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Do You Know Shakespeare? Trivia Quiz

This is my debut quiz and I decided that its subject matter would be Shakespeare. I hope you like it!

A multiple-choice quiz by charliebrown3. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
charliebrown3

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
222,241

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1792

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Shakespeare married when he was just 18. What was his wife's name? Hint

Anne Hathaway

Catherine Hathaway

Anne Boleyn

Elizabeth Hathaway

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Question 2 of 10

2. Shakespeare and his wife had three children, two of whom were twins. What were the twins' names? Hint

Susanna and Judith

Hamlet and Juliet

Hamnet and Susanna

Judith and Hamnet

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who is generally regarded as Shakespeare's main rival as a dramatist? Hint

Phillip Henslowe

Richard Burbage

James Burbage

Christopher Marlowe

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the last surviving direct descendant of William Shakespeare, his eldest granddaughter? Hint

Lady Elizabeth Hunter

Lady Elizabeth Drayton

Lady Elizabeth Thomas

Lady Elizabeth Barnard

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Question 5 of 10

5. Shakespeare's character named "Beatrice" appears in which play? Hint

Much Ado About Nothing

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Tempest

Othello

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Question 6 of 10

6. Shakespeare applied for a coat of arms and eventually received it along with a motto, "Non Sanz Droict". What does this motto mean? Hint

Not Without Splendour

Not Without Right

Not Without Talent

Not Without Glory

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Globe is famous for being the theatre where Shakespeare performed. Which theatre was its main rival? Hint

Whitefriars

Salisbury Court Theatre

The Rose

Blackfriars

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who were Shakespeare's parents? Hint

Edward Shakespeare and Elizabeth Arden

John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

William Shakespeare and Mary Arden

John Shakespeare and Catherine Arden

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Question 9 of 10

9. Between the years 1585 and 1592 there is little information about Shakespeare or what he was doing at this time. How is this period known? Hint

The Missing Years

The Strange Years

The Unknown Years

The Lost Years

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Question 10 of 10

10. How many surviving plays are normally credited to Shakespeare? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Shakespeare married when he was just 18. What was his wife's name?

Answer: Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway married William Shakespeare in 1582 when she was 26, eight years his senior! She was also rumoured to be pregnant with their first child at the time.

2. Shakespeare and his wife had three children, two of whom were twins. What were the twins' names?

Answer: Judith and Hamnet

The eldest daughter, Susanna was born in May 1583. The twins were born in February 1585. Shakespeare's only son Hamnet died in 1596, aged 11.

3. Who is generally regarded as Shakespeare's main rival as a dramatist?

Answer: Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe was Shakespeare's main rival. He had a university education, and along with Robert Greene, labelled him an "upstart crow". Marlowe was killed in a tavern brawl in 1593.

4. What was the name of the last surviving direct descendant of William Shakespeare, his eldest granddaughter?

Answer: Lady Elizabeth Barnard

Lady Elizabeth Barnard was Susanna's daughter, and the only grandchild born in Shakespeare's lifetime. Judith had three children with her husband but she outlived them all. When Elizabeth died in 1670, Shakespeare's direct line ended.

5. Shakespeare's character named "Beatrice" appears in which play?

Answer: Much Ado About Nothing

Beatrice is headstrong and quick-witted and often banters with Benedick.

6. Shakespeare applied for a coat of arms and eventually received it along with a motto, "Non Sanz Droict". What does this motto mean?

Answer: Not Without Right

This motto is in French, and the modern French spelling is "non sans droit". This coat of arms and motto were ascribed to him in 1596. There was more evidence of his rise in status as the following year he bought "New Place" in Stratford-upon-Avon. The motto has also been adopted by Warwickshire.

7. The Globe is famous for being the theatre where Shakespeare performed. Which theatre was its main rival?

Answer: The Rose

Shakespeare actually was a part-owner of The Globe and Blackfriars.

8. Who were Shakespeare's parents?

Answer: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

Shakespeare's parents married around 1557. Mary Arden was the eighth daughter of the landowner and farmer, Robert Arden.

9. Between the years 1585 and 1592 there is little information about Shakespeare or what he was doing at this time. How is this period known?

Answer: The Lost Years

There are many theories about what Shakespeare may have done during these years. Some believe he taught for a time, others believe he was involved with the law due to the extensive knowledge some of his plays reveal about the law.

10. How many surviving plays are normally credited to Shakespeare?

Answer: 37

The 37 plays include tragedies such as "Hamlet", comedies like "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and histories such as "Richard III".

Source: Author charliebrown3

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