- 1. The First Folio of William Shakespeare, officially titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies,' was published in 1623 and is one of the most significant publications in the history of English literature. Compiled seven years after Shakespeare's death by his friends and fellow actors, John Heminges and Henry Condell, the First Folio is crucial because it preserved 36 of Shakespeare's plays, many of which had never been printed before and would likely have been lost to history without this collection. The Folio includes iconic works such as 'Hamlet,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'The Tempest,' showcasing Shakespeare's range as a playwright from comedies and histories to tragedies. With more than half of the plays included being published for the first time, the First Folio has been essential for understanding not only Shakespeare's oeuvre but also the development of English drama during the early 17th century. The dedication to the Earl of Southampton and the meticulous typography, attributed to the printer Edward Blount, reflect the high standards of Elizabethan publishing and the enduring legacy of Shakespeare's work, which has influenced countless writers and playwrights throughout the centuries.
What is the First Folio?
A) A collection of Shakespeare's poems
B) A collected edition of Shakespeare's plays
C) A play written by Shakespeare
D) A biography of Shakespeare
- 2. In what year was the First Folio published?
A) 1609
B) 1616
C) 1620
D) 1623
- 3. Who were the editors of the First Folio?
A) Thomas Kyd and John Fletcher
B) John Heminges and Henry Condell
C) Edward Alleyn and Richard Burbage
D) Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe
- 4. How many plays are included in the First Folio?
A) 36
B) 40
C) 38
D) 30
- 5. Which of these plays is NOT included in the First Folio?
A) King Lear
B) Othello
C) Hamlet
D) Pericles, Prince of Tyre
- 6. Where was the First Folio published?
A) Stratford-upon-Avon
B) Oxford
C) Cambridge
D) London
- 7. Which play begins with the famous line 'All the world's a stage'?
A) Hamlet
B) Romeo and Juliet
C) As You Like It
D) Macbeth
- 8. What type of binding is the First Folio typically known for?
A) Parchment
B) Leather
C) Plastic
D) Cloth
- 9. Which play is known for its famous curse and is included in the First Folio?
A) As You Like It
B) Macbeth
C) Julius Caesar
D) The Tempest
- 10. Which play in the First Folio is a classic example of a tragicomedy?
A) Hamlet
B) Julius Caesar
C) Henry V
D) The Winter's Tale
- 11. How many histories are included in the First Folio?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 12
D) 10
- 12. What language is the First Folio originally written in?
A) Early Modern English
B) Middle English
C) Old English
D) Latin
- 13. What is one of the most celebrated tragedies in the First Folio?
A) The Comedy of Errors
B) Hamlet
C) Much Ado About Nothing
D) The Taming of the Shrew
- 14. The First Folio was printed by which publisher?
A) Harper Collins
B) Penguin Random House
C) Simon & Schuster
D) Edward Blount and William Jackin
- 15. What literary style is often associated with Shakespeare's works in the First Folio?
A) Blank verse
B) Couplets
C) Haiku
D) Free verse
- 16. The First Folio was published how many years after Shakespeare's death?
A) Five years
B) Seven years
C) Three years
D) Ten years
- 17. Which of Shakespeare's contemporaries wrote a commendatory poem for the First Folio?
A) George Chapman
B) Ben Jonson
C) Christopher Marlowe
D) John Donne
- 18. What type of text is the First Folio considered to be?
A) A primary source
B) A scholarly article
C) A secondary source
D) A fictional source
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