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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. What was a popular way of teaching students in Will’s school?

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

3. Chapter 1 focuses largely on the importance of…

4. Which of Will’s plays was particularly influenced by the work of Christopher Marlowe?

5. Chapter 3 begins with a discussion of…

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who was Sir Thomas Lucy? What was Will’s relationship with him?

4. Was it dangerous for people to travel by road in Will’s day? What did they need for safe passage?

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

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

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

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

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the different locations in which Will lived throughout his life. In what specific towns or cities did Will live? What were some similarities and differences that these locations had with one another? What is one specific impact that each location had on Will’s career?

Essay Topic 2

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 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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