Shakespeare

Question 1

When did Shakespeare die? When and where was he born?

Answer 1

William Shakespeare was born in 1564, 26 April in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He died April 23, 1616.

Question 2

Who were Shakespeare’s parents?

Answer 2

John Shakespeare- glovemaker and local politician
Mary Shakespeare- daughter of a wealthy landowner

Question 3

What was Shakespeare’s schooling like? When and why did Shakespeare drop out of school?

Answer 3

Very long and rigorous. Studied rhetoric, logic, history and Latin. Dropped out of middle school when his father lost his fortune.

Question 4

Who was Shakespeare married to? Did the have children?

Answer 4

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway while she was pregnant with their daughter. Later had a pair of twins: Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died of the plague at the age of 11.

Question 5

How many play did Shakespeare write? What type of plays did he write? How many sonnets did he write?

Answer 5

Shakespeare wrote 38 play ranging from, comedies, histories, romances and tragedies. He also composed 154 sonnets.

Question 6

What are some sources of inspiration for Shakespeare’s work?

Answer 6

Ovid’s record of the tale of Pryamus and Thisbe. Other retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

Question 7

What happened during the years 1583-1592?

Answer 7

Referred to as “the lost years” because there is no record of Shakespeare.

Question 8

What was the theater that was built in 1599 and Shakespeare invested in? What happened in 1613?

Answer 8

The Globe theater. It was destroyed in a fire in 1613.

Question 9

What is Petrarchan love?

Answer 9

It is a parlaying and unrequited love that emphasizes the lover as perfect and chaste, while being very anti-sex. The lover is melancholy and wishes to be left alone.

Question 10

How does Sonnet 18 praise “poetry itself”?

Answer 10

Shakespeare used poetry to immortalize his beloved, becoming a poem about poetry itself and how it is perennial and never succumbs to death.

Question 11

Describe Shakespeare’s language.

Answer 11

Mix of urban and rural words as well as lower-class humor and noble puns. He did this in order to appeal to a wider group of people.

Question 12

Why did his father loose his fortune?

Answer 12

Despite being a glovemaker and briefly the mayor of Stratford, must of John Shakespeare’s fortune came for the illegal sale of wool. When he was discovered he was fined and prevented from participating in the wool trade.

Question 13

What was Shakespeare’s family’s view of religion?

Answer 13

His maternal family was loyal to the Catholic fate, however his father had to remove Catholic iconography from the local Church during his time as mayor. John Shakespeare was called in by the authorities for his suspected Catholic loyalities.

Question 14

Why are people so fascinated by Shakespeare?

Answer 14

He understood human nature and relationships.

Question 15

What are five fact known about Shakespeare?

Answer 15

Christened in Stratford-Upon-Avon April, 26 1564. Married to Anne Hathaway, with whom he had 3 children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. Name first appeared in print 1592. Died at Stratford-Upon-Avon April 23, 1616.

Question 16

What was London like?

Answer 16

London was a town of dramatic difference between the working class and the rich. Violence and the Black Death were a constant threat.

Question 17

Who are the groundlings?

Answer 17

The groundlings were the people who bough the cheapest seats, on the ground. Payed a penny.

Question 18

Why were the play performed during the afternoon?

Answer 18

Most of the lighting was provided by the sun.

Question 19

Explain the significance of clothing.

Answer 19

The elegant and flamboyant costumes would provide a flash to grab the audience’s attention for the sets were minimal back then. Clothes were the archaic version of lighting and sound effects.

Question 20

Why didn’t London officials like theaters and why weren’t women allowed to perform in plays?

Answer 20

The officials thought theaters attracted pickpockets, prostitutes, and conmen. Also the theater lured workmen from the jobs and the packed quarters spread the plague. By law women were not allowed to perform because it was considered lewd.

Question 21

What was the main job for women? What were some of the rules for women?

Answer 21

Women could not vote, or obtain a substantial education nor could they maintain a profession. Their main purpose was to get married.

Question 22

How did Queen Elizabeth feel about plays?

Answer 22

Elizabeth loved plays because they offered her a brief respite from the work of ruling a kingdom.

Question 23

Why didn’t Queen Elizabeth marry?

Answer 23

She didn’t marry because it served her well in diplomatic relations. She would offer her hand in marriage in order to obtain a desired outcome, and then rescind the proposal as soon as she got what she wanted.

Question 24

Why is Romeo and Juliet such an important play in Shakespeare’s career?

Answer 24

With Romeo and Juliet he broke the mold by combining all forms of theater. It was a intense play that stirred a strong sense of emotion from the viewers.