Shakespeare for Dummies..."Timon of Athens" Quiz

Answer: Greece

Timon is a wealthy Greek man who enjoys pleasing his friends. He is kind and generous to a fault, and somewhat naive. This play follows his journey down the path of life, and his acquisition of knowledge through his interactions with fellow mankind. It examines both the best and the worst in man.

It is an introspective look at true friendship and its rarity and value. It is believed that Shakespeare many have gotten his inspiration for this work from "The Misanthrope" by Lucian (125-200). Considered one of Shakespearean more obscure works, it is well worth reading.

Answer: He is giving away money.

Timon is a wealthy lord of Athens, well known for his generosity. Everyone is trying to get close to him in hopes of doing something, anything, that will please him and cause him to give them money. By the time the party is over he has given away all his money.

Answer: False

"Timon of Athens" is usually considered to be one of Shakespeare's tragedies. It is sometimes grouped in with a few others into a group that Shakespearean scholars term "The problem plays" which indicates that they do not fall into any one category easily, as they are so unusual.

Answer: Flavius

Flavius is Timon's steward and is not present at the banquet during which Timon has given away most of his wealth. He is terribly angry at the false friends who convinced his generous master to give away his wealth. He is also angry at Timon for acting so foolish and giving it to those who did not need it or were not worthy of such generosity.

Answer: They refuse to help in any way

They all refuse to help him in any way. Timon realizes that he has no real friends even though he has never been anything but kind and generous to all. The only person who did not want something from him was Flavius. He begins to hate all mankind.

Answer: Rocks and lukewarm water

When the serving trays are brought into the party, the guest discover nothing but rocks and lukewarm water on their plates. Timon throws water on them and then flees into the forest vowing never to deal with another human. He finds a cave in the wilderness where he makes himself a crude home.

He eats the roots that he is able to find. He is filled with self-loathing, self-pity, and a bitter hatred for all of mankind. He has become a true misanthrope.

Answer: A golden treasure

Timon discovers a cache of hidden treasure. Somehow, it is never explained how, "friends" from the past get knowledge of this. Some of them come looking for him and his new found treasure. Flavius has been searching for him the whole time, worrying about him as a true friend would.

When Flavius gets to the cave he finds out that Timon has given away this treasure also. Some of it he gave to two prostitutes in payment for spreading disease all over the city. He gave some to an old soldier he had known as payment to help destroy the city he has grown to hate.

When senators from the city come to beg for help in stopping the old soldier, he advises them to go hang themselves.

Answer: He dies

Timon dies after acknowledging that he had but one true friend, his steward Flavius. He also laments that his only friend is just a servant. the audience is left with the idea that the city of Athens is now cursed and full of disease. The last four lines of the play are the epitaph of Timon, which he wrote himself:
"Here lies a wretched corpse of wretched soul bereft
Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left!
Here lie I, Timon, who alive, all living men did hate,
Pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here thy gait."

Answer: This play was Shakespeare's last work

Shakespeare's last work is believed to be "The Tempest" which he wrote around 1611. This play has been dated to around 1604-1605. The other statements are all true. As with all of Shakespeare's work there is a lot of disagreement among scholars as to what inspired the story, whether the play was a collaboration with another author or even if it was ever performed in his lifetime. Most do agree that this is one of Shakespeare's most obscure and difficult plays to read and interpret.

Answer: False

This is completely false. The play is rarely performed when compared to most of Shakespeare's other works. Also, there is no Saint Timon and so there is no church with this name in Athens. Finally, September has only 30 days. But, you knew that last one, didn't you.