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Shakespeare' s Sonnet-mania! Trivia Quiz

Another quiz about The Bard! This quiz will focus on Shakespeare's sonnets.

A multiple-choice quiz by ecc. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ecc

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
157,109

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
340

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This question concerns "Sonnet 116" - "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." When Shakespeare refers to a "bark," what is he speaking of? Hint

a chocolate treat made with almonds

the outer casing of a tree

a ship

the noise a dog makes

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Complete this line from "Sonnet 22" - "My glass shall not persuade me I am old." "For all that ______ that doth cover thee / Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,"
Hint

youth

beauty

love

summer

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. This question concerns "Sonnet 130" - "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." What is far more red than his mistress' lips? Hint

a strawberry

a rose

Coral

a cardinal

4. This question concerns "Sonnet 57" - "Being your slave, what should I do but tend." Please finish the lines: "But, like a sad slave, stay and think of _______, / Save, where you are how happy you make those" Hint

nought

something

anything

happiness

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This question concerns "Sonnet 17" - "Who will believe my verse in time to come." What is one of the ways Shakespeare believes his love can live on? Hint

through a painting

by drinking from the fountain of youth

through a child

by eating an apple every day

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. This question deals with "Sonnet 141" - "In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes." What loves that which his eyes despise? Hint

His mind

His brother

His heart

His father

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Now we will turn to "Sonnet 18" - "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" In the sonnet, what does Shakespeare say will not fade? Hint

"thy wit"

"thy beauty"

"thy eternal summer"

"thy blush'd cheek"

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This quiz concerns Sonnet 140: "Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press." What does Shakespeare say he might teach the subject? Hint

dance

French

wit

art

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In "Sonnet 109" ("O! never say I was false of heart"), what does Shakespeare refer to his love as in the final couplet? Hint

my rose

my love

my dear

my sweet

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In Sonnet 139 (O! call not me to justify the wrong"),what does Shakespeare refer to as his enemies? Hint

"The coming winter days"

"Her piercing eyes"

"Her pretty looks"

"Rain clouds above"

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This question concerns "Sonnet 116" - "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." When Shakespeare refers to a "bark," what is he speaking of?

Answer: a ship

"It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken."
Here, Shakespeare is likening the steadfastness of love to a star by which ships used to take measurements to determine their course.

2. Complete this line from "Sonnet 22" - "My glass shall not persuade me I am old." "For all that ______ that doth cover thee / Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,"

Answer: beauty

This sonnet discusses the interconnectedness of individuals in love. Shakespeare speaks of trading hearts, making the two individuals almost like one individual, and how it is impossible to trade them back again. The bond is eternal.

3. This question concerns "Sonnet 130" - "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." What is far more red than his mistress' lips?

Answer: Coral

In a sonnet commending ordinary beauty, Shakespeare states, "Coral is far more red than her lips' red." In this sonnet, Shakespeare acknowledges that his love may not be conventionally beautiful, but he loves her more than any goddess he could mistakenly compare her to.

Answer: nought

This sonnet appears to discuss how love can make people slaves to one another, and perhaps to love itself.

5. This question concerns "Sonnet 17" - "Who will believe my verse in time to come." What is one of the ways Shakespeare believes his love can live on?

Answer: through a child

This sonnet laments that his poetry praising the beauty of his love will never be believed by future readers, because she is too beautiful. Therefore, even if his poems were discounted, her beauty could continue through her children.

6. This question deals with "Sonnet 141" - "In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes." What loves that which his eyes despise?

Answer: His heart

If you are familiar with the movie "10 Things I Hate About You," you may recognize this sonnet as the one Kat's English teacher raps. "10 Things I Hate About You" is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew."

7. Now we will turn to "Sonnet 18" - "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" In the sonnet, what does Shakespeare say will not fade?

Answer: "thy eternal summer"

The sonnet reads: "And every fair from fair sometime declines, / By chance, or nature's changing course untrimm'd; / But thy eternal summer shall not fade...."

8. This quiz concerns Sonnet 140: "Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press." What does Shakespeare say he might teach the subject?

Answer: wit

The sonnet reads: "If I might teach thee wit, better it were, / Though not to love, yet, love, to tell me so...."

9. In "Sonnet 109" ("O! never say I was false of heart"), what does Shakespeare refer to his love as in the final couplet?

Answer: my rose

The couplet reads: "For nothing this wide universe I call, / Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all."

10. In Sonnet 139 (O! call not me to justify the wrong"),what does Shakespeare refer to as his enemies?

Answer: "Her pretty looks"

The sonnet reads: "Let me excuse thee: ah! my love well knows / Her pretty looks have been my enemies; / And therefore from my face she turns my foes, / That they elsewhere might dart their injuries."

Source: Author ecc

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