Shakespeare's Sonnets

How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?

• 10

• 1,000

• 154

• He did not write poetry.

Answer explanation

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets which he never intended to publish!

Which of the following is NOT a profession Shakespeare held?

• poet

• playwright

• actor

• teacher

Answer explanation

Scholars believe Shakespeare might have played the title role in Edward I, a play by Edward Peele, in 1593.

Which is NOT the types of work Shakespeare has written?

• comedies

• sonnets

• tragedies

• films

Answer explanation

Many Shakespearean dramas have been made into modern films.

10 Things I Hate About You is a take on The Taming of the Shrew.

Sons of Anarchy and The Lion King are both takes on Hamlet.

In Shakespeare's times, only men could perform on stage.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

Acting was considered an indecent and crude profession, so it was illegal for women to act on stage.

In 1660, 44 years after Shakespeare’s death, Margaret Hughes would be the first actress to be in a Shakespearean play as Desdemona in Othello.

In poetry, the repetition of vowel sounds within words that are close together is called ________.

• consonance

• assonance

• rhythm

• alliteration

In poetry, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words located close together is called _____.

• consonance

• assonance

• rhythm

• alliteration

In this line, what is the vowel sound that gets repeated?

"So long lives this and this gives life to thee"

(Type only the letter for your answer.)

In this line, what are the TWO consonant sounds that get repeated?

"So long lives this and this gives life to thee"

(Type only the letters for your answer.)

A sonnet is written in iambic pentameter.

What does penta mean?

• four beats

• five beats

• six beats

• seven beats

Answer explanation

Shakespeare used iambic pentameter because it closely resembles the rhythm of everyday speech, and he no doubt wanted to imitate everyday speech in his plays.

A sonnet is written in iambic pentameter.

What does iambic mean?

• 1 syllable

• 2 syllables

• 3 syllables

• 4 syllables

Answer explanation

Writing in iambic pentameter also helps the audience remember the lines.