Shakespeare (Basic)

Question 1

Who is William Shakespeare, and why is he considered so significant?

Answer 1

A famous poet/playwright; creator of 38 major plays and 154 sonnets; has the most widely performed/translated works of any playwright and helped influence the standardization of the English language.

Question 2

Where and in what time period did William Shakespeare live?

Answer 2

He lived from 1564 to 1616 in England. He was born in Strattford-upon-Avon, but he produced most of his great works in London.

Question 3

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“To be, or not to be: that is the question” - (Act III, Scene I)

Answer 3

Hamlet

Question 4

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry” - (Act I, Scene III)

Answer 4

Hamlet

Question 5

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.” - (Act II, Scene II)

Answer 5

Hamlet

Question 6

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” - (Act II, Scene VII)

Answer 6

As You Like It

Question 7

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!” - (Act V, Scene IV)

Answer 7

Richard III

Question 8

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” - (Act II, Scene II)

Answer 8

Romeo and Juliet

Question 9

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” - (Act II, Scene II)

Answer 9

Romeo and Juliet

Question 10

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“But love is blind, and lovers cannot see.” - (Act II, Scene VI)

Answer 10

The Merchant of Venice

Question 11

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” - (Act III, Scene I)

Answer 11

The Merchant of Venice

Question 12

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“The better part of valour is discretion.” - (Act V, Scene IV)

Answer 12

Henry IV, Part I

Question 13

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” - (Act III, Scene II)

Answer 13

Julius Caesar

Question 14

Which Shakespeare play includes the following quote?

“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” - (Act II, Scene V)

Answer 14

Twelfth Night, or What Your Will

Question 15

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy?

All’s Well That Ends Well

Answer 15

Helena is rewarded for curing the king of France by being promised Count Bertram’s hand in marriage. When he runs away from her out of unhappiness with the arrangement, she follows him to Italy and proves her devotion, thereby winning his affection.

Question 16

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy?

Antony and Cleopatra

Answer 16

Marc Antony falls in love with Cleopatra in Egypt, angering his brother-in-law, Octavius. When Antony is defeated by Octavius’ army, he kills himself, as does Cleopatra so as not to be forced to marry Octavius.

Question 17

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy?

As You Like It

Answer 17

When the Duke is banished by his brother to the forest, he is joined by his daughter Rosalind (disguised as a boy, Ganymede) and her cousin Celia. Orlando arrives and reveals his love for Rosalind to Ganymede while confusion leads various people to come into dispute about who should marry whom. A resolution is reached when Rosalind reveals her true self, marries Orlando, and the Duke regains his crown.

Question 18

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy?

The C**omedy of Errors

Answer 18

The identical twins Antipholus and Antipholus and the identical twins Dromio and Dromio are separated in childhood and try to meet as adults, resulting in confusion due to cases of mistaken identity. Eventually they are happily reunited and the disputes that arose from those mistakes are resolved.

Question 19

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy?

Coriolanus

Answer 19

Despite leading Rome to victory in battle, the aristocrat Coriolanus is driven away by the common people. He joins the enemy and plots revenge against Rome, ignoring the pleas of his mother and his wife, only to be killed by Aufidius for his treachery.

Question 20

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy?

Cymbeline

Answer 20

King Cymbeline sends his sons, Guiderius and Arviragus, to be raised in the woods by Belarius and also banishes his daughter Imogen’s husband. Imogen discovers her brothers and helps them reclaim the throne from their half-brother, Cloten, while having her loyalty tested by her husband, with whom she eventually reunites.

Question 21

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy?

Hamlet

Answer 21

In order to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet must kill his uncle, the new King Claudius, and to do so pretends to be mad. His plot results in the accidental murder of the father and brother of his beloved Ophelia, Ophelia’s own suicide, and the deaths of the king, Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, and even Hamlet himself.

Question 22

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare histories?

Henry IV Part I and Part II

Answer 22

A rebellion against King Henry IV is led by a formerly loyal soldier, Henry Percy, who is eventually killed by the king’s formerly irresponsible son, Prince Hal. In II, the king’s second son John of Lancaster tricks and kills the remaining rebels, but when the king dies he is succeeded by Prince Hal.

Question 23

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare history?

Henry V

Answer 23

Henry V attacks France, claiming an inherent right to the throne, wins the love of the French princess and heiress, Katherine, and consequently succeeds in ruling over both Britain and France.

Question 24

What is the plot of the following Shakespeare histories?

Henry VI Part I, Part II, and Part III

Answer 24

Dramatizes the historical War of the Roses, a famous war fought between British aristocrats represented by wearing opposing red and white roses, as well as including the story of Joan of Arc, whom the British encountered in France.

