View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Chapter 1 begins with a discussion of…

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

3. What was Will licensed for during the time that he lived in Stratford?

4. What trait is characteristic of all Will’s rural characters?

5. Chapter 1 ends with a discussion of…

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the school environment in which Will was educated. What things were unique about his education?

2. What was the character of John Shakespeare? Was he an upstanding citizen?

3. Why would John Shakespeare’s fall into disrepute have been bothersome to Will?

4. Who was Richard Field? Why was Will’s relationship with him important?

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

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

7. In what language was Will’s education conducted? Was this common?

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

9. It is interesting to note that Will had an aversion to producing signed documents. Why was this the case?

10. Describe the relationship between Brutus and Portia in Will’s play Julius Caesar. Is this relationship healthy or unhealthy? Why is it an important indicator of how Will depicted marriage in his plays?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the influential group of playwrights that lived in London during Will’s day. What were the names of two of the members of this group? What characteristics did these men exhibit? Did Will fit in with this group? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the author’s opinion of Will throughout the book. Would you say that Greenblatt is a fan of Will and his work? What opinion does Greenblatt seem to have of Will’s decisions throughout his life? Does Greenblatt’s opinion of Will change your own opinion of Will?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Will’s father and mother. Who were they? What information is given about them? In your opinion, did they have a major impact on Will’s later career as a playwright? Give at least one specific example to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 808 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample