The Elizabethans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Blow up Parliament

Fawkes was a key figure in the so-called "Gunpowder Plot" to blow up Parliament. He was caught. Parliament was saved, but Fawkes was executed. (To be perfectly accurate, the plot actually occurred shortly after the end of Elizabeth's reign.)

Answer: Humphrey Gilbert

Drake, Hawkins and Frobisher were all leading naval commanders who figured in the English navy's victory. Gilbert, an English explorer, died several years prior to the battle.

Answer: The Golden Hind

Drake was indeed a colorful and extraordinary character. He was a soldier, a sailor, an explorer, a pirate and an adventurer.

Answer: For secretly marrying one of Elizabeth I's ladies-in-waiitng

The problem was that Raleigh married Lady of the Privy Chamber Elizabeth Throckmorton without the Queen's permission. Lady Raleigh was also imprisoned in the Tower.
Sir Walter Raleigh's execution in 1618 under James I was unrelated to this incident.

Answer: Christopher Marlowe

All four have been suggested in earnest as the "true" author, but only Marlowe fits the bill as the man whose untimely death coincided (more or less) with the rise of Shakespeare, the writer. Marlowe's death is, indeed, quite curious ... and it seems likely that he was engaged in "intelligence" activities. But, while his death may well have ben something other than a happenstance brawl, the evidence that he survived the "incident" is not compelling.

Answer: Polonius

Polonius, a supporting character in "Hamlet", (who dies - as does almost everyone in the play) is said to be based on Burghley.

Answer: Mary, Queen of Scots

The plot backfired; it seemed doomed from the start. Mary's knowledge - or apparent knowledge - of the plot proved fatal for her. One of the conspirators, Chidiock Tichbourne, wrote a beautiful and moving poem while in jail ... on the night prior to his execution. He was barely in his twenties when he went to a grisly death.

Answer: James I

She had a remarkable reign and a remarkable life. He was also James VI of Scotland.

Answer: Ben Jonson

Jonson is the author of these two plays. Kyd wrote the "Spanish Tragedy", also a play. Spenser, author of the "Faerie Queene" and Sidney were primarily known as poets.

Answer: Richard Burbage

Burbage was considered to be one of the finest of Shakespearean actors. Booth was also a fine actor who played Shakespearean characters - but he lived in 19th century America (and was the brother of John Wilkes Booth). Laura Keene lived at the same time; she was performing on stage at Ford's Theatre when Lincoln was killed. Elizabeth Poe, an actress, was the mother of Edgar Allan Poe.