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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. In which of Will’s plays are husbands portrayed as neglecting their wives?
(a) Julius Caesar
(b) Hamlet
(c) King Lear
(d) Macbeth

2. What was Will’s home town?
(a) Lancashire
(b) Stratford-upon-Avon
(c) Birmingham
(d) London

3. What important thing was developed in Will through his early education?
(a) A love of language
(b) Stellar grammar
(c) A love of mathematics
(d) Financial independence

4. Which of these is a skill that Will needed to learn in order to be successful as an actor?
(a) The ability to run very fast
(b) The ability to use a sword effectively
(c) The ability to speak many other languages
(d) The ability to cook well

5. Which of Will’s plays was particularly influenced by the work of Christopher Marlowe?
(a) Othello
(b) King Lear
(c) Henry VI
(d) Romeo and Juliet

Short Answer Questions

1. What position did Will’s father, John, hold in Stratford?

2. Chapter 1 focuses largely on the importance of…

3. Which member of Will’s family seemed to be sympathetic towards Roman Catholics and militant Protestants?

4. In what city did Will live next?

5. In which of these writings did Will refer to his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What two personal conclusions did Will draw as a result of his relationship with Edmund Campion?

2. Why did John Shakespeare try to purchase a coat of arms for his family? Was he successful?

3. In Will’s day, what was London like inside the ancient Roman wall that surrounded the city? What was London like outside that same wall?

4. Did Will and his wife have a happy, fulfilling marriage? Discuss evidences to support your answer.

5. Describe the community in which Will grew up. Was it in a rural area? Was it in a big city?

6. What was another way that Will would have been exposed to theater as a young child?

7. Describe the political climate in London during Will’s day. How were “traitors” treated?

8. What are some possible reasons for Will’s leaving Stratford and going to London?

9. Why might Will have engaged in deer poaching? Were there social implications for this activity?

10. Describe the careers, both legal and illegal, of John Shakespeare.

(see the answer keys)

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