Shakespeare: Tragedies, Comedies and Sonnets MCQs 2026

Romeo and Juliet die in

1. AElsinore castle always instead without Italy ever✓
2. BVerona's Capulet tomb✓
3. CMacbeth's Inverness always exclusively instead✓
4. DProspero's island always without Verona ever instead✓

Rosalind disguises herself as

1. ACesario in Illyria without any difference ever always✓
2. BPortia as the lawyer Balthasar only always in Arden✓
3. CGanymede in As You Like It✓
4. DViola permanently without name change ever in every comedy✓

Jaques in As You Like It delivers the "All the world's a stage" speech describing

1. Athe witches' prophecies for Macbeth always instead✓
2. Bthe seven ages of man✓
3. COthello's courtship of Desdemona only always✓
4. Dsonnet 130 without any change ever in Arden✓

Touchstone is

1. AMacbeth's assassin without humour ever✓
2. Ba witty clown in As You Like It✓
3. CIago's confidant in Venice only always✓
4. DLear's Fool transported to Arden without change ever✓

Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 begins

1. A"To be, or not to be" without any difference ever always✓
2. B"If music be the food of love" in the sonnets always✓
3. C"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"✓
4. D"When shall we three meet again" in sonnet form only always✓

Sonnet 18 concludes that the beloved will live

1. Aas long as men can breathe or eyes can see✓
2. Bonly until next summer without exception always✓
3. Cnever in print because sonnets were banned always✓
4. Donly if crowned king of England in act five always✓

Sonnet 130 satirises conventional blazons by admitting

1. Ashe is a goddess without flaw by Petrarchan rules always✓
2. Bshe is actually a fairy from The Tempest always named Ariel✓
3. Cshe writes Hamlet instead of loving the speaker always✓
4. Dhis mistress lacks traditional beauties yet is beloved✓

The Shakespearean sonnet form contains

1. Atwelve lines only without couplet ever in English form always✓
2. Bsixteen lines mandatory without volta ever✓
3. Ceight lines exclusively like octosyllabic epigram only always✓
4. Dfourteen lines in iambic pentameter✓

A volta in a sonnet is

1. Aa stage direction for exit only always✓
2. Ba turn in thought or argument✓
3. Ca type of Greek chorus response only always✓
4. Da novel's chapter heading only without poetry ever✓

Hamlet kills Polonius by

1. Apoison in the ear as Claudius did to Old Hamlet always to Polonius in act one✓
2. Bstabbing him through the arras (curtain) mistaking him for Claudius✓
3. Cdrowning him in the brook like Ophelia always instead✓
4. Dchallenging him to a duel in France only always without arras ever✓

Laertes wounds Hamlet with

1. Aa poisoned rapier in the final duel✓
2. Ba dagger in the orchard only always in act one without duel ever✓
3. Cwitchcraft from Macbeth's witches crossing plays always✓
4. Da thrown skull from the graveyard scene only always without foil ever✓

Fortinbras of Norway becomes king of Denmark at the end of Hamlet because

1. Athe Danish royal line is extinguished✓
2. BHamlet crowns him willingly in act two always without deaths ever✓
3. CClaudius abdicates to him in comedy always without bloodshed ever✓
4. DOphelia's will names him heir without dispute ever always✓

The ghost in Hamlet demands

1. Acomplete destruction of Denmark without distinction always✓
2. Brevenge for murder but not harm to Gertrude✓
3. Cmarriage to Ophelia in act one always without revenge ever✓
4. Dpublication of sonnets instead of action always without blood✓

Banquo's ghost appears at

1. AOphelia's funeral in Hamlet always instead without change ever✓
2. BMacbeth's banquet✓
3. COrsino's court in Twelfth Night always exclusively✓
4. DPortia's trial scene in Venice always without Macbeth present ever✓

The three witches in Macbeth chant

1. A"If music be the food of love" during the cauldron scene always instead✓
2. B"All the world's a stage" over the cauldron always without change ever✓
3. C"Shall I compare thee" while brewing always exclusively instead✓
4. D"Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble"✓

Macbeth is killed by

1. AHamlet in a crossover duel always without either play's logic ever✓
2. BIago stabbing from behind in Cyprus always instead✓
3. CMacduff✓
4. DProspero's magic without soldiers ever always in every staging rule✓

Duncan is murdered in Macbeth at

1. AElsinore during Hamlet's play always instead without Scotland ever✓
2. BOlivia's house in Illyria always exclusively instead✓
3. CInverness in Macbeth's castle✓
4. Dthe Forest of Arden during As You Like It always only instead✓

