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Shakespeare - His Life Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz about the life of William Shakespeare. The last four questions deal with Hollywood's revival of Shakespeare in the 1990s. Best of luck and have fun! x

A multiple-choice quiz by Bronte. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Bronte

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
92,949

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
16 / 25

Plays
3041

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 134 (23/25), Guest 1 (19/25), Guest 103 (20/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. What were the names of William's parents before they married? Hint

Christopher Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway

Thomas Shakespeare and Catherine Milford

Henry Shakespeare and Eliza Graham

John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

NEXT>

Question 2 of 25

2. William Shakespeare's father served as bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon.

True

False

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Question 3 of 25

3. In which year was William Shakespeare born? Hint

1566

1564

1561

1559

NEXT>

Question 4 of 25

4. What was the name of the woman, eight years his senior, whom William married in November 1582? Hint

Anne Hathaway

Eliza Graham

Mary Arden

Catherine Milford

NEXT>

Question 5 of 25

5. What was the name of William Shakespeare's first daughter? Hint

Leanna

Joanna

Susanna

Marianna

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Question 6 of 25

6. William and his wife became the parents of twins in 1585 (a boy and a girl). What were they named? Hint

Otello and Francesca

Hamnet and Judith

Leir and Violet

Benquo and Natasha

7. Nobody knows for certain when William left Stratford-upon-Avon to go to London. It is also not known what he was doing prior to working in the theatre. Which of these is the most commonly believed theory on Shakespeare's "lost years"? Hint

He was a schoolmaster.

He was a lawyer.

He was a doctor.

He was a journalist.

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Question 8 of 25

8. William was valuable in the theatre as he could both write plays and act. Which fellow dramatist called William an "upstart crow" in 1592, envious of William's well established and successful career? Hint

Ben Jonson

Robert Greene

Christopher Marlowe

Thomas Kyd

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Question 9 of 25

9. William was a founding member of which theatrical group in 1594? Hint

High Bishop's Group

Lord Chamberlain's Men

Royal Crown's Actors

Grand Duke's Players

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Question 10 of 25

10. William's new theatrical group was founded in the same year as the theatres were re-opened having been closed the previous year. Why had they been closed? Hint

The death of Queen Elizabeth I

Opera became the more popular entertainment

The Plague

Great fire of London

NEXT>

Question 11 of 25

11. London's Globe Theatre, completed in 1599, was the playhouse of William's theatrical group. Was it situated on the north or south bank of the Thames?

Answer: (North or South ... N or S)

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Question 12 of 25

12. While we're on the subject of the Globe, it burned to the ground in 1613 during a performance of which of Shakespeare's plays? Hint

"King Lear"

"Macbeth"

"Henry VIII"

"As you Like It"

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Question 13 of 25

13. Who was the handsome courtier to whom Shakespeare dedicated his poems "Venus and Adonis" (1593) and "The Rape of Lucrece" (1594)? Hint

Earl of Norfolk

Earl of Southampton

Earl of York

Earl of Plymouth

NEXT>

Question 14 of 25

14. Shakespeare and his acting group performed at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. When she died, the next monarch came to the throne, and the name of Shakespeare's theatrical group was changed to "The King's Men". Who was the new monarch? Hint

James I

Richard III

Henry VIII

George II

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Question 15 of 25

15. As well as appearing in his own plays, Shakespeare also acted in some of the productions of his contemporary dramatists.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 16 of 25

16. How many of Shakespeare's plays were published in his lifetime? Hint

About half of them

None of them

All of them

About a quarter of them

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Question 17 of 25

17. Even though Shakespeare continued his theatrical career in London, he invested a considerable amount in property in which English town? Hint

Newcastle under Lyme

Ely

Stratford upon Avon

Bath

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Question 18 of 25

18. Where in England did William Shakespeare die, on 23 April 1616? Hint

London

Stratford upon Avon

Oxford

Hastings

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Question 19 of 25

19. Where is Shakespeare buried? Hint

Oxford University, Oxford

Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, London

Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

Ely Cathedral, Ely

NEXT>

Question 20 of 25

20. Which of Shakespeare's contemporaries remembered him with admiration and affection after his death? Hint

Edmund Spenser

Robert Greene

Thomas Nashe

Ben Jonson

NEXT>

Question 21 of 25

21. Who played William in the 1998 movie, "Shakespeare In Love"?

Answer: (British Actor, first and last name or just last name)

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. The 1990s were a great decade for movies of Shakespeare's plays. Who played Benedick and Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993)? Hint

Hugh Grant and Helena Bonham Carter

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

Mel Gibson and Kate Winslet

Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. In Baz Lurhmann's production of "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), who played the star-crossed lovers themselves? Hint

Tobey Maguire and Angelina Jolie

Keanu Reeves and Liv Tyler

Ben Affleck and Kirsten Dunst

Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. Who played Helena and Hermia in the movie "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999)? Hint

Anna Paquin and Sandra Bullock

Calista Flockhart and Anna Friel

Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley

Christina Ricci and Isla Fisher

NEXT>

Question 25 of 25

25. Who was played by Kenneth Branagh in "Hamlet" (1996)? Hint

Horatio

Laertes

Polonius

Hamlet

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 17 2024 : Guest 134: 23/25
Dec 16 2024 : Guest 1: 19/25
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 103: 20/25
Dec 08 2024 : Guest 174: 25/25
Dec 05 2024 : Guest 69: 14/25
Dec 05 2024 : Guest 104: 14/25
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 152: 18/25
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 42: 16/25
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 157: 7/25

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What were the names of William's parents before they married?

Answer: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

John Shakespeare was orginally from Snitterfield, and Mary Arden was from Wilmcote. These villages are about 3 miles (5 km) from Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire. Both John and Mary came from farming families. They married in 1557.

