Shakespeare: The Lovers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cleopatra

"If it be love indeed, tell me how much." - Cleopatra ("Antony and Cleopatra", Act 1, Scene 1)

Antony and Cleopatra's love is fierce and consuming, but it is also entangled in political intrigue. Antony, a Roman general, is torn between his duty to Rome and his passion for Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Their relationship is full of drama, power struggles and mutual manipulation. Cleopatra's hold on Antony weakens his loyalty to Rome, while Antony's political position threatens their union.

The lovers' story highlights the conflict between public duty and personal desire, which ultimately leads to their downfall. In the end, convinced that Cleopatra has betrayed him, Antony falls on his sword. Cleopatra, devastated and unwilling to be paraded as a Roman trophy, takes her own life with the bite of an asp. Their love ends in mutual destruction, sealing their fate as one of the most tragic couples in literature.

Answer: Hero

"Can the world buy such a jewel?" - Claudio ("Much Ado About Nothing", Act 1, Scene 1)

Claudio falls head over heels in love with Hero, whose beauty and virtue immediately captivate him. However, their love faces several challenges, mainly due to deception and misunderstanding.

Claudio is quick to believe malicious lies about Hero's fidelity and publicly humiliates her at their wedding. The ease with which Claudio doubts Hero reflects the fragility of trust in romantic relationships, especially in a world where appearances can be so easily manipulated.

After much confusion, it is revealed that Hero has been falsely accused, and Claudio is filled with remorse. Their relationship is repaired and they marry, their love overcoming the obstacles placed before them, ending the play on a joyous note.

Answer: Perdita

"I bless the time / When my good falcon made her flight across / Thy father's ground." - Florizel ("The Winter's Tale", Act 4, Scene 4)

Florizel, the son of King Polixenes, falls in love with Perdita, a humble shepherdess who is unaware that she is actually a princess. Their love is innocent and pure, a refreshing contrast to the darker, more complicated emotions experienced by other characters in the play.

The pastoral setting in which they meet adds to the sense of simplicity and sincerity of their romance. However, Florizel's father disapproves of their relationship because of Perdita's supposed low birth, leading to conflict.

When Perdita's true royal identity is revealed, their love is confirmed and they are embraced by their families. Their marriage brings reconciliation between the estranged characters and heralds the play's happy resolution.

Answer: Viola

"If music be the food of love, play on." - Orsino ("Twelfth Night", Act 1, Scene 1)

Orsino begins the play deeply infatuated with the idea of love, particularly his love for Lady Olivia, although his feelings are more about the concept of love itself than true affection. Viola, disguised as the male page Cesario, secretly falls in love with Orsino while serving him.

This disguise creates a complex love triangle, as Olivia falls in love with Cesario, unaware that "he" is actually Viola. The relationship between Orsino and Viola highlights Shakespeare's exploration of gender roles and mistaken identity. Viola's unwavering loyalty to Orsino, despite her disguise, shows the depth of her feelings.

When Viola's true identity is revealed, Orsino shifts his affections to her and they end up together, with Orsino realising the true depth of her love for him.

Answer: Helena

"And even for that do I love you the more. / I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, / The more you beat me, I will fawn on you." - Helena ("A Midsummer Night's Dream", Act 2, Scene 1)

Helena's love for Demetrius is unrequited at the start of the play, and she pursues him relentlessly despite his harsh rejections. Her loyalty borders on self-abasement, as she continues to love him even when he treats her cruelly.

Demetrius, on the other hand, is in love with Hermia, who is in love with Lysander. Their romantic entanglement is further complicated by the intervention of the fairies. When the mischievous Puck uses a love potion on Demetrius, his feelings for Helena are magically reversed and he falls madly in love with her.

This comic turn of events reveals the absurdity of the fickle nature of love, especially in a world ruled by magic. In the end, Demetrius remains enchanted and remains in love with Helena, leading to a happy, if somewhat contrived, conclusion.

