Shakespeare Had Vampires?! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Julius Caesar

Contrary to common belief these were not Caesar's last words, in fact or in the play. It's not even his last line in the play. As he lies dying of multiple stab wounds inflicted by fellow senators (including his friend Brutus), Shakespeare writes for Caesar the macaronic line "Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar"; making "Then fall, Caesar" his last words, alive, in the play. Pedantic, I know, but handy trivia material.

In Act IV Scene 3 Caesar appears as a ghost to Brutus where his final line in the play is "Ay, at Philippi".

As for his actual last words, no one knows for certain; although eyewitness reports suggest they were probably spoken in Greek, not Latin.

Answer: Romeo

"For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Teen aged lovers from feuding families meet tragic ends through an unfortunate series of events. 'Romeo and Juliet' is Shakespeare's retelling of an Italian tale that dates back through Ovid. His version of the play was instantly successful, has remained one of his most loved and, with 'Hamlet', is one of the most performed. His plot has been imitated innumerable times in plays, books, ballets, operas and on the large and small screen; but never as well as by the Bard.

Answer: Macbeth

In one of Shakespeare's examples of men whose brains are ruled by other parts of their bodies, Macbeth is convinced to murder King Duncan by his wife. Macduff instantly suspects Macbeth (who goes on a killing spree to cover his deed) and takes the rest of the play to exact retribution. The plot is not one of Shakespeare's most involved, but the bloody deeds of Macbeth have shocked and fascinated audiences for over four hundred years.

The line is often misquoted as "lead on Macduff" or, even worse as I once heard, "play on Macduff" which is the quote mixed with a line from 'Twelfth Night'.

Answer: Titus Andronicus

Titus' daughter Lavinia utters her plea prior to being raped then having her hands removed and tongue cut out so she can't identify the perpetrators. (In the long run she finds a way, writing in the sand with a stick held in her mouth guided between her stumps.) Her ultimate fate is to be killed by her father because she was raped. She is certainly not the only character in 'Titus Andronicus' to meet a grisly end or to have body parts removed. In one of several disturbing scenes her attackers, once identified, are violently dispatched and then cooked in a pie served to their mother!

'Titus Andronicus' was enormously popular when it was first performed. It has lost favour over time, in no small part because of its violent nature. I used to think this meant we are becoming better at being humans by no longer treating graphic depictions of violence and degradation as entertainment: graphic violence in modern films, video games and in the news suggests otherwise.

Answer: Richard III

According to Shakespeare, fratricide, uxoricide and homicide are just some of the more extreme means used by Richard, Duke of Gloucester to become King Richard III. He was "determined to prove a villain" in his ambition; and become a villain he did, indeed. Richard III was treacherous and dissembling without any obvious redeeming qualities. On more than one occasion he confides his plans to the audience, appearing to revel in the evilness of what he's about to do.

He qualifies as Shakespeare's most despicable villain.

Answer: Richard II

Richard II believed in his inherited right to rule. It was not enough to protect him against the consequences of several rash decisions. 'Richard II' explores, among other themes, the nature of leadership. The play is the Bard's account of events leading to the Wars of the Roses.

It is the second of Shakespeare's history plays which, eight plays later, end with 'Henry VIII'. I did once attempt to read them all, but decided that would take as as long as did the actual events covered.

Answer: Desdemona

Of all Shakespearean victims, Desdemona must rank among the most innocent (if there is such a thing). Having done nothing wrong, she is killed by her insanely jealous husband who has been manipulated into the deed by his trusted but Machiavellian aide Iago. It's a story with elements commonly encountered in both real life and fiction.

The Bard's 'Othello' is an abiding reminder that making hasty conclusions without fully investigating all the facts can, and unfortunately too often does, have disastrous consequences.

Answer: Hamlet

'Hamlet' is Shakespeare's longest, most performed and most quoted play. 'Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare' tells of a woman who reads the play for the first time and says "I don't see why people admire that play so. It is nothing but a bunch of quotations strung together." What can I possibly add to that?

Answer: King John

The fact that King John signed the Magna Carta must have been unimportant to Shakespeare who failed to mention this detail in his play. Although there's the usual intrigue and scheming (and the occasional murder) to take away his throne, much of it seems to have occurred around John rather than being plotted by him. (He is distracted by his dealings with the pope.) Nonetheless, all the attempts to usurp the throne failed as King John was succeeded by his son Henry III. 'The Life and Death of King John', the first of Shakespeare's histories, is described by some scholars as Shakespeare's commentary on events surrounding the disputed accession of Elizabeth I to the throne and her struggles with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Answer: Cleopatra, Pharoah, Queen of Egypt

It is not historic fact that Cleopatra held an asp to her breast to commit suicide. Shakespeare helped perpetuate this possibility in 'Antony and Cleopatra'. However, from the outset, there's been considerable debate over the type of poison used (marks or cuts were found on her arm). If a snake was involved, it was never found.

Regardless, Cleopatra is one of the most complex of Shakespeare's female characters. His depiction of her has been described as making her appear vain and histrionic but there can be little doubt of her love for Marc Antony. Nonetheless, history ascribes ulterior motives for their liaison. Her dedication in trying (and subsequently failing) to protect Egypt from Roman imperialism has made Cleopatra one of history's memorable tragic heroines.