Name:
Shakespeare Webquest
About Shakespeare
Directions:
1. All of your answers will go in this word document.
2. Put your answers in a different color than the questions.
3. Save this document to your English Google drive folder.
4. Also, send the document as an attachment to mmcclintick@rsd13.org.
5. DO NOT PRINT.
Section ONE: Background Info
These links will help you to answer the questions in this section only. It is your job to figure out which ones are
appropriate for each question. Cut and paste the links under the question you used it for. You must use at least five
different sites total. You may need to use two links for one answer to make sure the source is credible.
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http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/deathofshakespeare.html
http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/life/retirement/death.html
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/birth-and-death-of-william-shakespeare-celebrated
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespearebirth.html
http://www.groseducationalmedia.ca/lcm.html
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatre/globe.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_Globe
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre-structure.htm
1. William Shakespeare was born in what year?
2. What date do we recognize as his birthday?
3. What day and year did Shakespeare die? How old was Shakespeare when he died?
4. Find the acting companies Shakespeare was associated with in the early days of 1594. Name one.
5. What is the probable year that Romeo & Juliet was written?
6. Where did the timbers to build the Globe come from?
7. Who was the carpenter who built the Globe?
8. What was Shakespeare's share as "householder?"
Section TWO: About Marriage
You’ll need this link for the following questions. Read this site about marriage in Elizabethan England and answer these
questions.
9. What does betrothal mean?
10. Name three marriage and betrothal customs found on this page.
11. Find "more wedding customs”, then answer A-D.
a. What color should the bride's dress be?
b. How is the intention to marry announced? What happens if it is not announced previous to the event?
c. Describe the wedding procession.
d. What is a dowry?
12. Explain-- how important is a wedding ring to the Elizabethans? Copy and paste proof from the site to back up your
answer.
Section THREE: About Food
13. How many meals do people generally eat each day?________________________________________________
14. Click here to answer this question. Why would people in Shakespeare's day do not know what a chocolate chip
cookie is?_________________________________________________
15. Imagine you are in charge of a menu for an Elizabethan feast. Luckily for you, today you only have to plan a menu for
a small dinner party.
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Be sure to use only food available in Europe during this time.
To create your dishes make sure to include:
o two vegetables
o two meats
o two fruits or nuts. (You will need an appetizer, main course, and dessert + something to drink.)
Dinner Party Menu
Appetizer:
Drink Options: (2)
Main Course:
Dessert:
Section FOUR: About Language
Use this link and this link to answer the questions about language.
16. A famous line from Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet says, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" What
does "wherefore" mean? ___________________________________________________________
17. What does "stay" mean?_______________________________________________________
18. Use the above link to get the information you need to translate this conversation. Put your translation in column
two. Keep the phrases just about the same, but use Elizabethan words where you can. So, in other words, you
rewrite the entire phrase but replace as many words as you can, using Elizabethan English.
Person
Original
Person A
Hello. (A sneezes) Excuse me.
Person B
Gesundheit!
A
Thank you.
B
Say, do you know where the closest
bathroom is?
A
Certainly. It's down the street in the Kings
Tavern.
B
Thanks. Goodbye.
Your Elizabethan Translation
Section Five: About Theatre in Shakespeare’s Time
Use this link.
19. How many women actors did the company usually feature?
20. Was Shakespeare an actor? What was the term used to refer to actors?
21. How were the seating arrangements for the audience? How did one get a good seat?
22. What would the audience do if they did not like a performance?
Section Six: Shakespearean Insults
23. Go to the Shakespearean Insult Kit and create your own insult. How you do it is to start with the word "Thou."
Next, take a phrase/word from the first column to begin your insult, continue by adding something from the
second column, and finish it up royally with something from the third column. Type your own personal
Shakespearean insult in the table below. [Thou + choice from column 1 + choice from column 2 + choice from
column 3 = your custom made insult].
24. Click on this link to be insulted "professionally."
Write it down: _____________________________________________________________________________