Question 25

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare history? *Henry VIII*

Answer 25

Covers Henry VIII's infamous divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn as well as the decline of Cardinal Wolsey and his nemesis, the Duke of Buckingham.

Question 26

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Julius Caesar*

Answer 26

A group of Roman statesmen, including Cassius and Caesar's dear friend Brutus, plot to kill Caesar out of concern that he has become too powerful. Marc Antony publicly denounces the assassination, battles the fleeing conspirators, and rules over Rome as part of the triumvirate that succeeds Caesar.

Question 27

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare history? *King John*

Answer 27

The weak King John is challenged by Prince Arthur with the support of France, leading to war and chaos, which is worsened by the Pope's denouncement of the king. John is eventually poisoned by monks and his supporter Philip Faulconbridge uses the situation to show England the danger of internal treachery.

Question 28

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *King Lear*

Answer 28

King Lear gives two of his daughters a portion of his land but rejects the third, Cordelia, who refuses to flatter him to get her share. Later, when he is betrayed by the first two, Cordelia returns to save his life, but is executed before Lear can realize his error, which leads him to die in sorrow.

Question 29

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *Love's Labour's Lost*

Answer 29

Although King Ferdinand and his three companions have sworn to reject romance and devote their years to studying, they each are charmed by and secretly court four French women (including the Princess of France). They end up having to confess to being unable to uphold the oath.

Question 30

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Macbeth*

Answer 30

Macbeth, encouraged by the predictions of three witches and his cruel wife, murders King Duncan of Scotland and is crowned king himself. His wife goes insane and kills herself while Macbeth, after having gone mad with power, is punished for his many murder's by Malcolm, Duncan's son, and is slain by Macduff.

Question 31

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *Measure for Measure*

Answer 31

Angelo is hired by Duke Vincentio of Vienna to stamp out immorality, so he sentences Claudio to death for seducing Juliet. But when Claudio's sister Isabella pleads for his life, Angelo falls for and seduces her, leading Vincentio to scold him and reunite the other couple upon discovering the hypocrisy.

Question 32

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *The M**erchant of Venice*

Answer 32

Antonio cannot repay Shylock's loan which he used to help his friend Bossanio court the lovely Portia and so is asked to pay the "pound of flesh" of interest previously agreed upon. Portia disguises herself as a man and successfully defends Antonio in a trial, saving his life.

Question 33

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *The Merry Wives of Windsor*

Answer 33

In pursuit of money, Falstaff simultaneously courts Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. When the two compare notes and discover his treachery, they play tricks on him and finally forgive him.

Question 34

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *A Midsummer Night's Dream*

Answer 34

While a group of players rehearse their performance for a wedding to be attended by the fairy Queen Titania, her husband King Oberon decides to punish her by ordering Puck to make her fall in love with one of the players (whom Puck has turned into a donkey) using a love potion. It also leads a group of two young men and two young women to fall in love with the wrong people until Puck resolves all the problems he had caused.

Question 35

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *Much Ado About Nothing*

Answer 35

Benedick and Beatrice are set up together by their friends while Claudio and Hero struggle to remain together despite the lies and plots of those who seek to break them up. The two couples end up happily together after the usually inept Constable Dogberry foils Don John's plans.

Question 36

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Othello*

Answer 36

When the Moorish general Othello makes his friend Cassio chief lieutenant, the jealous Iago accuses Othello's wife Desdemona of cheating with Cassio, leading Othello to murder her. When he discovers Iago's plot, he kills himself at his wife's side.

Question 37

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *Pericles*

Answer 37

Prince Pericles is forced to leave his homeland of Tyre so as not to be killed by the king and marries Thaisa, princess of Pentapolis. Thaisa gives birth to Marina, and both mother and daughter are lost at sea when Pericles tries to return to Tyre with his family. But, he reunites with Marina years later and learns that his wife is also alive.

Question 38

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare history? *Richard II*

Answer 38

King Richard II exiles his cousin Henry Bolingbroke and uses Henry's dead father's money to bankroll his wars. While Richard is in Ireland, Bolingbroke returns and usurps power, executing Richard on his return and becoming Henry IV.

Question 39

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare history? *Richard III*

Answer 39

When Edward IV dies, his son Richard does everything possible to secure the crown including murdering his brother George, his father's widow, her two young sons, and the Duke of Buckingham. He is finally killed by Henry Tudor who becomes Henry VII.

Question 40

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Romeo and Juliet*

Answer 40

While their families feud, the young Romeo and Juliet are secretly married only to be separated when Romeo is banished from Verona for killing Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Rather than marry Paris, Juliet choses to fake her own death, leading Romeo to kill himself when he arrives to save her, thus leading her to kill herself in turn when she wakes and sees his body.