Portia disguises herself as the lawyer

1. ABalthasar in The Merchant of Venice✓
2. BCesario in Illyria always without any difference ever always✓
3. CGanymede in Arden always exclusively without court scene ever✓
4. DHamlet in Wittenberg always instead of Venice ever without law✓

Brutus participates in the assassination of

1. AKing Duncan in Scotland always instead without Rome ever✓
2. BJulius Caesar✓
3. CClaudius in Denmark always exclusively instead✓
4. DProspero in Milan always without Roman history ever✓

Mark Antony's funeral oration begins

1. A"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears"✓
2. B"To be, or not to be" at Caesar's tomb always instead without change ever✓
3. C"If music be the food of love" in the Forum always exclusively instead✓
4. D"Shall I compare thee" in Rome always without alteration ever instead✓

Friar Laurence's plan for Juliet relies on

1. Apermanent exile to Milan with Prospero always instead without potion ever✓
2. Bwitchcraft from Macbeth's witches always crossing plays without friar ever✓
3. Ca potion simulating death to avoid marriage to Paris✓
4. Da forged sonnet to Orsino always instead of sleep always✓

Mercutio's Queen Mab speech occurs in

1. AHamlet always instead without Mercutio ever present always✓
2. BOthello in Cyprus always exclusively instead✓
3. CRomeo and Juliet✓
4. DThe Tempest on the island always without Mercutio ever instead✓

The First Folio (1623) collected

1. Aonly sonnets without drama ever always exclusively instead✓
2. Bonly collaborations with Jonson exclusively without Shakespeare ever always✓
3. C36 plays attributed to Shakespeare✓
4. Donly Roman tragedies without comedies ever always instead✓

Shakespeare was born in

1. ALondon in 1623 without Stratford ever always instead✓
2. BVenice during Othello always exclusively instead✓
3. CWittenberg with Hamlet always without Warwickshire ever instead✓
4. DStratford-upon-Avon in 1564✓

Shakespeare died in

1. A1616✓
2. B1593 like Marlowe always instead without living longer ever✓
3. C1660 at Restoration always exclusively instead✓
4. D1776 without Stratford record ever always instead✓

Sonnet 116 defines true love as

1. Aa summer's day that fades quickly always instead without metaphor ever✓
2. Ban ever-fixed mark that is not Time's fool✓
3. Ca yellow stocking joke from Twelfth Night always exclusively instead✓
4. Da witch's prophecy from Macbeth always without sonnet form ever instead✓

Fair Youth sonnets chiefly express

1. Asatire of Malvolio in Illyria always instead without youth ever always instead✓
2. Bhistorical chronicle of Henry V always exclusively instead✓
3. Cadmiration and love for a beautiful young man✓
4. Dscientific alchemy from Jonson always without sonnet sequence ever instead✓

Petrarchan conceits in sonnets compare love to

1. Aonly courtroom procedure without metaphor ever always instead✓
2. Bonly sheep counting in pastoral without figure ever always instead✓
3. Creligious, nautical or seasonal imagery with elaborate wit✓
4. Donly stage directions from Globe without poetry ever always instead✓

In Twelfth Night, Olivia falls in love with

1. AMalvolio after yellow stockings only without Cesario ever always instead✓
2. BCesario (Viola in disguise)✓
3. CMacbeth after the witches always crossing plays without Viola ever instead✓
4. DPortia after the trial always without Illyria ever instead✓

Sebastian is

1. ALear's son without any shipwreck ever always instead✓
2. BRomeo's cousin always exclusively instead✓
3. CViola's twin brother in Twelfth Night✓
4. DBanquo's son Fleance always without Illyria ever instead✓

The Tempest is often read as Shakespeare's

1. Afirst play written in youth always instead without maturity ever always instead✓
2. Bstrict revenge tragedy without forgiveness ever always exclusively instead✓
3. Chistorical chronicle of Henry VIII always without magic ever always instead✓
4. Dfarewell to the stage (romance with reconciliation themes)✓

Miranda in The Tempest exclaims

1. A"Out, damned spot" on the island always instead without change ever✓
2. B"If music be the food of love" on the shore always exclusively instead✓
3. C"Friends, Romans, countrymen" without Romans present ever always instead✓
4. D"O brave new world that has such people in't!"✓

