (4/10), davejacobs (8/10), Guest 146 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Inspired by the prophecies of a trio of witches, this Thane and his wife become embroiled in an ambitious plot to seize the throne by murdering the king and blaming his murder on his servants. Although plagued by the same guilt that drives his wife to an untimely death (through what we are led to believe was suicide even though it is never clearly stated), the new king continues to believe in his own invincibility, until the true interpretation of the prophecies is revealed. Which Shakespearean tragedy is this? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In this play within a play, Lucentio finds himself absolutely smitten with the lovely Bianca, and becomes determined to woo her. Unfortunately Bianca's father will not let anyone near her until her elder sister, Katherine, is married first. Given Katherine's temper and waspish tongue, this seems unlikely, until Petruchio arrives. Petruchio is determined to marry for money, and is willing to take Katherine on for that very reason. Which Shakespearean comedy is this? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Returning from war with the Queen of the Goths, Tamora, and her son as prisoners, this fictional Roman general finds himself named to succeed the recently deceased Emperor. He declines, choosing to support one of the Emperor's sons, and sacrifices Tamora's son to the memory of his many sons who had died in the war. When the Queen gains favour with the new Emperor, she vows revenge against the general, and his troubles begin in earnest. What incredibly gory tragedy is this? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which historical play tells the tale of a younger, misshapen brother of a king who is determined to see the crown on his own head, no matter who he has to kill to put it there? He succeeds in disposing of one brother, which makes him Protector of the King's young sons when the King passes away. However he has the young princes confined to the Tower of London and later murdered, in order to be crowned king. He also kills a few dissenters, and even an ally or two along the way, until everyone fears and hates him. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. After being shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, who she believes to be drowned, Viola pretends to be a man named Cesario and acquires a job in the house of Duke Orsino. He is in love with Lady Olivia, who falls in love with Cesario, not realizing that he is really a she. Fortunately the twin brother, Sebastian, shows up and a happy ending is achieved for all, except for Olivia's steward Malvolio, who has had some horrid tricks played on him. Which farcical comedy is this? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Two young lovers from feuding families marry in secret. When her kinsmen kill one of his friends, he responds in anger and kills her kinsmen, which forces him to run from prosecution. She fakes death to avoid an arranged marriage, but he does not receive the message that it is fake and kills himself. When she awakens and finds him dead, she kills herself in earnest. What wonderfully tragic love story is this?

Answer: (Three Words)
Question 7 of 10
7. This aging King decides to give up his throne and split it between his three daughters, offering the largest piece to the daughter who convinces him that she loves him the most. His favourite daughter refuses to compete and cheapen her love for her father, so is disinherited. He soon learns the mistake he has made, as his two other daughters fight for control and he becomes mad with grief. The banished daughter (with the aid of her new husband) seeks to regain the kingdom for her father, and in true Shakespearean fashion, they all die. What tragedy is this? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Sorcerer Prospero, who was once the Duke of Milan, and his daughter have been stranded on a deserted island by Prospero's jealous brother. Twelve years later Prospero, aided by a sprite that he rescued on the island, causes the ship bearing his brother and the King to founder by the island. The plots and machinations that follow allow Prospero to exact his revenge, and have the King's son fall in love with his daughter. Which Shakespearean comedy is this? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. When Bassanio seeks to woo Portia, he approaches his friend Antonio for a loan to cover his expenses. With all of his money tied up in his ships, Antonio suggests that Bassanio get the money from a moneylender, using his name as a guarantor. When Antonio's ships are lost and he cannot repay the debt, the moneylender activates a clause that he had instituted, which essentially gives him the right to kill Antonio. Disguised as a man, Portia finds the loophole that saves Antonio's life. Which Shakespearean comedy is this? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Charged by the ghost of his father to revenge his murder, this young Danish Prince set about finding proof that his uncle did indeed murder his father (and then marry his mother). He finds the proof that he needs but in doing so, alerts his uncle to the fact that he knows what happened. Between his morose introspection and conversations with the ghost of his father, who no one else can see, he is believed to be mad, and a plot is concocted to dispose of him. What is the name of this tragedy, wherein almost everyone dies?

