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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Shakespeare quiz


http://www.npg.org.uk/learning/digital/history/shakespeare-quiz.php
'All the world's a stage, 
And all the men and women merely players'

NPG 1 - © National Portrait Gallery, LondonBut who says what on the stage? Click on the button next 
to the person you think speaks those words in a 
Shakespeare play.  Answers at the bottom.


     

King Richard II, by Unknown artist, late 16th century - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Richard II
by Unknown artist
late 16th century
NPG 4980(8)
Being king of England brings both these men a lot of trouble.
'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.'
Which one of them says this? 

 A. Richard II 
 B. Henry IV
King Henry IV, by Unknown artist, late 16th century - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Henry IV
by Unknown artist
late 16th century
NPG 4980(9)

King Henry V, by Unknown artist, late 16th or early 17th century - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Henry V
by Unknown artist
late 16th or early 17th century
NPG 545

These two kings have very different approaches to fighting.
'Cry "God for Harry, England, and St George!" '
Which one makes this famous battle speech? 

 A. Henry V 
 B. Henry VI
King Henry VI, by Unknown English artist, circa 1540 - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Henry VI
by Unknown English artist
circa 1540
NPG 2457

King Richard III, by Unknown artist, late 16th century (late 15th century) - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Richard III
by Unknown artist
late 16th century (late 15th century)
NPG 148
These two men have very different views about peace.
'I, in this weak piping time of peace, 
Have no delight to pass away the time'
Which one finds peace doesn't suit him? 


 A. Richard III 
 B. Henry VII
King Henry VII, by Unknown Flemish artist, 1505 - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Henry VII
by Unknown Flemish artist
1505
NPG 416

Catherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist, early 18th century - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
Catherine of Aragon
by Unknown artist
early 18th century
NPG 163
'I would not be a queen 
For all the world.'
Which of these two lived to regret changing her mind about this? 

 A. Catherine of Aragon 
 B. Ann Boleyn
Anne Boleyn, by Unknown artist, late 16th century (circa 1533-1536) - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
Anne Boleyn
by Unknown artist
late 16th century (circa 1533-1536)
NPG 668

Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, after Daniel Mytens, circa 1618 - NPG  - © National Portrait Gallery, London
Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
after Daniel Mytens
circa 1618
NPG 52
Dedicating his long poem Venus and Adonis, Shakespeare calls it 'unpolished lines' and apologises for 'choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden.'
To which of these two did he dedicate it? 

 A. Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton 
 B. Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait')
by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
circa 1592
NPG 2561


Follow up notes The quotations come from the following places:
William Shakespeare, Jaques' speech, in As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7
Richard II, in Richard II, Act III, Scene 2 
Henry IV, in Henry IV Part 2, Act III, Scene 1
Henry V, in Henry V, Act III, Scene 1 
Henry VI, in Henry VI Part 3, Act II, Scene 5
Richard III, Gloucester's speech, in Richard III, Act I, Scene 1 
Henry VII, Richmond's speech, in Richard III, Act V, Scene 4
Catherine of Aragon in Henry VIII, Act II, Scene 4 
Anne Boleyn in Henry VIII, Act II, Scene 3
Dedication to the Earl of Southampton, in Venus and Adonis Elizabeth I, described in Oberon's speech, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II, Scene1     
 Answers:

1) It was Henry IV, but at least he died in his own bed. Henry had had Richard imprisoned, before having him murdered. Richard senses his end is coming and says:
'Let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings.'
2) Henry VI is far more interested in bibles than battles. His view is:
To whom God will, there be the victory.'
Sadly, he twice over loses his throne and finally also his life.
3)Richard, who dislikes peace, meets his death in battle, killed by Henry.
Henry then successfully goes on to
'Enrich the time with to come with smooth-faced peace,
With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days.'
4)Had Anne Boleyn stuck to this view, her life would almost certainly have been longer. However, in Shakespeare's play, it is Catherine who is being badly treated by Henry VIII:
'I am about to weep; but thinking that
We are a queen...my drops of tears
I'll turn to sparks of fire.'
5)The Earl of Southampton was Shakespeare's patron. Shakespeare didn't ever dedicate anything to Elizabeth I, but he describes her in A  Midsummer Night's Dream as being

'In maiden meditation, fancy-free.'


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