Playing the Fool Trivia Quiz

Answer: Twelfth Night

Olivia is mourning for her brother's death and Feste proves her a "fool". Given the fact that Olivia says her brother is in heaven (a happy place), mourning is illogical.

"What is love? 'Tis not hereafter.
Present mirth hath present laughter."

Feste's lyrics refers to both Olivia and Orsino, who are moping around because of "love" - he suggests that it is not genuine love.

Answer: As You Like It

Touchstone often gets threatened with the whip - a common threat with Shakespearean fools.

One of his more famous quotes is, "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."

Answer: Hamlet

The Gravediggers appear only in Act V Scene I. They begin discussing whether Ophelia deserves a Christian burial since she committed suicide. Then Hamlet enters and the first Gravedigger begins talking to him. The Gravedigger then finds the skull of Yorick, a "mad rogue" who "poured a flagon of Rhenish on [the Gravedigger's] head once".

Hamlet is often misquoted as saying "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him well" - the real quote ends "I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest..."

Answer: The Tempest

Trinculo is found in the shipwreck and serves Alonso. He often insults Caliban, but then becomes a part of his plan to murder Prospero - although the plan fails.

Answer: Measure for Measure

Pompey is a clown and a barman working for Mistress Overdone. He is often very funny, but is offered (and accepts) the job of executing Claudio and Barnardine by the horrifically named Abhorson ("abhor" + "whoreson").

Answer: Henry VI Part 3

Falstaff appears in both parts of Henry IV and in the Merry Wives of Windsor. He is a rebellious knight who drinks, steals and speaks rudely.

His death is described in Act II Scene III of Henry V by the Hostess. He died peacefully between twelve and one.

Answer: King Lear

The reason for the Fool's sudden disappearance is unknown - some suggest that Cordelia and the Fool were originally played by the same actor, so could not appear in the same scenes together. King Lear says "And my poor fool is hanged" in Act V (just after Cordelia's death): this could be referring to Cordelia or, more literally, the Fool.

It could even be a reference to both, especially if the roles were originally double cast.

Answer: Two Gentlemen of Verona

Launce and Speed are servants, personal attendants of Valentine and Proteus. They are very observant and full of jokes.

In later plays, Shakespeare mimics these characters, and develops those personalities further. Peter ("Romeo and Juliet") and Launcelot Gobbo ("Merchant of Venice") both share a lot in common with these fools.

Answer: Comedy of Errors

Dromio of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus are servants of the main twins in the play, both named Antipholus. Both pairs of twins are separated. The Dromio twins get mixed up with the identity confusion, but still act very jovially and the play ends with them happily reunited.

Answer: The Winter's Tale

The Clown is a bit dimwitted and gets conned by Autolycus, who picks pockets for a living. Autolycus is very good at his job and is quite a likeable person, with his singing, dancing and happy spirit.