Write Up My Alley!: Shakespeare in a Sentence Quiz

Answer: Richard II

"Richard II", also called "The Life and Death of King Richard the Second", was written around 1595. It tells the story of how Richard confiscates his cousin Henry's inheritance, and how Henry rises up against Richard, eventually taking the throne and becoming Henry IV (himself the subject of two Shakespeare plays).

The play explores the theme of the Divine Right of Kings versus merit in a King. It is a very engaging play, and was adapted into a BBC television film starring Sir Derek Jacobi in 1978.

Answer: Romeo and Juliet

Most know the story of "Romeo and Juliet"; how they were "star-crossed" lovers caught between their two families' feud, and how their relationship ended up in tragedy for them both. Premiering in 1597, the play has also spawned many television and film adaptions. One of the most famous of these is the 1968 film starring the 15-year-old Olivia Hussey as Juliet.

Answer: Henry IV, Part 1

"Henry VI, Part 1" introduced one of Shakespeare's best-loved original characters, that of Sir John Falstaff. This gross and crude good-for-nothing influences King Henry's son Prince Hal for the worse in this play; however, reportedly Queen Elizabeth I liked the character so much that she asked for him to be included in another play after "Henry IV, Part 2"!

In "Henry IV, Part 1", Henry's kingdom is besieged by rebellions and traitors, but the more he needs Prince Hal the more Hal consorts with Falstaff. It is a very relatable story, and Hal's tricks on Falstaff are equally hilarious! And, of course, Hal redeems himself in the end, in fine style. The BBC adapted this play for the TV in 1979, starring Jon Finch, David Gwillam, Anthony Quayle, and Tim Piggott-Smith.

Answer: Othello

"Othello" tells the story of a Moorish commander who is influenced by his Ensign, Iago, to question his wife's fidelity. Eventually Othello's jealousy reaches the point where he kills his wife Desdemona. Written between 1601 and 1604, the play is one of Shakespeare's most famous. An opera, named "Otello", by Rossini was first performed in 1816, while there have also been ballet, film, and television adaptions.

Answer: A Midsummer Night's Dream

One of Shakespeare's most enduring comedies, this play follows two couples--Lysander, Helena, Demetrius, and Hermia--through the forest outside of Athens to escape authority and find true love. Unfortunately, however, the night they pick to run away is Midsummer Night--when the fairies are at their most powerful! Several mistaken identities later, however, the proper couples are finally united.

Answer: Richard III

Richard III is one of Shakespeare's longest plays, but is more than worth the read (or watch). Richard is an unscrupulous Duke who murders his way to the top of the social ladder only to face rebellion from the Lancasters, led by Henry Tudor. It is in the final scene, that of the Battle of Bosworth Field, that Richard loses his horse and speaks that famous line:
"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
(Which sounds like a pretty good deal to me!)

Answer: Julius Caesar

Famously, Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar" features very little of the title character. Instead, its main focus is on Brutus: what led him to assassinate Caesar, and his fate afterwards. The show is stolen, however, by Marc Antony, whose famous speech over Caesar's body turns the Roman mob against Brutus and his followers.

Several famous film adaptions have been made of this play, including a 1952 version starring Sir John Gielgud, Marlon Brando, and Greer Garson. Canadian comedy team Wayne & Shuster made a popular spoof in 1954 called "Rinse the Blood off my Toga".

Answer: Macbeth

"Macbeth", first performed around 1606, tells the story of a Scottish Thane who encounters a trio of witches. They tell him that he will one day be King of Scotland, and thus begins Macbeth's fight to the top to reach the crown--and his fight against his conscience.

It is considered unlucky by some in the theater business to mention the name of "Macbeth" aloud backstage, instead referring to it as "The Scottish Play".

Answer: The Tempest

"The Tempest" was written around 1610. It revolves around the wizard Prospero, who was wrongfully banished to a far-away island with his daughter, and the passengers of a ship that was wrecked in a tempest on the island (including Prospero's brother, who banished him there). It is a love-story and a comedy, but with some darker elements as well.

Answer: Titus Andronicus

Shakespeare's first tragedy includes almost every gross and audience-pleasing aspect he could think of. It tells the story of Titus Andronicus, a king whose kingdom is taken, whose children are killed or mutilated, and who slowly goes mad. It is full of graphic violence and, according to Wikipedia, is "one of Shakespeare's least respected plays".