The Lure of Shakespeare Quiz

PART A: Which statement identifies the central idea of the text?

• It takes time and study for people to develop an appreciation for Shakespeare's unique storytelling style.

• Shakespeare's plays have captured the attention and admiration of people from all over the world for centuries.

• The popularity of Shakespeare's work has risen and fallen over the centuries, depending on which famous actors perform the plays.

• While Shakespeare is still taught in schools, his plays and poetry are considered old-fashioned and are no longer interesting to modern audiences.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "But, in 1642, during the English Civil War, the theaters of London were closed by order of the government and remained so for 18 years. By the time they reopened in 1660, styles had changed." (Paragraph 2)

• "The court of the new king wanted a more elegant, refined, classical world, and Shakespeare struck them as coarse in his language and careless in his plots." (Paragraph 2)

• "But it was the great French author Voltaire who truly popularized Shakespeare beyond English shores in the 1730s. From that time onward, Shakespeare's works have been extensively studied and performed around the world." (Paragraph 6)

• "Still others were transposed into stories in a completely different land and culture such as Ran (1985), a Japanese tale of samurai based mostly on King Lear." (Paragraph 8)

Which of the following describes the relationship between movies and Shakespeare's plays?

• Movies have allowed for Shakespeare's plays to be presented in new and exciting forms.

• Movies have helped directors stay true to the original plays through special effects.

• Movies have allowed people who don't like to read to enjoy Shakespeare's plays.

• Movies have allowed directors to improve some of Shakespeare's less impressive plays.

How does Ben Jonson's quote "'He was not of an age, but for all time!'" from paragraph 2 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?

• It emphasizes the lasting popularity of Shakespeare's plays.

• It shows that Shakespeare was best understood in his time.

• It proves that Shakespeare's plays only improve over time.

• It stresses how Shakespeare was not appreciated in his time.

According to the text, how have famous actors' opinions of Shakespeare contributed to his fame?