Answer these statements with true (T), false (F) or don’t know (D).
I. Read the text about William Shakespeare.
Nearly 450 years after his birth, William Shakespeare is still generally considered to be the greatest writer in the English language. Yet little is known about the man himself and some critics actually doubt whether he wrote the plays at all.
Shakespeare is generally believed to have been born on the 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, the son of a glove maker. He died on the same day in 1616, at the age of 52, in the same town. He was buried in the church where he had been baptised.
Very few facts are known of Shakespeare’s early life. He married at 18, but he soon left Stratford and his family to start his acting career. By 1610, Shakespeare had already written most of his 37 plays and his poetry. In this year, 400 years ago, at the age of 46, he retired from London, where he had been living and working for many years.
It is certain that this later period in Shakespeare’s life was quieter. It was a time when his acting company toured much less across the country. Shakespeare was also in a very comfortable financial position and he was officially a ‘gentleman’, much admired by King James and other important figures. He had a very large house in Stratford, as well as being the owner and landlord of other property. In addition, he part-owned two theatres in London, where his plays were regularly performed.
However, this historical figure is still surrounded by mystery: details of Shakespeare’s early life are thin; there is little information about his private life; for a literary genius, his education and also his life experiences seem surprisingly limited. Some critics even question whether the plays are actually his, and have suggested more educated, widely-travelled authors. Others consider the size of his house and wealth to be evidence that William Shakespeare was in fact a businessman, not a playwright. He certainly had an eye for business and investment, as well as being a remarkable writer. That is, if you believe he wrote the plays!
James Shapiro, a Professor of English, recently published his book Contested Will, the latest in a line of books examining exactly who wrote these famous works. He concludes with certainty that the plays are Shakespeare’s own, although he does highlight the theory that many of the later plays were actually co-written. This of course is not a popular theory with many lovers of Shakespeare who will prefer not to think of him as a team-player. All things considered, it is unlikely that this book will end the mystery and controversy which surrounds this literary giant.
Answer these statements with true (T), false (F) or don’t know (D).
1. Shakespeare was born in the spring. T
2. Shakespeare died on his birthday. T
3. He had many children. D
4. His father was a professional actor. F
5. He did not live with his wife and family for much of his working life. T
6. He enjoyed his retirement in Stratford. T
7. Shakespeare became poorer as he grew older. F
8. Shakespeare and the King were friends. D
9. He wrote most of his plays when in retirement. F
10. He had a very good education. D
11. Shakespeare was a good businessman. D
12. Shapiro’s book will clear up the mysteries about Shakespeare. F
II. Read the text and choose the right answer.
William Shakespeare is often considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of all time. In fact, it is usually difficult to find an individual who is not familiar with at least one of his works, as almost everyone has heard of Hamlet, Macbeth, or Romeo and Juliet. However, even though most people recognize Shakespeare as a legendary playwright, many forget that he was a talented poet as well. Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets during his lifetime.
The sonnets of Shakespeare mused upon a variety of topics including love, death, and time. Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets center around three unnamed characters, who are often referred to as the Dark Lady, the Fair Youth, and the Rival Poet.
1) The main topic of this passage is that:
a) Shakespeare was a famous playwright
b) Shakespeare wrote a number of comedies
c) Everyone has heard of Shakespeare
d) Shakespeare writes about love, death, and time
e) Shakespeare was not only a playwright, but a poet as well
2) According to the passage, William Shakespeare wrote the following plays:
a) Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet
b) The Dark Lady, The Fair Youth, and The Rival Poet
c) Doctor Faustus, The Fair Youth, and The Rival Poet
d) Love, Death, and Time
e) None of the above
3) According to the passage, the characters that Shakespeare commonly described in his poems are usually referred to as:
a) Hamlet and Macbeth b) Romeo and Juliet c) Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo, and Juliet
d) The Dark Lady, the Fair Youth, and the Rival Poet e) Doctor Faustus