Shakespeare I- Shakespeare Knowledge Q1

I think you should always have a few quotations from Shakespeare up your sleeve, if only to protect yourself from idiots who begin with "As Shakespeare once said..." Which 3 quotations, at this point, would you choose to remember forever and why?

*OPINION* "Hell is empty and all devils are here"- The Tempest; people can be bad/mean/cruel to others. Some of these people are so horrible that they seem to be "devils". This quote reminds me of that. "This above all; to thine own self be true"- Hamlet; this one may speak for itself. Don't be someone you're not. Just be true to yourself. "What's done can't be undone"- Macbeth; all I can say is that this is true.

Name 2 very different characters you have read and/or seen in the plays, tell me why they make an impression on you.

*OPINION* Benvolio (Romeo and Juliet) although he was a slightly underrated character, he had shown that he meant goodwill toward all others and tried his best to keep the peace between everyone. He was the kind character (at the beginning of the play, anyway) that I aspired to be. Ophelia (Hamlet) she was one of the female characters that Shakespeare wrote about that did have a full impact on the story, even though she wasn't technically a lead. She showed that even in the time period she was living in and the amount of power she was given (*cough* none *cough*) she could still make her own choices, even though it was a bad one.

Many have commented on the "universality" of Shakespeare's work. Give 2 ways you have found the themes of the plays still relevant to your own life.

*OPINION* Julius Caesar has the theme of your friends "stabbing you in the back", literally in his case. I know this

In which town was Shakespeare born? In which city did he primarily work?

-Stratford-upon-Avon -London

Give 3 characteristics of a Shakespearean comedy.

-ends with marriage and involves love -very complex parts with twists and turns -3...

Life could be tough for a playwright in his time. Give 2 reasons why.

-if people didn't like your plays, you could be imprisoned or killed -no such thing as royalties (money for every time their shows were performed by another group)

Give 3 characteristics of a Shakespearean tragedy.

-involves A LOT of death -has a tragic hero -contains supernatural elements

Sometimes, Shakespeare's lines rhyme in pairs. What do we call these, and offer 2 reasons why he might use them.

-rhyming couplet -sound like a spell is being cast -make a glib (mocking) statement -make fun of something -end scenes

When his characters speak to themselves, the audience and/or God, we call that a...what? What can we assume about characters in these speeches.

-soliloquy -characters are most likely going through a problem -the audience finds the truth

The theatre he helped create is different in many ways from the theatre most modern people experience. Give 3 differences.

-we have directors -rehearsals are now a much bigger deal -3...

What is iambic pentameter?

A line of verse with 5 metrical feet, each consisting of 1 short (unstressed) syllable followed by 1 long (stressed) syllable (Mr. Mogford's example was a heartbeat)

When he began writing, he was not the most famous playwright in the country. Who was?

Christopher Marlowe

What 2 things about Shakespeare's life do you think it's cool to know that might have affected his writing? (opinion-ish)

He seemed to be close by to hear about/witness some certain events. An example would be the gunpowder plot for Macbeth. He was also inspired by works by other authors/playwrights/story tellers. An example would be Hamlet, based on another story; Amleth, prince of Denmark by Saxo Grammaticus.

Most scholars agree that the single greatest influence on Shakespeare's own work was a Greek text. What was it?

Metamorphoses

The term "playwright" didn't come into regular use until after Shakespeare's time. Which word did he use to describe himself?

Poet

Shakespeare's plays have been assigned to different genres, or types, of play. What are these and give an example of each.

Problem: All's Well That Ends Well Tragedy: Romeo and Juliet History: Henry VIII Comedy: Midsummer Night's Dream Romance: The Tempest

Which 2 monarchs reigned during the life of Shakespeare?

Queen Elizabeth I and King James I

With which poetic form is Shakespeare most associated?

Sonnet

Shakespeare wrote primarily for 2 acting spaces. What were they?

The Globe and Blackfriars

Shakespeare was a member of a company of actors. This company went by 2 names. What were they?

The King's Men/ Lord Chamberlain's Men