Exploring Shakespeare: A Quiz on His Life and Works

Where was William Shakespeare born?

• Stratford-upon-Avon

• Oxford

• London

• Cambridge

What type of plays did Shakespeare start writing in the early 1590s?

• Tragedies

• Tragicomedies

• Histories

• Comedies

In what year did Shakespeare's company change its name to the King's Men?

• 1603

• 1599

• 1600

• 1616

Which play is an example of Shakespeare's work from his middle period?

• Othello

• King Lear

• The Tempest

• Macbeth

Which of these phrases is commonly misattributed to the Bible but actually originates from Shakespeare?

• Give up the ghost

• To thine own self be true

• The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

• The writing on the wall

What is the starting scenario of the play 'King Lear'?

• A royal wedding

• A king's journey to find a successor

• A king dividing his kingdom based on his daughters' declarations of love

• A battle over a kingdom

What was a significant reason for Shakespeare turning to poetry in the early 1590s?

• Financial bankruptcy

• Personal illness

• The closure of theaters due to plague

• The closure of theaters due to war

How many words is Shakespeare credited with introducing to the English language?

• About 3,000

• About 2,000

• About 1,000

• About 4,000

Which of the following is NOT a play written by Shakespeare?

• The Tempest

• Macbeth

• The Crucible

• Twelfth Night

What was the primary reason for the 18th-century questions about Shakespeare's authorship?

• Conflicts with other playwrights

• Lack of a university education

• His humble origins

• Lack of personal diaries