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Death by Shakespeare Trivia Quiz

"Exeunt severally..."Famous Shakespearean characters and their famous deaths. Do you recall how these characters died in the plays?

A multiple-choice quiz by Ruma. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Ruma

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
85,289

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2588

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 78 (3/10), Guest 172 (10/10), Guest 5 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. An easy one first. The star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet found it impossible to get past the family feuds of the Montagues and Capulets. Finally, both killed themselves, but by what means? Hint

Drinking poison and stabbing

Stabbing and death by fire

Both jump off the balcony

Self-asphyxiation and poison

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. We all know how Julius Caesar was killed - he was stabbed 33 times on the Ides of March. But Brutus, surely the true protagonist of the play, dies too, before the end. How? Hint

Swallowing hot coals

Catching typhoid and succumbing to it

Killed by Mark Antony in revenge

Running onto his sword

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "The Tragedy of King Richard III" tells of the wily and villainous ways of Richard III, and the lengths to which he goes to get the throne. But how does he die? Hint

Killed in his bed by his wife, Queen Anne

Killed in battle by the Earl of Richmond

Smothered by the Duke of Buckingham

Stabbed in the Tower by the Duke of Norfolk

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", being a play all about revenge, is bound to have more than a few dead bodies strewn around. Polonius, Lord Chamberlain and father of Ophelia, dies rather unfortunately. How? Hint

He drowns in the stream

Hamlet runs him through with his sword while Polonius is eavesdropping from behind a curtain

He drinks the poisoned cup meant for Queen Gertrude, by mistake

His son Laertes kills him, mistaking his shadow for Hamlet

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. And what about Hamlet himself? Hint

Given a poisoned drink by the King

Killed by Fortinbras

Stabbed by Ophelia

Nicked by Laertes' poisoned rapier and killed

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Macbeth, arguably Shakespeare's most famous and complex tragic protagonist, commits innumerable murders to get himself to the coveted throne. He's finally killed - how? Hint

Stabbed by Lady Macbeth

Cursed to death by the three witches

Beheaded by Malcolm

Slain in battle by Macduff

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale/Her infinite variety," which would perhaps explain Mark Antony's obsession for Cleopatra. But in the end she dies rather famously, too: Hint

Letting herself be stung by killer bees

Commits suicide by being bitten by an asp

Swallowing poison

Slain by Octavius Caesar

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "Othello, the Moor of Venice" is also a distrustful and jealous husband, who kills his beloved wife by smothering her. But how does Othello himself die? Hint

Slain in a duel by Cassio

Starves himself to death

Stabs himself to death

Killed by Iago, by poison

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. "Troilus and Cressida" Shakespeare's rendition of the Trojan War shows different and unusual aspects of the famous Greek heroes Ulysses, Hector, Achilles, Agamemnon... In the play, how does Hector die? Hint

Beheaded by Troilus

Beaten to death by Ajax

Ambushed and killed by Achilles and his Myrmidons

Slain by Ulysses

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Finally, in "Antony and Cleopatra", how does Mark Antony die? Hint

Falls on his sword

Stabbed by Eros

Poisoned by Agrippa

Killed in battle by Octavius Caesar

Most Recent Scores

Dec 18 2024 : Guest 78: 3/10
Nov 08 2024 : Guest 172: 10/10
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 5: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. An easy one first. The star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet found it impossible to get past the family feuds of the Montagues and Capulets. Finally, both killed themselves, but by what means?

Answer: Drinking poison and stabbing

Juliet takes a potion which leads Romeo to think she's killed herself. He swallows poison himself... Juliet comes to and finds Romeo's dead body and stabs herself. Oh, tragedy! oh, confusion!

2. We all know how Julius Caesar was killed - he was stabbed 33 times on the Ides of March. But Brutus, surely the true protagonist of the play, dies too, before the end. How?

Answer: Running onto his sword

Brutus runs on to his sword. It's his wife Portia who kills herself by swallowing hot coals. In the end, Antony acknowledges Brutus' greatness when he says, "This was the noblest Roman of them all..."

3. "The Tragedy of King Richard III" tells of the wily and villainous ways of Richard III, and the lengths to which he goes to get the throne. But how does he die?

Answer: Killed in battle by the Earl of Richmond

Remember his famous and oft-quoted last words, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" Villainy apart, his one virtue is shown to be his courage. He was killed by Richmond, who later became King Henry VII.

Answer: Hamlet runs him through with his sword while Polonius is eavesdropping from behind a curtain

Polonius hides behind the curtain, while Hamlet speaks to his mother, the Queen. Polonius, thinking the Queen to be in danger, cries out "What, ho! Help". Hamlet draws his sword and stabs it through the curtain, resulting in Polonius' death, claiming he "thought" it was a rat (his hated uncle, the King?).

5. And what about Hamlet himself?

Answer: Nicked by Laertes' poisoned rapier and killed

He dies while fencing with Laertes, whom he kills. It's his mother who drinks from the poisoned cup meant for him, and dies. Hamlet, hurt by Laertes' poisoned rapier, is dying himself ... so who's left alive? Barely anybody except Horatio! "Goodnight, sweet prince..."

6. Macbeth, arguably Shakespeare's most famous and complex tragic protagonist, commits innumerable murders to get himself to the coveted throne. He's finally killed - how?

Answer: Slain in battle by Macduff

The witches prophesy his death, and how it will come about. Macduff kills him. Macbeth's last words: "Lay on Macduff/And damned be him that first cries Hold, enough."

7. "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale/Her infinite variety," which would perhaps explain Mark Antony's obsession for Cleopatra. But in the end she dies rather famously, too:

Answer: Commits suicide by being bitten by an asp

Saying,"Husband, I come..." on hearing of Antony's death, she kills herself by sending for a deadly asp, which she clasps to her breast. According to Octavius Caesar, "She hath pursued conclusions infinite/Of easy ways to die". Wonder then why she chose to be bitten by a snake...?

8. "Othello, the Moor of Venice" is also a distrustful and jealous husband, who kills his beloved wife by smothering her. But how does Othello himself die?

Answer: Stabs himself to death

Gullible Othello believes the evil whisperings of Iago and kills his faithful wife. In the end, he realizes the truth and stabs himself.

Answer: Ambushed and killed by Achilles and his Myrmidons

Shakespeare reveals a not-so-nice aspect of Achilles' character by depicting him as one who ambushes an unarmed and defenceless Hector, and has him killed by his Myrmidons...

10. Finally, in "Antony and Cleopatra", how does Mark Antony die?

Answer: Falls on his sword

Mark Antony falls onto his sword (a rather favourite way for the Roman generals to kill themselves, evidently!) and then asks to be taken to his beloved, Cleopatra. She decides she can live no more without Antony, "In this dull world which in thy absence is no better than a sty.." she mourns.

Source: Author Ruma

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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