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

Short Answer Questions

1. Which character in Henry VI led a rebellion against the upper class?

2. What does Tamburlaine the Great contain that impacted Will’s own writing?

3. In which of Will’s plays do characters get married because of an unhealthy obsession?

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

5. Chapter 6 begins with a discussion of…

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. What was a remarkable characteristic about the villain Tamburlaine in Tamburlaine the Great? Why was this characteristic remarkable?

9. Did Will ever refer to Anne in his writings? Why or why not?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Will’s return to Stratford near the end of his life. Why did he return to Stratford? For what reasons did he not want to stay in London? How did this impact his career? Did his move have a negative or positive effect on his work? What relationships drove his decision to move back to Stratford?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Robert Greene and his feelings towards Will. Who exactly was Robert Greene? What was his position in London society? How did he know about Will? What were Greene’s feelings towards Will? What did he do to express those feelings?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Will’s own family life. Did he have children? What were their names? How did he appear to feel about his children? Did he enjoy parenting? What choices did he make to illustrate how he felt about his children?

(see the answer keys)

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