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. What characteristic of Campion might have hindered Will’s future work in theater?

2. What appears to be a driving force behind Will’s hasty marriage?

3. What aspect of social life was very important in Will’s time?

4. What activity did Will try to avoid while living in London?

5. On whose estate did Will engage in illegal activity?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What was Tamburlaine the Great? Who wrote it? Why was it significant?

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

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

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

7. Describe how Will’s father, John Shakespeare, influenced Will’s exposure to theater at a young age.

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

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

10. What types of things would Will have needed to learn in order to be a successful actor in his day?

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

Discuss Will’s move to London. What might have provoked his move to London? Why was this move important to his career? What are two specific things that happened in London that had a major impact on Will’s career as a playwright?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Will’s personality. What was he like in his younger years? Did his personality change as he got older? Did he make decisions in his latter years that he would not have made earlier in life? In your opinion, what about his personality contributed to his success as a playwright?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 776 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample