Who was the reigning monarch of England during Shakespeare's time?
Queen Elizabeth and then King James (both answers accepted)
What were the names of his three children?
Susana, Judith, and Hament
How many plays did Shakespeare write in his lifetime?
38!
How much did it cost to stand and watch a play?
1 penny!
True or False: people would actually throw tomatoes at bad actors
FALSE: Tomatoes were very uncommon during London's time. Though some would throw oyster shells or nuts
In the 1600's, about how many people were going to Theatres per week?
20,000 per week
What was the name of Shakespeare's wife, and why was it a scandal?
Anne Hathaway; she was 26, and he was 18-- and they had a baby 4 months after they were married!...
What are the three types of plays Shakespeare wrote?
Tragedy, Comedy, History
Who were the actors of Shakespeare's play?
All men! No women allowed
Name two movie spin-offs of Shakespeare
1). Lion King (Hamlet)
2). She's the Man (Twelfth Grade)
3). 10 things I hate about you (Taming of the Shrew)
4). West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet)
In 1593, all playhouses closed for the summer. What was the reason?
The PLAGUE!
When did Shakespeare die?
Tragically on his assumed birthday!
What is the meter that sonnets and many plays are written in?
iambic pentameter
What color costume would signify a monarch in a play for men? And what material would signify a monarch for women?
purple; silks and furs
Where were the most expensive seats in the house?
The balconies (opposite to today)
Name three landmarks that were important to London at the time
1). St Paul's Cathedral
2). The Tower of London
3). The London Bridge
4). The Globe Theatre
5). Paris Gardens
6).
What was Shakespeare's education history?
School from 7-15, no university!
What word/title of play are you not supposed to say inside a theatre beacuse it is considered bad luck?
Macbeth
Name two different ways special effects were used in the theatre.
1). Cannons
2). Firecrackers
3). Smoke + Chemicals
4). Rope and wires for "Flying"
How many new words did he add to the dictionary, name two
over1700
Some Examples
1). Eyeball
2). Alligator
3). Swagger
4). Lonely
During Shakespeare's play Henry VIII in 1613, what historic event happened at the Globe Theatre
It caught on fire and burned to the ground
Who is a potential aid in consipiracy theorist ideas that helped Shakespeare write his plays (never proven)
Francis Bacon and Edward de Vere
Name the two plays we have LOST of Shakespeare (we can't find the scripts)
Cardenio and Love's Labour's Won
What was the name of Shakespeare's Company
Lord Chamberlain’s Men
What is ironic about the spelling of William Shakespeare's name?
he didn't spell his name "William Shakespeare" on a single one. Call it messy handwriting or creative license: "Willm Shaksp," "William Shakspere," "Willm Shakspere," "William Shakespe," "Wm Shakspe," "William Shakspeare."
Bonus: Ironically, his name as we spell it today is an anagram for "I am a weakish speller."