Mrs. Barth
8 th grade English
1.
WHO IS QUEEN ELIZABETH I? WHAT IS HER LEGACY? WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE IN QUEEN
ELIZABETH’S COURT? WHAT CONNECTION DID SHAKESPEARE HAVE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH?
2.
WHO IS KING JAMES I? HOW DID HE COME TO BE KING AFTER ELIZABETH? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE IN JAMES’S COURT? WHAT CONNECTION DID SHAKESPEARE HAVE TO KING
JAMES?
3.
WHO WAS SIR WALTER RALEIGH? WHAT WAS HIS CONNECTION TO ELIZAETH I? WHAT IS HIS
CONNECTION TO THE LEGEND OF EL DORADO? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?
4.
WHAT WERE THE MILITARY, WEAPONS AND ARMOR, AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS LIKE IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WARS OR CONFLICTS WAS ENGLAND INVOLVED IN DURING
SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE? (NOTE: DO NOT NEED TO COVER THE SPANISH ARMADA IN DETAIL; IT HAS
ITS OWN QUESTION.)
5.
WHAT WAS THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA? WHY IS THIS EVENT SIGNIFICANT?
6.
WHAT IS “THE ELIZABETHAN WORLD PICTURE” AND “THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING”? WHAT WERE
COMMON SUPERSTITIONS, FOLKLORE, “OLD WIVE’S TALES,” AND BELIEFS IN ASTROLOGY IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
7.
WHAT WERE COMMONLY HELD BELIEFS ABOUT GHOSTS, WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFT, OTHER
SUPERNATURAL PHENOMENA, FAIRIES, AND OTHER MYTHICAL CREATURES IN SHAKESPEARE’S
ENGLAND? WHAT WERE JAMES I’S BELIEFS ABOUT SUCH THINGS? HOW ARE THESE BELIEFS
REFLECTED IN SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS?
8.
WHAT SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS, EXPLORATIONS, DISCOVERIES, AND TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENTS WERE MADE DURING SHAKESPEARE’S LIFETIME? WHO WAS SIR FRANCES
DRAKE? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY? WHO WERE FAMOUS ASTROMERS, INVENTORS, NAVIGATORS,
EXPLORERS, AND SO ON WORKING AT THIS TIME? WHAT ARE THEIR LEGACIES?
9.
WHAT WAS LONDON LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WAS SOUTHWARK OR THE SOUTH
BANK LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WAS ITS REPUTATION? WHAT WAS LONDON
BRIDGE? WHAT ROLE DID IT PLAY IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
10.
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR THOSE WHO LIVED IN LONDON AND OTHER URBAN AREAS? HOW DID
THOSE IN URBAN AREAS LIVE? WHAT WERE COMMON OCCUPATIONS, WHAT WERE HOMES LIKE,
AND SO ON?
11.
WHAT WAS COUNTRY LIFE LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW DID THOSE IN RURAL AREAS
LIVE? WHAT WERE COMMON OCCUPATIONS, WHAT WERE HOMES LIKE, AND SO ON?

12.
WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF SPORT, AMUSEMENT, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WERE
THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
13.
WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF MUSIC, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, SONGS, COMPOSERS, AND
MUSICIANS IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE?
HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
14.
WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF HAIRSTYLES, CLOTHING, MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FASHION, AND
CHILDREN’S FASHION IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN
URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
15.
WHAT WERE POPULAR TYPES OF BANQUETS, FEASTS, FOOD, AND DRINK IN SHAKESPEARE’S
ENGLAND? WHAT WERE POPULAR RECIPES? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL
LIFE? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
16.
WHAT WERE COMMON MEDICAL BELIEFS, PRACTICES, PROCEDURES, AND MEDICINES IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
WHAT, IF ANY, MEDICAL DISCOVERIES OR ADVANCEMENTS WERE MADE DURING SHAKESPEARE’S
LIFETIME?
17.
WHAT PLAGUES STRUCK ENGLAND AROUND THE TIME OF SHAKESPEARE? HOW WERE THE
PLAGUES DEALT WITH? WHAT EFFECTS DID THE PLAGUES HAVE?
18.
WHAT LAWS GOVERNED ENGLAND IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIMES? WHAT CRIMES WERE COMMON IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? AND, WHAT WERE THE PUNISHMENTS? WHAT IS THE CLINK? WHAT
WERE JAILS LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
19.
WHAT WAS EDUCATION AND SCHOOL LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WAS IT
DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WAS IT DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON
LIFE??
20.