Caliban's speech "The isle is full of noises" appears in

1. AThe Tempest✓
2. BMacbeth's Inverness always instead without island ever always instead✓
3. CTwelfth Night's Illyria always exclusively instead✓
4. DHamlet's Elsinore always without Caliban ever instead✓

As You Like It features the exiled Duke in

1. AVenice's court only always without forest ever always instead✓
2. Bthe Forest of Arden✓
3. CMacbeth's castle always exclusively instead✓
4. DCyprus during Othello always without pastoral ever instead✓

Orlando in As You Like It loves

1. ARosalind✓
2. BOlivia in Illyria always instead without Rosalind ever always instead✓
3. CDesdemona in Cyprus always exclusively instead✓
4. DLady Macbeth always without Scotland ever instead✓

Shakespeare wrote approximately

1. A18 sonnets only without any others ever always instead✓
2. B154 sonnets published in 1609✓
3. C1000 sonnets like Petrarch always exclusively instead✓
4. Dno sonnets, only plays ever always without poetry instead✓

Hamlet is sent to England because Claudius wants him

1. Aexecuted there with sealed orders✓
2. Bcrowned king of England immediately always instead without plot ever always instead✓
3. Cto publish sonnets only always without danger ever always instead✓
4. Dto marry Ophelia in France always without England ever instead✓

The opening line of Macbeth is famously spoken by

1. AMacbeth alone without any other speaker ever✓
2. BLady Macbeth reading a letter only always✓
3. Cthe witches✓
4. DDuncan at Inverness gate always exclusively instead✓

Yorick's skull appears in

1. AHamlet (graveyard scene)✓
2. BMacbeth's banquet always instead without graveyard ever always instead✓
3. CTwelfth Night always exclusively instead✓
4. DThe Tempest always without clown ever instead✓

The phrase "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is from

1. AHamlet✓
2. BMacbeth always instead without Marcellus ever always instead✓
3. CJulius Caesar always exclusively instead✓
4. DAs You Like It always without Denmark ever instead✓

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, studies at

1. AWittenberg✓
2. BOxford only without travel✓
3. CVerona with Romeo always✓
4. DVenice with Shylock always✓

Hamlet's famous soliloquy "To be, or not to be" occurs in

1. AAct I, Scene 1 only always✓
2. BAct V, Scene 5 only always✓
3. CAct III, Scene 1✓
4. Dthe sonnets without any play✓

Claudius murdered Old Hamlet by

1. Astabbing him openly in the throne room only✓
2. Bdrowning him at sea without witness✓
3. Cpoisoning a cup at a public banquet only always in every text without variation✓
4. Dpouring poison in his ear while he slept in the orchard✓

Ophelia dies by

1. Adrowning in a brook after madness✓
2. Bsword fight with Laertes on stage always visibly✓
3. Cpoison from Claudius directly in act one✓
4. Dexile to Wittenberg without grief✓

The play within the play in Hamlet is titled

1. AThe Mousetrap✓
2. BThe Spanish Tragedy verbatim always✓
3. CPyramus and Thisbe only without change✓
4. DThe Alchemist by Jonson inserted wholesale✓

King Lear divides his kingdom among

1. ARosalind, Celia and Touchstone✓
2. BGoneril, Regan and Cordelia✓
3. CDesdemona, Emilia and Bianca✓
4. DPortia, Nerissa and Jessica only✓

Lear's faithful companion in disguise on the heath is

1. AEdgar as Poor Tom only without Kent ever✓
2. BKent✓
3. CIago throughout without disguise✓
4. DFeste the clown from Twelfth Night✓

Edgar pretends to be

1. Athe Duke of Albany only without change✓
2. BHamlet of Denmark visiting Britain✓
3. CProspero from Milan without magic✓
4. DPoor Tom, a Bedlam beggar✓

Cordelia is ultimately

1. Acrowned queen of France with Lear always healthy✓
2. Bmarried to Edmund happily in comedy✓
3. Changed in prison and dies in Lear's arms✓
4. Dexiled without any further mention✓

The Fool in King Lear serves to

1. Amurder Edmund on stage in act one✓
2. Bdeliver only sonnets without prose✓
3. Cspeak truth to power through wit and riddles✓
4. Dreplace Cordelia entirely without Lear noticing✓

Macbeth receives the prophecy that he will be

1. ADuke of Milan and magician always✓
2. BPrince of Verona without war✓
3. CThane of Cawdor and future king✓
4. DAntony of Rome without Cleopatra ever✓

Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to

1. Amurder Duncan and seize the crown✓
2. Bflee to England without ambition always✓
3. Cpublish sonnets instead of fighting✓
4. Dforgive the witches and retire immediately without guilt✓

"Out, damned spot" is spoken by

1. AMacbeth before Duncan's castle only in act one✓
2. BHamlet in the graveyard always✓
3. CPortia in the court scene only✓
4. DLady Macbeth in her sleepwalking scene✓

Macbeth's final opponent Macduff was

1. Aborn naturally fulfilling all witches' words literally always without exception in every edition✓
2. Bimmune to steel because of magic ring only✓
3. Cactually Banquo's ghost in disguise only✓
4. Dfrom his mother's womb untimely ripped (Caesarean birth)✓

Birnam Wood appears to move when

1. Atrees uproot themselves by magic visibly always on stage in every production rule✓
2. BMalcolm's soldiers carry branches as camouflage✓
3. CMacbeth hallucinates without any army present✓
4. Dthe witches plant an orchard permanently✓

Othello is a Moorish general in

1. ADenmark without any sea voyage✓
2. BVenice (and later Cyprus)✓
3. CAthens during Midsummer only✓
4. DLondon under Elizabeth without Italy✓

Iago's stated motive for revenge includes suspicion that

1. ADesdemona wrote sonnet 18 to him personally always✓
2. BLear banished him from Britain without cause✓
3. CProspero stranded him on an island only✓
4. DOthello slept with Emilia and Cassio was promoted over him✓

Desdemona's handkerchief was a gift from

1. AIago's wife without Othello's knowledge always originally✓
2. BBianca in Cyprus without symbolism✓
3. CPortia's casket without change ever✓
4. DOthello, his first gift to her✓

Othello kills Desdemona by

1. Apublic stabbing in Venice court in act two always only✓
2. Bpoison in the handkerchief without contact✓
3. Csmothering her in bed✓
4. Dexile to Cyprus without violence ever✓

Emilia reveals Iago's plot after

1. Athe first act prologue only without waiting✓
2. BFeste sings a song in Illyria instead✓
3. CMacbeth's witches intervene directly on stage always✓
4. DDesdemona dies and Othello mentions the handkerchief✓

Twelfth Night opens with Orsino's famous line

1. A"To be, or not to be, that is the question" always✓
2. B"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" in the play proper always✓
3. C"Friends, Romans, countrymen" without change ever in Illyria✓
4. D"If music be the food of love, play on"✓

Viola in Twelfth Night disguises herself as

1. AMalvolio the steward permanently without change✓
2. BFeste the clown exclusively without music✓
3. CLady Macbeth seeking the crown of Illyria only✓
4. DCesario, a page boy✓

Malvolio in Twelfth Night is tricked into believing

1. AOrsino abdicates in his favour always in act one✓
2. BOlivia loves him and he should wear yellow stockings✓
3. Che is actually Macbeth of Scotland without disguise✓
4. Dthe shipwreck never occurred and he is in Venice always✓

Feste in Twelfth Night is

1. Aa Greek tragic chorus without songs✓
2. BMacduff from Scotland visiting Illyria only✓
3. CProspero's spirit Ariel without disguise ever✓
4. DOlivia's professional fool or jester✓

The Tempest is set largely on

1. Aa magical island✓
2. Bthe streets of Verona only without sea✓
3. CElsinore castle in Denmark always✓
4. Dthe Forest of Arden exclusively without shipwreck✓

Prospero was Duke of

1. AMilan✓
2. BVenice without change ever✓
3. CAthens during Theseus' wedding only✓
4. DLondon under James without Italy ever mentioned✓

Ariel in The Tempest is

1. Aan airy spirit serving Prospero✓
2. BCaliban's brother king of Naples always✓
3. CIago disguised without motive ever✓
4. Dthe Fool from Lear visiting by boat only✓

Caliban is

1. AOlivia's steward in Illyria without change✓
2. BHamlet's friend from Wittenberg only always✓
3. CProspero's enslaved island inhabitant✓
4. DDuke Orsino's messenger without island ever✓

"Our revels now are ended" is spoken by

1. AHamlet over Yorick's skull always instead without change✓
2. BProspero in The Tempest✓
3. CMacbeth after Birnam Wood only always✓
4. DShylock in the court scene exclusively✓

As You Like It is set largely in the

1. Aisland of Cyprus during Othello's war always✓
2. BMacbeth's castle Inverness without trees ever✓
3. CVenice's Rialto exclusively without forest✓
4. DForest of Arden✓