Answer: (One Word)



Most Recent Scores
Oct 28 2024 : Lord_Digby: 4/10
Oct 18 2024 : davejacobs: 8/10
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 146: 7/10
Oct 03 2024 : TLC55: 9/10
Oct 02 2024 : mfc: 10/10
Sep 19 2024 : Guest 45: 10/10
Sep 18 2024 : MikeMaster99: 9/10
Sep 09 2024 : Guest 94: 4/10
Sep 09 2024 : xxFruitcakexx: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Inspired by the prophecies of a trio of witches, this Thane and his wife become embroiled in an ambitious plot to seize the throne by murdering the king and blaming his murder on his servants. Although plagued by the same guilt that drives his wife to an untimely death (through what we are led to believe was suicide even though it is never clearly stated), the new king continues to believe in his own invincibility, until the true interpretation of the prophecies is revealed. Which Shakespearean tragedy is this?

Answer: Macbeth

"Macbeth" was written around 1606, and was loosely based on the story of King Macbeth, (c 1005 - 1057), as told by Scottish philosopher, Hector Boece. It is often referred to as The Scottish Play, because of a long-standing superstition that it is bad luck to speak the name of the play inside the theatre in which it is being performed.
2. In this play within a play, Lucentio finds himself absolutely smitten with the lovely Bianca, and becomes determined to woo her. Unfortunately Bianca's father will not let anyone near her until her elder sister, Katherine, is married first. Given Katherine's temper and waspish tongue, this seems unlikely, until Petruchio arrives. Petruchio is determined to marry for money, and is willing to take Katherine on for that very reason. Which Shakespearean comedy is this?

Answer: The Taming of the Shrew

Believed to be written in 1593 or 1594 (depending on which source you use), "The Taming of the Shrew" was one of Shakespeare's earlier works. It is not terribly popular with feminists, as Petruchio is successful in taming his willful wife, who ultimately wins an obedience competition, and delivers an ending monologue espousing the virtues of obeying lords and husbands.
3. Returning from war with the Queen of the Goths, Tamora, and her son as prisoners, this fictional Roman general finds himself named to succeed the recently deceased Emperor. He declines, choosing to support one of the Emperor's sons, and sacrifices Tamora's son to the memory of his many sons who had died in the war. When the Queen gains favour with the new Emperor, she vows revenge against the general, and his troubles begin in earnest. What incredibly gory tragedy is this?

Answer: Titus Andronicus

Believed by many to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, "Titus Andronicus" was written about 1590. Perhaps the fact that it was his first explains why it is so filled with violence and gore, culminating with the abhorrent scene in which Titus kills Tamora's other sons, baking them into a pie which he feeds to her.

He makes sure that she knows that she has eaten her own progeny before killing her, and then having her lover buried up to his chest and left to die of thirst and starvation.
4. Which historical play tells the tale of a younger, misshapen brother of a king who is determined to see the crown on his own head, no matter who he has to kill to put it there? He succeeds in disposing of one brother, which makes him Protector of the King's young sons when the King passes away. However he has the young princes confined to the Tower of London and later murdered, in order to be crowned king. He also kills a few dissenters, and even an ally or two along the way, until everyone fears and hates him.

Answer: Richard III

Shakespeare was never known for his historical accuracy. Liberties were often taken to make the story more entertaining, and also to reflect the feelings of the powers that ruled at the time. While no one will argue that Richard III was a saint, many historians do not see him as being so much worse than many of the other kings of the time. Believed to have been written in 1592, "Richard III" contains that often-quoted line "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse."
5. After being shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, who she believes to be drowned, Viola pretends to be a man named Cesario and acquires a job in the house of Duke Orsino. He is in love with Lady Olivia, who falls in love with Cesario, not realizing that he is really a she. Fortunately the twin brother, Sebastian, shows up and a happy ending is achieved for all, except for Olivia's steward Malvolio, who has had some horrid tricks played on him. Which farcical comedy is this?

