Born in Warwickshire, England in 1564, William Shakespeare was often called the English national poet. He married Anne Hathaway which may have been the inspiration for many of his works. And no, not the Anne Hathaway of Princess Diaries. With nearly 200 plays and sonnets, his works have transformed history, inspired nations, and bored high school classrooms to death. Even though you may not have adequately appreciated Shakespeare’s brilliance in your younger years (prom was just around the corner, after all), his transformation of theatre and literature has spanned generations, survived wars, and continues to ring true centuries later. Shakespeare’s works have been read and performed more often and in more countries than any other poet. If you’re looking for some new romantic material to try on your next Tinder date, pick up a copy of Romeo and Juliet for inspiration. Just, uh, make sure there’s a different ending. So it’s time to ask yourself, “To read, or not to read? That is the question.” Hint: The answer is read. You’ll love these Q&As!
35 Shakespeare Trivia Questions with Answers
- Which two of Shakespeare’s plays are entirely written in verse? Richard II and King John
- What is the location of Shakespeare’s grave? Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon
- What was Shakespeare’s wife’s name? A: Anne Hathaway (yes, really!)
- Which of Shakespeare’s plays is the shortest? The Comedy of Errors
- In his will, what did Shakespeare leave to his wife? His “second-best bed”
- Where was Shakespeare born? A: Stratford-upon-Avon (the same place he’s buried)
- Which character stated that life is a tale told by an idiot? Macbeth
- When was Shakespeare’s first play written? Around 1590
- Which street was William Shakespeare born? Henley Street
- What is the name of Shakespeare’s mother? Mary Arden
- Shakespeare eventually retired from public life and returned to Stratford in which year? 1611
- Which type of play is Romeo and Juliet? Tragedy
- How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write in total during his career? 154
- William Shakespeare had how many brothers and sisters? 5
- What was the name of the book that was published after Shakespeare’s death and included all of his plays? First Folio
- What is William Shakespeare’s longest play, with over 4,000 lines? Hamlet
- When William Shakespeare died, how old was he? 52
- What was William Shakespeare’s total number of children? 3
- During Shakespeare’s lifetime, what major disaster forced the closure of London theatres twice? Plagues
- William Shakespeare’s wife was how much older than he was? 8 years
- In Measure for Measure, what is the name of the clown? Pompey
- Which of Shakespeare’s plays ends with the noble Trojan Hector’s death? Troilus and Cressida
- In Shakespeare’s plays, how many times does a character commit suicide? 13
- What is Shakespeare’s theater’s name? The Globe Theatre
- What is Juliet’s age in Romeo and Juliet? 13
- What was Shakespeare’s only son’s name? Hamnet
- Shakespeare wrote how many plays? 37
- Who murdered the father of Hamlet? Claudius
- When Shakespeare was born, who was the ruler of England? Elizabeth I
- What university did Shakespeare attend? None
- What were the names Shakespeare’s parents? John Shakespeare and Mary Arden
- What was the date of William Shakespeare’s wife’s death? August 6, 1623
- In which country was the tragedy Hamlet set in? Germany
- Falstaff appears in which of William Shakespeare’s plays? The Merry Wives of Windsor
- Which of Shakespeare’s plays has a curse attached to it? Macbeth Check out…125 William Shakespeare Quotes101 Trivia Questions for Kids100 Movie Trivia Questions300 Bible Trivia Questions101 Sports Trivia Questions