Question 41

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *The Taming of the Shrew*

Answer 41

Baptista forbids his daughter Bianca to marry before his ill-tempered daughter Katharina finds a husband. Petruchio chooses to marry and "tame" her while Bianca is made free to marry Lucentio.

Question 42

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *The Tempest*

Answer 42

Prospero lives alone on an island with his daughter Miranda and his magical servants. He uses his magic to shipwreck the men who banished him onto the island and make them apologize. Prince Ferdinand, who was accompanying the shipwrecked crew, falls in love with Miranda. They all return to Italy and live happily ever after.

Question 43

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Timon of Athens*

Answer 43

When the rich Timon of Athens finally wastes the last of his wealth, he learns that his friends are fake and greedy and becomes a hermit as a result of his disgust with society. One of his few true friends, Alcibiades, is banished from Athens for a crime of passion and returns after visiting Timon to exact revenge for both of them.

Question 44

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Titus Andronicus*

Answer 44

Titus gives King Saturninus the prisoner Tamora to be his wife, but she avenges the sons that Titus killed by allowing his daughter, Lavinia, to be raped by her two other sons, Demetrius and Chiron. Titus eventually kills the sons and feeds them to Tamora and Saturninus, kills his daughter as well as Tamora, and is killed by the king, who is then killed by Titus's son, Lucius.

Question 45

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare tragedy? *Troilus and Cressida*

Answer 45

The Trojan soldier Troilus goes into the Greeks' camp during a truce to look for his beloved Cressida, who has been taken prisoner, but finds that she has cheated on him with a Greek soldier. The battle then resumes when Hector, Troilus's brother, is killed by Achilles.

Question 46

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *Twelfth Night, or What You Will*

Answer 46

Duke Orsino is in love with Olivia, who is in love with his new page, who is actually a woman in disguise, Viola. Viola is in love with Orsino and marries him once her twin brother, Sebastian, meets Olivia.

Question 47

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *The Two Gentlemen of Verona*

Answer 47

In Milan, Proteus betrays his beloved Julia for Sylvia, his friend Valentine's lover, and so has his friend banished, leading Sylvia to leave as well. Proteus follows her and is followed by Julia disguised as a man, who reminds him of his love for her, resulting in the reunion of the two couples.

Question 48

# What is the plot of the following Shakespeare comedy? *A Winter's Tale*

Answer 48

King Leontes imprisons his wife, Hermione, for supposedly cheating on him with his childhood friend King Polixenes, who flees. Hermione gives birth to a child in prison who grows up to marry Polixene's son. She reunites with both her parents when it is revealed that Hermione, previously thought dead, was actually hiding as a statue during that time.

Question 49

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a woman who is rewarded for curing the king of France by being promised the man of her choice's hand in marriage?

Answer 49

*All's Well That Ends Well*

Question 50

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a Roman man who falls in love with the Egyptian queen, angering his brother-in-law, the ruler Octavius?

Answer 50

*Antony and Cleopatra*

Question 51

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a Duke who is banished by his brother to the forest and is joined by his daughter Rosalind (disguised as a boy, Ganymede) and her cousin Celia?

Answer 51

*As You Like It*

Question 52

Which Shakespeare comedy is about the identical twins Antipholus and Antipholus and the identical twins Dromio and Dromio who are separated in childhood and try to meet as adults, resulting in confusion due to cases of mistaken identity?

Answer 52

*The Comedy of Errors*

Question 53

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about an aristocrat who, despite leading Rome to victory in battle, is driven away by the common people and joins the enemy to plot revenge against Rome, ignoring the pleas of his mother and his wife, only to be killed by Aufidius for his treachery?

Answer 53

*Coriolanus*

Question 54

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a king who sends his sons, Guiderius and Arviragus, to be raised in the woods by Belarius and also banishes his daughter Imogen's husband?

Answer 54

*Cymbeline*

Question 55

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a prince who, in order to avenge his father's death, must kill his uncle and so pretends to be mad?

Answer 55

*Hamlet*

Question 56

Which Shakespeare histories relate a rebellion against the king of England which is lead by a formerly loyal soldier, Henry Percy, who is eventually killed by the king's formerly irresponsible son, Prince Hal?

Answer 56

*Henry IV Part I* and *Part II*

Question 57

Which Shakespeare history is about a king who attacks France, claiming an inherent right to the throne, wins the love of the French Princess and heiress, Katherine, and consequently succeeds in ruling over both Britain and France?

Answer 57

*Henry V*

Question 58

Which Shakespeare history dramatizes the historical *War of the Roses*, a famous war fought between Birtish aristocrats represented by wearing opposing red and white roses, as well as including the story of Joan of Arc, whom the British encountered in France?

Answer 58

*Henry VI Part I*, *PartII*, and *Part III*

Question 59

Which Shakespeare history describes the king of England's infamous divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn as well as the decline of Cardinal Wolsey and his nemesis, The Duke of Buckingham?