WHAT ROLE DID RELIGION PLAY IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN ENGLAND? WHAT RELIGIOUS
CONFLICTS AND STRIFE WERE FACED? WHAT IS THE KING JAMES BIBLE AND WHY IS IT
SIGNIFICANT? WHO WAS OLIVER CROWELL? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?
21.
WHAT ROLE DID THEATRE, DRAMA, ORATORY, AND OTHER PERFORMANCE SERVE IN
SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELIZABETHAN AND
JACOBEAN THEATRES AND PERFORMANCES? WHAT WERE SETS, COSTUMES, AND SO ON LIKE IN
THE THEATRE OF SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
22.
WHAT WAS A THEATRE LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WERE INN-YARDS,
COURTYARD THEATRES OR AMPITHEATRES, AND PLAYHOUSES? WHAT WERE THE ROSE, THE
SWAN, THE THEATRE, AND OTHER IMPORTANT THEATRES IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN
ENGLAND? WHAT WAS BLACKFRIAR’S THEATRE AND WHY WAS THIS AN IMPORTANT
DEVELOPMENT IN THEATRE IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME? HOW, IF AT ALL, WERE THESE THEATRES
CONNECTED TO SHAKESPEARE?

23.
WHAT IS THE GLOBE THEATRE? HOW IS IT CONNECTED TO SHAKESPEARE? WHAT IS ITS
HISTORY AND LEGACY? WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME? WHAT IS ITS
ARCHITECTURE AND HOW DID IT FUNCTION AS A THEATRE? WHAT IS IT LIKE TODAY? WHAT IS
THE NEW SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE IN LONDON? WHAT IS ITS HISTORY AND ITS MISSION?
24.
WHO WERE THEATRE-GOERS IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND? WHAT WAS AN AUDIENCE LIKE IN
ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND? WHAT WAS A THEATRE-GOING EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR NOBILITY,
MERCHANT CLASS, AND COMMONERS?
25.
WHO WERE THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MEN, LATER CALLED THE KING’S MEN? WHAT WAS
SHAKESPEARE’S ROLE IN THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MEN/THE KING’S MEN? WHO WERE
IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THESE TROUPES, INCLUDING THE BURBAGE BROTHERS?
26.
WHO WERE THE LEADING ACTORS IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WERE THEY FAMOUS
FOR? WHAT ROLES DID THEY PLAY? WHAT CONNECTION, IF ANY, DID THEY HAVE WITH
SHAKESPEARE? WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR AN ACTOR IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME?
27.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT SHAKESPEARE’S CHILDHOOD? WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE’S EARLY LIFE
AND EDUCATION LIKE IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON? WHAT WAS DAILY LIFE LIKE IN STRATFORD-
UPON-AVON? WHAT IN HIS EARLY YEARS MAY HAVE INFLUENCED HIS LIFE AND CAREER? WHO
ARE THE QUEEN’S MEN AND WHAT ROLE MIGHT THEY HAVE PLAYED IN SHAKESPEARE’S EARLY
YEARS?
28.
WHAT ARE “THE LOST YEARS” OF SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE? WHAT ARE THE THEORIES BEHIND
WHERE SHAKESPEARE WAS AND WHAT HE WAS DOING IN HIS LOST YEARS? WHY ARE THESE
YEARS SO IMPORTANT? AND WHY ARE THEY SUCH A MYSTERY?
29.
WHO WAS SHAKESPEARE’S FAMILY? WHO WAS SHAKESPEARE’S WIFE? WHAT WAS
SHAKESPEARE’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER LIKE? WHO WERE HIS CHILDREN? WHAT DO WE
KNOW ABOUT THE WOMAN AND CHILDREN BEHIND SHAKESPEARE? WHAT WERE THEIR LIVES
LIKE IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON?
30.
WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE’S RETIREMENT AND LATER LIFE IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON LIKE?
HOW AND WHEN DID SHAKESPEARE DIE? WHERE IS HE BURIED, AND WHAT IS HIS GRAVE LIKE?
WHAT IS THE MEMORIAL TO SHAKESPEARE IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY?
31.
WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT? WHAT ARE THE CONTROVERSIES
SURROUNDING HIS WILL? WHAT THEORIES ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THOSE CONTROVERSIES?
32.
WHAT DOES SHAKESPEARE LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE ONLY EXISTING LIKENESSES OF WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE? ARE THEY AUTHENTIC? WHAT IS THE COBBE PORTRAIT AND WHY IS IT SO
SIGNIFICANT? WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE COBBE PORTAIT FROM ALL OTHER EXISTING
LIKENESSES? WHAT IMPACT DOES ITS DISCOVERY HAVE ON OUR UNDERSTANDING OF
SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND LOOKS? IS IT AUTHENTIC?

