Shakespeare 101

Shakespeare was writing during the Elizabethan Era which encompasses which of the following time periods?

• 1500 - 1660
• 450 - 1500
• 1600 - 1750
• 1750- 1850

During theatre performances special effects did not play a major role; therefore, dramatists had to rely primarily on all of the following except for

• Musicians 
• extravagant costuming 
• the actor's words
• the audience 

Shakespeare wrote sonnets primarly in a highly structured poetic format called 

• anapestic hexameter
• iambic pentameter
• iambic tetrameter
• sextets 

Which of the following most clearly explains the difference between prose and poetry 

• Prose is spoken in mainly in meters while poetry is spoken in blank verse
• Prose is mainly spoken by kings in plays while peasants speak in poetry
• Prose is written language not spoken in a metrical unit while poetry is written in rhythm and structure

During the early years of the Elizabethan Era, theatre was not seen as a popular past time. What is the most likely reason that theatre became a more polished past time?

• Queen Elizabeth and James I both enjoyed drama.
• The Anglican church announced its support of drama.
• Shakespeare became a national phenomenon.
• The pope sent letters of approval for theatre patrons. 

What is the primary reason dramatist included repetition in their plays? 

• Dramatists wanted the audience to really memorize the lines in their performances. 
• The actors became passionate about their monologues and repetition allowed them to express this 
• This allowed the actors to address the audience on all three sides of the theatre

Shakespeare mostly wrote all of the following types of plays except for 

• satirical comedies
• Tragedies
• Comedies
• Historical plays

What is the name of a speech which reveals the character's innermost thoughts and is addressed to the audience? 

• a soliloquy
• a dialogue
• a monologue
• an address 

Where was William Shakespeare born?

• Stratford-on-Avon

• London, England

• Verona, Italy

• Ringgold, Georgia

What was Shakespeare also known as?

• The Actor

• The Bard

• Lord Chamberlin

• King James