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The Bawdy Bard Trivia Quiz

There's not much information on the Bard's private life, which leads us to speculate on William Shakespeare's inspiration and influences in general. Imagine him then, during a typical day, speaking with those who knew him - in the language we love!

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

Author
bagendbo

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
102,834

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
538

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. William Shakespeare is visiting his mother - Mary Arden, in Stratford, and she asks him if he'd like a "sop 'o' the moonshine?" What do you think she wants him to have? Hint

A lucky charm

A glass of whisky from her secret store

A dish of eggs cooked in oil

A slap behind the ear

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Later, on his way home, he's surprised to meet Christopher Marlowe whom he hasn't seen in years. He secretly feels the playwright has become very "hard-favoured". What does he mean? Hint

He's bitter with age

He's as ugly as sin

He's pompous and difficult to like

He's drunk and down on his luck

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. After their conversation, he realises he's a complete "Hecate" for thinking such a thing. What is he calling himself? Hint

An Old Saxon

The Grim Reaper

The Queen of the Witches

A Harpee

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. No sooner has the Bard arrived home to Anne Hathaway, his "periwig pated" partner, when she tells him some bad news. Why is he so shocked? Hint

She's wearing a wig

She's heavily pregnant

She's waving her arms wildly in the air

She's an idiot

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. On account of this latest upset to young Will's sensibilities, he tells her he's heading back to London and leaves Anne in tears as she struggles with the "batlet". What's that you say? Hint

A long forked iron rod for raking the fire

A heavy rolling pin

A sharp sword kept in a tight leather sheath

A wooden club used for beating clothes during washing

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. When Will arrives at the Globe Theatre, there's a group of "groundlings" all around him - so he hurries inside. What's he running from? Hint

The beggars who hang around the theatre

The children that debt collectors pay to wait for their erring client

The pigeons and rats on the dirty streets

The part of the audience who pay a penny to see plays

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. As Shakespeare sits at his desk writing with his quill, he hears a
"throstle" which distracts him for a few moments. What's he listening to? Hint

A vendor

A thrush

A singer

A musician

8. It's nearly time for William's play to start, and the public are clamouring to get a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth who has turned up for a
private showing. "Will you flap-dragon, your majesty?", Will asks nervously. What is he expecting her to do?
Hint

Be angry with the host

Faint in the close, heavy atmosphere

Remove her outer garments eg cloak

Swallow or gulp down

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. When yet another monarch is killed on stage, the Queen glances sharply over at Will who, catching her eye, becomes " a man of salt." What has he become? Hint

A man of stone

A man of fear

A man of faith

A man of tears

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. When the long day comes to an end, William seeks out his friend Burbage at the local inn, and finds him "high-stomach'd" after a night's drinking. "All's well that ends well", thinks William but what is Burbage thinking? Hint

"I'm ready to be sick!"

"I'm ready to sleep!"

"I'm ready to pass wind!"

"I'm ready for a fight!"

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. William Shakespeare is visiting his mother - Mary Arden, in Stratford, and she asks him if he'd like a "sop 'o' the moonshine?" What do you think she wants him to have?

Answer: A dish of eggs cooked in oil

Kent - [to Oswald]" What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me!.. you rogue .. I'll make a sop 'o' the moonshine of you ..! ("King Lear" Act II.(ii) line 30)

2. Later, on his way home, he's surprised to meet Christopher Marlowe whom he hasn't seen in years. He secretly feels the playwright has become very "hard-favoured". What does he mean?

Answer: He's as ugly as sin

Audrey - " Would thou have me honest?" Touchstone - " No, truly,
unless thou wert hard favoured/For honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar." ("As You Like It" Act" III.(iii) line 26)

3. After their conversation, he realises he's a complete "Hecate" for thinking such a thing. What is he calling himself?

Answer: The Queen of the Witches

Hecate - [ to the three witches in Macbeth ] "O well done! I commend your pains .. And every one shall share i' the gains; and now about the cauldron sing, like elves and fairies in a ring."
( "Macbeth" Act IV.(i)line 39 )

4. No sooner has the Bard arrived home to Anne Hathaway, his "periwig pated" partner, when she tells him some bad news. Why is he so shocked?

Answer: She's wearing a wig

Hamlet - [ of poor acting] "O it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters." ("Hamlet" Act III.(ii) line 10)

5. On account of this latest upset to young Will's sensibilities, he tells her he's heading back to London and leaves Anne in tears as she struggles with the "batlet". What's that you say?

Answer: A wooden club used for beating clothes during washing

Touchstone - " I remember, when I was in love I broke my sword upon the stone and bid him take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile; and
I remember the kissing of her batlet." ( "As You Like It" Act II.(iv) line 46 )

6. When Will arrives at the Globe Theatre, there's a group of "groundlings" all around him - so he hurries inside. What's he running from?

Answer: The part of the audience who pay a penny to see plays

Hamlet - [the effect of poor acting on the audience] " .. to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise."("Hamlet" Act III.(ii) line 12 )

7. As Shakespeare sits at his desk writing with his quill, he hears a "throstle" which distracts him for a few moments. What's he listening to?

Answer: A thrush

Portia - [ of an ignoble potential suitor] ".. if a throstle sing, he falls straight a capering: he will fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands." ( "The Merchant Of Venice" Act I.(ii) line 59 )

8. It's nearly time for William's play to start, and the public are clamouring to get a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth who has turned up for a private showing. "Will you flap-dragon, your majesty?", Will asks nervously. What is he expecting her to do?

Answer: Swallow or gulp down

The Clown to the Shepherd, describing the shipwreck in Bohemia - "But to make an end of the ship, to sea how the sea flap-dragoned it."
( The Winter's Tale" Act III.(iii) line 103 )

9. When yet another monarch is killed on stage, the Queen glances sharply over at Will who, catching her eye, becomes " a man of salt." What has he become?

Answer: A man of tears

King Lear - " No seconds? all myself?/Why this would make a man a man of salt;/To use his eyes for garden winter-pots/Ay, and laying Autumn's dust." ( "King Lear" Act IV.(vi) line 210 )

Answer: "I'm ready for a fight!"

Richard II - [ speaking of Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray] "Then
call them to our presence .. ourselves will hear/The accuser and the
accused freely speak/High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire."
( "Richard II" Act I.(i) line 18 )

Source: Author bagendbo

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