Could You Be Shakespeare?
Many anti-Shakespearians argue that Shakespeare's plays contain historical, literary, philosophical, and theological references only a highly educated nobleman in Elizabethan England would be educated enough to write. Do you have what it takes to write Hamlet or Twelfth Night? Take our quiz to find out!
- 1.
What is the Ides of March?
- A.
An 11th century war in the Byzantine empire
- B.
A pagan festival celebrated in northern England
- C.
March 15
Correct Answer
C. March 15Explanation
March 15 is the day Julius Caeser was assassinated. In Shakespeare's play, the Roman emperor is warned in Act I to "Beware the Ides of March."Rate this question:
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- 2.
With whom does the legend of Leir, an 8th century king of the Britons, originate?
- A.
Geoffrey Chaucer
- B.
Geoffrey of Monmouth
- C.
Geoffrey Plantagenet, Duke of Normandy
Correct Answer
B. Geoffrey of MonmouthExplanation
King Lear was based on the legendary tale of Leir, who is featured in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain).Rate this question:
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- 3.
The War of the Roses was a dynastic war between which two houses for the English throne?
- A.
York and Lancaster
- B.
Stark and Targaryen
- C.
Tudor and Windsor
Correct Answer
A. York and LancasterExplanation
The disputed succession of the English throne underscored the conflicts of most of Shakespeare's major history plays, including Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, and Richard III.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Where is Illyria located?
- A.
The Scottish highlands
- B.
A Mediterranean island
- C.
Modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina
Correct Answer
C. Modern-day Bosnia and HerzegovinaExplanation
Illyria, where Twelfth Night is set, was a region in the western Balkans in classical antiquity.Rate this question:
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- 5.
The sonnet was created in which country?
- A.
France
- B.
Italy
- C.
England
Correct Answer
B. ItalyExplanation
The form was popularized by Francesco Petrarch in Italian two centuries before Shakespeare modified the Petrarchan style and penned his famous poems.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Which classical comedy is about twins mistaken for each other?
- A.
Plautus' Menaechmi
- B.
Aristophanes' Lysistrata
- C.
Meander's Dyskolos
Correct Answer
A. Plautus' MenaechmiExplanation
Plautus' comedy is the likely inspiration for The Comedy of Errors, and probably influenced the plot of Twelfth Night.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Pyramus is to Thisbe as Theseus is to...
- A.
Miranda
- B.
Hippolyta
- C.
Athena
Correct Answer
B. HippolytaExplanation
Both sets of lovers from Roman and Greek mythology feature in A Midsummer Night's Dream.Rate this question:
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- 8.
"There is no ancient gentelmen but gard'ners, ditchers, and grave-makers. They hold up Adam's profession." These lines from Hamlet refer to which poetic work?
- A.
Historia Anglicana (Thomas Walsingham)
- B.
The Shepheardes Calendar (Edmund Spenser)
- C.
Of The Passioun of Christ (William Dunbar)
Correct Answer
A. Historia Anglicana (Thomas Walsingham) -
- 9.
Which of the following is not a practice for training falcons in the ancient sport of falconry?
- A.
Depriving the bird of food
- B.
Depriving the bird of light
- C.
Depriving the bird of sleep
Correct Answer
B. Depriving the bird of lightExplanation
In The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio uses options A and C to tame the wild Kate, his "falcon."Rate this question:
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Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
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Current Version
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Mar 20, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Apr 04, 2013Quiz Created by
Rachelewen
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