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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was Will’s future patron determined NOT to do?
(a) Become ill
(b) Divorce
(c) Become injured while riding horses
(d) Marry

2. What did Robert Greene do to criticize Will publicly?
(a) Made a speech criticizing his work
(b) Burned down his house
(c) Complained to the queen about his work
(d) Published a tract criticizing his work

3. In Chapter 12, what does the author suggest that Will feared?
(a) Fire
(b) The king's wrath
(c) Financial ruin
(d) Old age

4. What is the basic plot of Will’s play Richard II?
(a) A powerful monarch gets sick
(b) A cowardly monarch flees the country
(c) A feeble monarch is deposed
(d) A strong monarch is overthrown

5. Will’s plays are considered to be…
(a) Deep studies of human nature
(b) Mere stories
(c) Terrible examples of writing
(d) Important religious documents

Short Answer Questions

1. Which important person in Will’s life supported the rebellion against the queen led by the Earl of Essex?

2. Describe Queen Elizabeth’s reaction to Richard II.

3. What people group was deported from England hundreds of years before Will’s time?

4. In Chapter 9, who was the reigning monarch of England?

5. In which play did Will NOT poke fun at the members of the prominent group of playwrights in London during his day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Will’s financial standing after the production of Hamlet? What was Will able to purchase for his family?

2. What was Will’s response to the fact that Richard II was not well-received by Queen Elizabeth?

3. Who defended Will and his work after the criticism voiced by Robert Greene? Why might this person have defended Will?

4. What were some main differences between Will and Christopher Marlowe?

5. Who ascended to the throne after Queen Elizabeth died? Why was this monarch important to Will’s career?

6. In which of his plays did Will make fun of the works of the members of the prominent group of playwrights in London?

7. In what ways were Christopher Marlowe and Will similar?

8. Why was Will’s removal of explained motivation for the actions of his characters important?

9. What were the provisions of Will’s will? What object did he leave to his wife?

10. Describe Will’s relationship with the Earl of Southampton.

(see the answer keys)

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