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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. Both Will and Marlowe utilized main characters in their works from what people group?
(a) Jews
(b) Russians
(c) Africans
(d) Australians

2. What was another significant innovation in Hamlet that refers to the development of the play’s characters?
(a) Removal of all women
(b) Removal of consequences
(c) Removal of character descriptions
(d) Removal of motivation for actions

3. What situation did Will leave behind in London when he went to Stratford?
(a) A threat that he was going to be executed for treason
(b) An accusation of embezzlement from the church
(c) An ailing father that was close to death
(d) A dispute leading to the dismantling and rebuilding of a particular theater

4. Which important person in Will’s life supported the rebellion against the queen led by the Earl of Essex?
(a) Richard Field
(b) The Earl of Southampton
(c) The Duke of York
(d) Christopher Marlowe

5. Chapter 11 begins with…
(a) More discussion about Hamlet
(b) More discussion about Venus and Adonis
(c) More discussion about Othello
(d) More discussion about King Lear

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the basic plot of Will’s play Richard II?

2. Which young aristocrat eventually became Will’s patron?

3. Who staged a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth that is described in Chapter 10?

4. Which of Will’s tragedies did he write in the latter days of his career?

5. What was the main purpose for Will writing Venus and Adonis?

Short Essay Questions

1. Chapter 9 describes how Queen Elizabeth’s doctor was executed publicly. How did the watching crowd respond? How did this response affect Will’s later works?

2. Who was the Earl of Southampton? What impact did he have on Will’s career?

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

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

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

6. What is Venus and Adonis? What is it about?

7. What was the Globe? What was its significance? Why was it moved to another location?

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

9. How did Robert Greene feel about Will? What did Greene do to express his feelings?

10. Describe why Will’s play Richard II was not well-received by Queen Elizabeth.

(see the answer keys)

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