2. William Shakespeare's father served as bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Answer: true

He became bailiff in 1568.

3. In which year was William Shakespeare born?

Answer: 1564

The records of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, show that William Shakespeare was baptized on 26 April 1564. At this time, most babies were baptized a day or two after they were born. It has been estimated that William was born on 23 April. The Shakepeares had already lost their first two daughters in infancy, Joan and Margaret, when their first son William was born.

The couple went on to have five more children - Gilbert, Joan (named after their first child), Anne (who died at the age of eight), Richard and Edmund.

4. What was the name of the woman, eight years his senior, whom William married in November 1582?

Answer: Anne Hathaway

When they married, William was 18 years old, and Anne was 26. She was also three months pregnant on their wedding day. Their marriage licence bond was issued on 28 November 1582.

5. What was the name of William Shakespeare's first daughter?

Answer: Susanna

Susanna was baptized on 26 May 1583.

6. William and his wife became the parents of twins in 1585 (a boy and a girl). What were they named?

Answer: Hamnet and Judith

They were named after friends of William, Hamnet and Judith Sadler. Sadly, Hamnet Shakespeare died in 1596, aged 11. It is interesting that William wrote "Hamlet" shortly after his son's death, about a son whose father had recently died, and the son's anger at the separation imposed by this loss.

Answer: He was a schoolmaster.

There are also other theories about William's "lost years" including suggestions that he went travelling to Italy, and that he became a priest. Scholars deem the schoolmaster theory the most likely.

Answer: Robert Greene

Greene wrote "Pandosto" (1588).

9. William was a founding member of which theatrical group in 1594?

Answer: Lord Chamberlain's Men

William was both the main playwright and a major actor in this group of players. Prior to this, it is thought that he would have been associated with a number of acting groups, such as The Queen's Men, Pembroke's Men and Lord Strange's Men.

10. William's new theatrical group was founded in the same year as the theatres were re-opened having been closed the previous year. Why had they been closed?

Answer: The Plague

The theatres were seen as places where the Plague epidemic could possibly be spread further, due to the large gatherings of people who came to see the performances.

11. London's Globe Theatre, completed in 1599, was the playhouse of William's theatrical group. Was it situated on the north or south bank of the Thames?

Answer: south

It was situated on the south bank of the Thames. The area south of the Thames was notorious for its brothels, illegal animal fighting dens, betting houses and other such places. Shakespeare was a shareholder of the Globe Theatre and received 10 per cent of the profits.

12. While we're on the subject of the Globe, it burned to the ground in 1613 during a performance of which of Shakespeare's plays?

Answer: "Henry VIII"

A spark from a cannon set light to the roof thatch, and the theatre was destroyed. It was rebuilt the following year, although it was destroyed again in later years. More recently, a reconstruction of the Globe has been built near to its original site (in Southwark).

This building was used in the movie "Shakespeare in Love", and is also a functioning playhouse - I was lucky enough to see a production of "Hamlet" there in July 2000, and it was amazing!

13. Who was the handsome courtier to whom Shakespeare dedicated his poems "Venus and Adonis" (1593) and "The Rape of Lucrece" (1594)?

Answer: Earl of Southampton

There are two main theories as to why William chose to dedicate his poems to the 19-year-old Earl of Southampton. One theory is that knowing the Earl of Southampton was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare flattered him in order to get the attention of the Queen.

Another theory is that the two men were involved in a love affair, and William dedicated the poems to his young lover, perhaps to infuriate the Earl's mother, who was desperate for him to marry.

Answer: James I

James I became king of England in 1603. He gave The King's Men four and a half yards of scarlet cloth to wear for his coronation entry into London.

15. As well as appearing in his own plays, Shakespeare also acted in some of the productions of his contemporary dramatists.

Answer: true

Shakespeare is listed as being one of the actors in two of Ben Jonson's plays: "Every Man In His Humour" and "Sejanus".

16. How many of Shakespeare's plays were published in his lifetime?

Answer: About half of them

Those that were published appeared in "quartos". A quarto was a book made from sheets folded twice with eight pages per sheet.

17. Even though Shakespeare continued his theatrical career in London, he invested a considerable amount in property in which English town?

Answer: Stratford upon Avon

In 1597, he bought one of the town's largest houses, "New Place".

18. Where in England did William Shakespeare die, on 23 April 1616?

Answer: Stratford upon Avon

He died on his 52nd birthday.

19. Where is Shakespeare buried?

Answer: Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

He was buried at the same church as he was baptized in, on 25 April 1616, two days after his death. A monument to Shakespeare was erected in the church a few years after his death.

20. Which of Shakespeare's contemporaries remembered him with admiration and affection after his death?

Answer: Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson's plays include "Every Man In His Humour", "Sejanus", and "The Alchemist".

21. Who played William in the 1998 movie, "Shakespeare In Love"?

Answer: Joseph Fiennes

The storyline was not based upon real events in Shakespeare's life, but it certainly did contain a lot of factual information about William's life and London at this time in history. The movie was written by Tom Stoppard.

22. The 1990s were a great decade for movies of Shakespeare's plays. Who played Benedick and Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993)?

Answer: Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson

Also starring in the movie were Kate Beckinsale and Keanu Reeves.

23. In Baz Lurhmann's production of "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), who played the star-crossed lovers themselves?

Answer: Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes

The movie uses Shakespeare's script, but is set in the present day. It proves that the play has a timeless quality.

24. Who played Helena and Hermia in the movie "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999)?

Answer: Calista Flockhart and Anna Friel

Christian Bale, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett also starred in this movie.

25. Who was played by Kenneth Branagh in "Hamlet" (1996)?

Answer: Hamlet

Kate Winslet also starred in this movie.

Source: Author Bronte

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