Answer 59

*Henry VIII*

Question 60

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a group of Roman statesmen, including Cassius and Brutus, who plot to kill their ruler out of concern that he has become too powerful?

Answer 60

*Julius Caesar*

Question 61

Which Shakespeare history is about a weak king who is challenged by Prince Arthur with the support of France and denounced by the Pope, leading to war and chaos in England?

Answer 61

*King John*

Question 62

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a king who gives two of his daughters a portion of his land, rejects the third (Cordelia, who refuses to flatter him to get her share) and eventually kills her when she returns to attempt to save his life?

Answer 62

*King Lear*

Question 63

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a young king and his three companions who have sworn to reject romance and devote their years to studying, but are each charmed by and secretly end up courting four French woman (including the Princess of France)?

Answer 63

*Love's Labour's Lost*

Question 64

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a man who, encouraged by the predictions of three witches and his cruel wife, murders King Duncan of Scotland and is crowned king himself only to be slain by the late Duncan's son, Macduff?

Answer 64

*Macbeth*

Question 65

Which Shakespeare comedy is about Angelo, a man hired by the Duke of Vienna to get rid of immorality, who sentences a man to death but then falls in love with his sister when she pleads for her brother's life?

Answer 65

*Measure for Measure*

Question 66

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a man who cannot repay a moneylender's loan which he used to help his friend court the lovely Portia and so is asked to pay the "pound of flesh" of interest previously agreed upon?

Answer 66

*The Merchant of Venice*

Question 67

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a man who, in an attempt to acquire money, simultaneously courts two different women who discover his treachery but finally forgive him?

Answer 67

*The Merry Wives of Windsor*

Question 68

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a group of players who rehearse their performance for a wedding to be attended by the fairy queen while her husband tries to punish her by making her fall in love with a player transformed into a donkey?

Answer 68

*A Midsummer Night's Dream*

Question 69

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a couple that struggles to remain together despite the lies and plots of Don John, who seeks to break it up?

Answer 69

*Much Ado About Nothing*

Question 70

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a Moorish general who makes his friend Cassio chief lieutenant, leading the jealous Iago to accuse the general's wife Desdemona of cheating with Cassio?

Answer 70

*Othello*

Question 71

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a prince who is forced to leave his homeland of Tyre, marries Princess Thaisa, and is eventually reunited with her and his daughter after they are lost at sea?

Answer 71

*Pericles*

Question 72

Which Shakespeare history is about a king who exiles his cousin Henry Bolingbroke only to be executed by him upon his return from Ireland?

Answer 72

*Richard II*

Question 73

Which Shakespeare history is about Edward IV's son murderous quest for power leads him to kill his brother George, his father's widow, her two young sons, and the Duke of Buckingham?

Answer 73

*Richard III*

Question 74

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a young couple that secretly marries despite their families' feud only to be separated when the husband is banished from Verona for killing the wife's cousin, Tybalt?

Answer 74

*Romeo and Juliet*

Question 75

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a father who forbids his daughter Bianca to marry before his ill-tempered daughter Katharina finds a husband?

Answer 75

*The Taming of the Shrew*

Question 76

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a man who lives alone on an island with his daughter Miranda and his magical servants and who shipwrecks the men who banished him by magic?

Answer 76

*The Tempest*

Question 77

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a man who, when he finally wastes the last of his wealth, learns that his friends are fake and greedy and becomes a hermit as a result of his disgust with society? One of his few true friends, Alcibiades is banished from the town for a crime of passion and returns after visiting the man to get revenge for the both of them.

Answer 77

*Timon of Athens*

Question 78

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a soldier who gives his king the prisoner Tamora to be his wife, but is punished when she avenges the sons that the soldier killed by allowing his daughter, Lavinia, to be raped by her two other sons, Demetrius and Chiron?

Answer 78

*Titus Andronicus*

Question 79

Which Shakespeare tragedy is about a Trojan soldier who goes into the Greeks' camp during a truce to look for his beloved, who has been taken prisoner, but finds that she has cheated on him with a Greek soldier?

Answer 79

*Troilus and Cressida*

Question 80

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a duke who is in love with one woman, who is in turn in love with his new page, who is actually another woman in disguise?

Answer 80

*Twelfth Night, or What You Will*

Question 81

Which Shakespeare comedy is set in Milan and involves a man who betrays his beloved Julia for Sylvia, his friend's lover, banishes his friend, and causes Sylvia to leave as well?

Answer 81

*The Two Gentlemen of Verona*

Question 82

Which Shakespeare comedy is about a king who accuses his wife, Hermione, of an affair with his childhood friend and imprisons her?

Answer 82

*A Winter's Tale*