William Shakespeare shuffled off his mortal coil (died) more than four centuries ago, yet his characters continue to entrall and entertain us today. Commemorating the Bard’s birthday on April 23, I offer a humorous and instructive quiz to test your knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays.
Match each Shakespearean character with the appropriate tune. Banquo’s theme song, for example, would be “Ghost in My Head.”
| 1. Ariel | “Can’t Buy Me Love” |
| 2. Bottom | “Circle of Life” |
| 3. Caliban | “Come Fly With Me” |
| 4. Calpurnia | “Crazy” |
| 5. Cleopatra | “Everybody Plays the Fool” |
| 6. Falstaff | “Fat Jack” |
| 7. Hamlet | “First Cut is the Deepest” |
| 8. Henry V | “The Hunch” |
| 9. Iago | “I Dreamed a Dream” |
| 10. Jaques | “If I Were a Boy” |
| 11. Julius Caesar | “I’m Just a Country Boy” |
| 12. King Lear | “I Put a Spell on You” |
| 13. Macbeth | “I Will Always Love You” |
| 14. Ophelia | “Jealousy” |
| 15. Orsino | “Leader of the Pack” |
| 16. Othello | “Liar Liar” |
| 17. Portia | “Mack the Knife” |
| 18. Prospero | “Money, Money, Money” |
| 19. Richard III | “Monster Mash” |
| 20. Romeo and Juliet | “Play That Funky Music” |
| 21. Rosalind | “Send in the Clowns” |
| 22. Shylock | “Think Too Much” |
| 23. The Three Witches | “This Old Man” |
| 24. Touchstone | “Walk Like an Egyptian” |
| 25. Yorick | “We’re Off to See the Wizard” |
Answers
1. Ariel: “Come Fly with Me” 2. Bottom: “Send in the Clowns” 3. Caliban: “Monster Mash” 4. Calpurnia: “I Dreamed a Dream” 5. Cleopatra: “Walk Like an Egyptian” 6. Falstaff: “Fat Jack” 7. Hamlet: “Think Too Much” 8. Henry V: “Leader of the Pack” 9. Iago: “Liar Liar” 10. Jaques: “Circle of Life” 11.Julius Caesar: “First Cut is the Deepest” 12. King Lear: “This Old Man” 13. Macbeth: “Mack the Knife” 14. Ophelia: “Crazy” 15. Orsino: “Play That Funky Music” 16. Othello: “Jealousy” 17. Portia: “Can’t Buy Me Love” 18. Prospero: “We’re Off to See the Wizard” 19. Richard III: “The Hunch” 20. Romeo and Juliet: “I Will Always Love You” 21. Rosalind: “If I Were a Boy” 22. Shylock: “Money, Money, Money” 23. The Three Witches: “I Put a Spell on You” 24. Touchstone: “I’m Just a Country Boy” 25. Yorick: “Everybody Plays the Fool”