Answer: Portia

"You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, / Such as I am." - Portia ("The Merchant of Venice", Act 3, Scene 2)

Bassanio, a young Venetian, seeks Portia's hand not only for her beauty and intelligence but also for her considerable wealth, though his love for her is genuine. Portia's fate is tied to her father's strange will, which requires suitors to choose correctly from three caskets - gold, silver and lead - to win her hand.

Bassanio succeeds in choosing the lead casket, proving that his love for Portia is based on more than material gain. Their relationship is tested, however, when Portia disguises herself as a lawyer to rescue Bassanio's friend Antonio from Shylock's deadly bond. Portia's quick wit and resourcefulness underline her strength, and her marriage to Bassanio is built on a foundation of mutual respect.

Their story ends on a celebratory note, as they take part in a double wedding and look forward to a prosperous future.

Answer: Desdemona

"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them." - Othello ("Othello", Act 1, Scene 3)

Othello and Desdemona's love begins with deep affection and admiration. Despite Othello's status as a Moor in Venetian society, their love transcends racial and cultural boundaries. Desdemona's loyalty to Othello is unwavering, but their relationship is destroyed by jealousy and manipulation.

Iago, Othello's midshipman, plants seeds of doubt in Othello's mind, making him believe that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Othello's love, once pure, is tainted by his insecurities and Iago's deceit.

Consumed by jealousy, Othello tragically murders Desdemona, only to discover too late that she was innocent. Overcome with remorse, Othello takes his own life, leaving their love story as one of Shakespeare's most devastating tragedies.

Answer: Rosaline

"By heaven, I do love: and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy." - Berowne ("Love's Labour's Lost", Act 4, Scene 3)

Berowne, a quick-witted scholar, falls in love with the sharp-tongued Rosaline, and their relationship is one of intellectual sparring and mutual admiration. Unlike the other men in the play, who fall in love easily, Berowne is initially sceptical about romantic love and thinks it is foolish. His eventual acceptance of his feelings for Rosaline shows his growth throughout the play.

However, their relationship is not without its challenges, as they exchange insults as well as affection. The ending of the play is unconventional for a Shakespearean comedy; rather than ending in marriage, the lovers must wait a year before they can be together, as Rosaline insists that Berowne prove his love through patience and reform. Their love, though playful and flirtatious, is ultimately based on equality and respect.

Answer: Ophelia

"I did love you once." - Hamlet ("Hamlet", Act 3, Scene 1)

Hamlet and Ophelia's love is overshadowed by Hamlet's obsession with avenging his father's murder and his subsequent descent into madness. Ophelia, torn between her love for Hamlet and her loyalty to her father Polonius, is ultimately driven to madness herself.

Hamlet's erratic behaviour and harsh rejection of Ophelia, compounded by the manipulations of those around them, lead to the collapse of their relationship. Ophelia's tragic end, drowned in a river, symbolises the destructive forces of betrayal and madness that permeate the play.

Hamlet's grief at her death is profound, even though his actions played a significant role in her downfall. Their love, ultimately doomed by external pressures and Hamlet's inner turmoil, is one of the many casualties of the play's tragic arc.

Answer: Rosalind

"O Rosalind! these trees shall be my books." - Orlando ("As You Like It", Act 3, Scene 2)

Orlando's love for Rosalind is immediate and sincere, while Rosalind, disguised as the boy Ganymede, uses her alter ego to test and teach Orlando about love. The pastoral setting of the Forest of Arden allows their romance to develop in an atmosphere of playfulness and exploration.

Rosalind's intelligence and wit shine through as she guides Orlando through the rituals of courtship while concealing her true identity. Orlando's devotion to Rosalind is unwavering, even as he interacts with her disguised form. When Rosalind finally reveals herself, their love is fully realised, culminating in their marriage.

Their relationship, marked by playful banter and mutual respect, embodies the joyful and liberating spirit of the pastoral genre, and their union symbolises the triumph of love in a natural, harmonious world.