Answer: Twelfth Night

Sources place the writing of "Twelfth Night" at somewhere between 1599 and 1601. It was written to be performed on Feb. 2nd, which was the end of the winter celebration known, coincidentally, as Twelfth Night. Plays of confusion surrounding disguise and mistaken identity were favourites of Shakespeare, who often used such devices to explore whether differences between gender and class really existed.
6. Two young lovers from feuding families marry in secret. When her kinsmen kill one of his friends, he responds in anger and kills her kinsmen, which forces him to run from prosecution. She fakes death to avoid an arranged marriage, but he does not receive the message that it is fake and kills himself. When she awakens and finds him dead, she kills herself in earnest. What wonderfully tragic love story is this?

Answer: Romeo and Juliet

Written in 1596, "Romeo and Juliet" is probably the best known love story of all time, and many variations of it have been penned and performed over the years. Shakespeare did not invent the story though, and is believed to have based his play on the poem "Romeus and Juliet", by Arthur Brooks, which is not even thought to be the original, only the first English version of the story.
7. This aging King decides to give up his throne and split it between his three daughters, offering the largest piece to the daughter who convinces him that she loves him the most. His favourite daughter refuses to compete and cheapen her love for her father, so is disinherited. He soon learns the mistake he has made, as his two other daughters fight for control and he becomes mad with grief. The banished daughter (with the aid of her new husband) seeks to regain the kingdom for her father, and in true Shakespearean fashion, they all die. What tragedy is this?

Answer: King Lear

Believed to have been written in 1605, "King Lear" tells the story of King Leir, an ancient King of the Britons, from before the time of the Roman occupation. Early productions of the play often presented an altered ending, as it was considered too bleak and heavy for most audiences.

It has come to be recognized as a masterpiece in its own right though, and most post World War II versions have been presented accurately.
8. Sorcerer Prospero, who was once the Duke of Milan, and his daughter have been stranded on a deserted island by Prospero's jealous brother. Twelve years later Prospero, aided by a sprite that he rescued on the island, causes the ship bearing his brother and the King to founder by the island. The plots and machinations that follow allow Prospero to exact his revenge, and have the King's son fall in love with his daughter. Which Shakespearean comedy is this?

Answer: The Tempest

Written in 1611, "The Tempest" is generally accepted as Shakespeare's last play. While much of the play's plot is thought to be of Shakespeare's own devising, he is believed to have drawn some of the inspiration and imagery from the 1609 wrecking of a ship called the Sea Venture, in the islands around Bermuda, as related by William Strachey.
9. When Bassanio seeks to woo Portia, he approaches his friend Antonio for a loan to cover his expenses. With all of his money tied up in his ships, Antonio suggests that Bassanio get the money from a moneylender, using his name as a guarantor. When Antonio's ships are lost and he cannot repay the debt, the moneylender activates a clause that he had instituted, which essentially gives him the right to kill Antonio. Disguised as a man, Portia finds the loophole that saves Antonio's life. Which Shakespearean comedy is this?

Answer: The Merchant of Venice

The actual date that "The Merchant of Venice" was written is unknown, but it is believed to have been somewhere between 1594 and 1597. It is very controversial in its anti-Semitic sentiments (part of Shylock's punishment is that he must convert to Christianity) yet contains a very poignant speech proclaiming the belief that a Jew is as human as any other person ("Hath not a Jew eyes?" and etc.).
10. Charged by the ghost of his father to revenge his murder, this young Danish Prince set about finding proof that his uncle did indeed murder his father (and then marry his mother). He finds the proof that he needs but in doing so, alerts his uncle to the fact that he knows what happened. Between his morose introspection and conversations with the ghost of his father, who no one else can see, he is believed to be mad, and a plot is concocted to dispose of him. What is the name of this tragedy, wherein almost everyone dies?

Answer: Hamlet

Arguably Shakespeare's most well known and most frequently quoted play, "Hamlet" was written sometime between 1600 and 1602. As with many of his plays, "Hamlet" is thought to be a somewhat fictionalized account of the life of a real Danish Prince named Hamlet, whose story was first told around the year 1200.
Source: Author skunkee

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