33.
HOW WERE BOOKS AND OTHER TEXTS PUBLISHED IN THIS TIME? HOW WERE SHAKESPEARE’S
WORKS—PLAYS AND POEMS—PUBLISHED DURING HIS LIFETIME? WHAT ARE “FOLIOS” AND
“QUARTOS,” AND HOW DO THESE TWO TERMS RELATE TO SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS?
34.
WHAT IS THE FIRST FOLIO AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHAT STILL EXISTS OF THE FIRST FOLIO?
WHERE IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF EXISTING FIRST FOLIOS TODAY? HOW WAS
THIS COLLECTION AMASSED? WHERE ARE OTHER COPIES NOT IN THIS COLLECTION TODAY?
35.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE MYTHOLOGY OR STORY BEHIND
THESEUS AND HIPPOLYTA, CUPID, “PYRAMUS AND THISBE,” AND “THE GOLDEN ASS”?
36.
WHAT ARE SHAKESPEARE’S HISTORY PLAYS? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND COMMON
TROPES OF A HISTORY PLAY? WHAT ROLE DID HIS HISTORIES PLAY IN ELIZABETHAN AND
JACOBEAN DRAMA? WHAT ARE THE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT HISTORIES? WHAT ARE THEY
ABOUT? WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
37.
WHAT ARE SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND COMMON
TROPES OF A COMEDY? WHAT ROLE DID HIS COMEDIES PLAY IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN
DRAMA? WHAT ARE THE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT COMEDIES? WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT? WHY
ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
38.
WHAT ARE SHAKESPEARE’S TRAGEDIES? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND COMMON
TROPES OF A TRAGEDY? WHAT ROLE DID HIS TRAGEDIES PLAY IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN
DRAMA? WHAT ARE THE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TRAGEDIES? WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
39.
WHAT IS SHAKESPAERE’S BODY OF WORK IN POETRY? WHAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HIS MOST
IMPORTANT POEMS? WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
40.
WHO IS THE DARK LADY? WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THEORIES BEHIND THE IDENTITY OF THE DARK
LADY, IF SHE REALLY EXISTED?
41.
WHAT IS THE PATRONAGE SYSTEM? WHY DID ARTISTS HAVE PATRONAGE? WHO WERE
SHAKESPEARE’S PATRONS? WHAT ROLE DID THEY PLAY IN HIS LIFE AND CAREER?
42.
WHO WAS CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE? WHAT ARE HIS MAJOR WORKS? WHY WAS HE IMPORTANT
IN ELIZABETHAN THEATRE, AND WHY IS HE STILL IMPORTANT TODAY? WHAT ARE THE DETAILS
OF HIS MYSTERIOUS DEATH? WHAT ROLE DID HE PLAY IN SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE?
43.
WHO IS BEN JONSON? WHAT ARE HIS MAJOR WORKS? HOW DID HIS LIFE INTERSECT WITH
SHAKESPEARE’S? WHAT WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SHAKESPEARE LIKE? WHAT IS HIS
CONNECTION TO THE FIRST FOLIO?
44.
WHAT IS THE AUTHORSHIP CONTROVERSY? WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THEORIES BEHIND THE
AUTHORSHIP CONTROVERSY? WHAT FACTIONS OR SIDES ARE THERE TO THIS CONTROVERSY?
WHY DOES THIS CONTROVERSY CONTINUE TO INTEREST SCHOLARS TODAY?
45.
HOW DID SHAKESPEARE IMPACT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? WHAT ARE NEOLOGISMS, AND WHAT
NEOLOGISMS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO SHAKESPEARE? WHAT NEOLOGISMS COME FROM
DREAM? HOW DID SHAKESPEARE CHANGE AND GROW ENGLISH?

46.
WHAT ARE THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, THE SHAKESEPARE TRUST, AND THE FOLGER
SHAKESAPERE LIBRARY? WHAT IS HISTORY AND MISSION OF EACH OF THESE IMPORTANT
ORGANIZATIONS?
47.
WHAT IS SHAKESPEARE’S LEGACY? WHERE DO WE FIND SHAKESPEARE’S INFLUENCES EVEN
TODAY? WHERE IS SHAKESPEARE IN MODERN POP CULTURE? WHAT IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
ARE REFERENCES OR ALLUSIONS TO SHAKESPEARE? WHAT DEBT DO WE OWE TO
SHAKESPEARE IN OUR CULTURE, LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND ART?