Shakespeare's Life and the Elizabethan Theater

Question 1

What city and country was Shakespeare born in?

Answer 1

Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom

Question 2

What is the complete date of Shakespeare’s birth? MONTH, DAY, YEAR.

Answer 2

April 23, 1564

Question 3

How old was Shakespeare when he got married?

Answer 3

18 years old

Question 4

How old was Shakespeare’s wife when she married him and what is her full name?

Answer 4

Anne Hathaway was 26 years old when she got married.

Question 5

How many children did Shakespeare have and what were their names?

Answer 5

Shakespeare had three children named Judith, Hamnet, and Susanna.

Question 6

Which of his children tragically died?

Answer 6

Hamnet tragically died in 1596 at the age of 11.

Question 7

When Shakespeare retired, he purchased a house in Stratford. What was the name of his house?

Answer 7

“New Place”

Question 8

What is the complete date of Shakespeare’s death?

Answer 8

April 23, 1616

Question 9

How old was Shakespeare when he died?

Answer 9

52 years old

Question 10

What church is Shakespeare buried in?

Answer 10

Holy Trinity Church in Stratford

Question 11

What year were Shakespeare’s plays first published–first folio?

Answer 11

Shakespeare’s plays were first published in 1623 which was 7 years after he died.

Question 12

Shakespeare was a member of an acting company. At first, the acting company was called______; then, the acting company changed their name to_________________.

Answer 12

1. the Lord Chamberlain’s Men
2. The King’s Men

Question 13

Shakespeare was part owner of which theater?

Answer 13

“The Globe Theater”

Question 14

How many people could The Globe Theater seat?

Answer 14

Up to 3,000 people

Question 15

What year was his theater built?

Answer 15

His theater was built by the autumn of 1599.

Question 16

There were flags that were flown above the theater to indicate the type of play that would be performed that afternoon. What did a black flag signify as far as the type of play being performed? What did a red flag signify as far as the type of play being performed? What did a white flag signify as far as the type of play being performed?

Answer 16

1. A black flag signified a tragedy
2. A red flag signified a history play
3. A white flag signified a comedy play

Question 17

On what day of the week were Elizabethans NOT ABLE to attend a play performance?

Answer 17

Sunday

Question 18

Name two items that patrons of the theater could purchase during the performance of a play.

Answer 18

Water and oranges

Question 19

What name/title was given to patrons who STOOD to watch a play performance.

Answer 19

groundlings

Question 20

Who were Shakesphere’s parents?

Answer 20

John Shakespeare and Mary Arden

Question 21

When was Shakespeare’s greatest period

Answer 21

1599-1608

Question 22

What shape was the Elizabethan theater?

Answer 22

Circular appearance, open-air theater.

Question 23

What time did play usually run?

Answer 23

Plays ran from two-five in the afternoon, so that sunlight wouldn’t bother the audience and the players.

Question 24

What did city fathers think of plays?

Answer 24

• Playgoing immoral and they prohibited advertising, so instead managers raised a flag around 2:00

Question 25

What were ticket prices based off of?

Answer 25

Depended on the location of the seat, or lack of one.

Question 26

Where could spectators sit?

Answer 26

• Could sit on cushions
• In the cockpit with the gentry
• Stand elbow to elbow with the mob in the back
• The most exclusive patrons sat on the stage.

Question 27

What was the most popular theater snack at the Elizabethan Theater?

Answer 27

Hazelnuts

Question 28

Who was in charge of the production?

Answer 28

The actors (there was no producer or director)

Question 29

What did the three tiers to the stage resemble?

Answer 29

Earth, Heaven, Hell

Question 30

What did scenery and props look like?

Answer 30

They were minimal

Question 31

What were costumes like?

Answer 31

They were extra

Question 32

Were women allowed to act on the public stage?

Answer 32

No

Question 33

Who played female roles?

Answer 33

Prepubescent boys

Question 34

How often did actors rehearse and how much time did it normally take them to learn their parts?

Answer 34

• Actors had minimal rehearsal time.
• About a week to learn their part

Question 35

How did the Globe burn down?

Answer 35

A prop cannon exploded during the first-night performance of Henry VIII.

Question 36

What year did the Globe burn down?

Answer 36

1613