Shakespeare Play Summaries in Four Words Quiz

Answer: Henry IV Part I

Henry IV has just usurped the throne of England from Richard II. Richard's former supporters plot against Henry; in the meantime, the king's son Henry (also called Hal) cavorts with low company, including the fat knight Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's most beloved characters.

His father is ashamed of him, but Prince Hal reveals that he will cast off his playfulness when the right time comes. All of the plots converge at the battle of Shrewsbury, the outcome of which sets the stage for "Henry IV Part II."

Answer: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Two sets of lovers, under the fairy king Oberon's spells, fall for the wrong partners while in the woods. There is also a subplot about the fairy queen Titania falling in love with a man whose head has been replaced with that of a donkey. By the end, everybody is matched to his/her proper mate and all have been convinced that the strange mix-ups of the previous night were just a dream.

These same four words could also be said of "As You Like It," which contains scenes in a forest and ends with FOUR sets of lovers marrying.

Answer: Much Ado about Nothing

There are two couples in this comedy. Don John tries to force Claudio and Hero apart by claiming that Hero is not a virgin. The other characters try to bring Benedick and Beatrice, who constantly spar with words, to love each other. Eventually, Hero's virginity is proclaimed, and Benedick and Beatrice declare their love for one another.

The play ends with Benedick ordering a dance before the two marriages.

Answer: Titus Andronicus

With over a dozen deaths and further dismemberments and rapes, this is Shakespeare's bloodiest play. The title character sacrifices one of the sons of Tamora, Queen of the Goths; Tamora then vows revenge upon Titus's surviving children, resulting in a huge cycle of violent revenge.

In one of Titus's final acts, he kills her sons and bakes them into a pie that he serves to Tamora before he kills her.

Answer: Henry V

Henry V considers invading France to take the throne after hearing from the clergy that he has a claim to the French crown. His decision to invade is cemented after receiving an insulting gift of tennis balls from the French Dauphin. Before the climactic Battle of Agincourt, Henry gives the "Saint Crispin's Day" speech, from which we get the expressions "household words" and "band of brothers."

Answer: Othello

Iago, angry that Othello has not chosen him to be his lieutenant, starts feeding Othello lies that Othello's new wife Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, Othello's chosen lieutenant. Othello comes to believe the lies after seeing Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio's person. Othello smothers Desdemona, then kills himself after Iago's wife (who is killed by Iago) tells Othello the truth of Desdemona's faithfulness.

Answer: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Falstaff, from the "Henry IV" plays, attempts to better his monetary situation by sending two wealthy married women, Mistresses Ford and Page, identical love letters in order to seduce them and use their money. When they find out, the wives devise a series of tricks for him, such as hiding him in a laundry basket and having the basket dumped in a river.

In the end, Mistress Ford proves her faithfulness to her jealous husband, Falstaff takes his defeat well, and, as in many Shakespeare comedies, two lovers marry.

Answer: King Lear

Lear plans to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, but first he wants to hear how much they love him. His youngest and favorite daughter replies honestly and plainly that she loves him as a father; Lear is not flattered enough and disowns her.

As a result of the ensuing vanity, pride, lust, and desire for power, most of the characters die (it is a tragedy!), leaving only three major players alive at the end.

Answer: The Tempest

Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan, and his daughter Miranda are marooned on an island by Prosper's brother Antonio, who usurped his title, and Alonso, King of Naples. Prospero practices sorcery and, with the help of the spirit Ariel, shipwrecks these two and their entourage on the island as well, where the characters follow their own separate stories until they all converge at the end.

Answer: Hamlet

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is visited by the ghost of his father, who tells him to avenge his murder, which was committed by his brother, Hamlet's uncle Claudius. In the revenge process, nearly every character dies. The only major character to survive is Hamlet's friend Horatio, who attempts to poison himself at the end.

He lives to tell the story to Fortinbras (a minor but important character), who takes up the throne of Denmark. "Hamlet" is perhaps Shakespeare's most quoted and adapted play.