Shakespeare’s Birthday Quiz

It’s Shakespeare’s birthday month, and Play On Shakespeare would love to celebrate with you with a fun game! Below is a quiz about Shakespeare’s life—how many will you guess correctly? After playing the quiz, enjoy the rewards: Vibrant phone backgrounds featuring icons for each of Shakespeare’s plays and an exclusive link to our Shakespeare’s Birthday Spotify playlist!

The Quiz

What year was Shakespeare born? 

1. 1572
2. 1564
3. 1601
4. 1586

For a living, Shakespeare’s father made: 

1. Hats
2. Steel armor
3. Fabrics
4. Gloves

What was the first of Shakespeare’s plays to be printed in the quarto?

1. Titus Andronicus
2. Henry VI Part II
3. Love’s Labour’s Lost
4. Richard II

How many children did Shakespeare have? 

1. One
2. None
3. Four
4. Three

Where was Shakespeare born? 

1. Ashford
2. Dartmouth
3. Stratford-upon-Avon
4. Hastings

What year did Shakespeare die?

1. 1605
2. 1624
3. 1616
4. 1598

While Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, containing 4,167 lines, which play is the shortest? 

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2. Macbeth
3. The Comedy of Errors
4. Twelfth Night

The Answers

What year was Shakespeare born? 

1. 1572
2. 1564 (correct)
3. 1601
4. 1586

Additional info: Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564. 

For a living, Shakespeare’s father made: 

1. Hats
2. Steel armor
3. Fabrics
4. Gloves (correct)

Additional info: Shakespeare’s father, John, was an apprentice glover and tanner of leathers before being elected to a multitude of civic positions in Stratford-upon-Avon. 

What was the first of Shakespeare’s plays to be printed in the quarto?

1. Titus Andronicus (correct)
2. Henry VI Part II
3. Love’s Labour’s Lost
4. Richard II

Additional info: While many scholars believe the first play Shakespeare ever wrote was Henry VI Part II, his first publication was Titus Andronicus in 1594. 

How many children did Shakespeare have? 

1. One
2. None
3. Four
4. Three (correct)

Additional info: Shakespeare had three children: two daughters, Susanna and Judith, and a son, Hamnet. 

Where was Shakespeare born? 

1. Ashford
2. Dartmouth
3. Stratford-upon-Avon (correct)
4. Hastings

Additional info: Shakespeare lived between London and Stratford-upon-Avon throughout his life. His wife and children lived in his hometown while he traveled to London for theater work and productions. Shakespeare’s family home was called the New Place. 

What year did Shakespeare die?

1. 1605
2. 1624
3. 1616 (correct)
4. 1598

Additional info: Shakespeare died on his birthday: April 23, 1616. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon where guests even today can visit and pay their respects. 

While Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, containing 4,167 lines, which play is the shortest? 

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2. Macbeth
3. The Comedy of Errors (correct)
4. Twelfth Night

Additional info: According to the Folger Shakespeare edition of the play, The Comedy of Errors has 1,898 lines, making it Shakespeare’s shortest play. Learn more facts about the plays through the Folger Shakespeare Library!

Thank you for playing!

Please enjoy these exclusive phone backgrounds and Spotify link to continue your celebration of Shakespeare! Now…let’s Play On!

Phone Backgrounds

For use on mobile devices!
Click image Hold Down Image and DOWNLOAD Image or SAVE to your device.

Spotify Playlist

Celebrate with us and groove along to this Shakespeare inspired playlist. SAVE, SHARE, and ADD your favorite songs to the queue!