Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

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1.1M views 11 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you already know about William Shakespeare?
When you hear “in a nutshell,” what kind of information do you expect from the video?
Why do you think Shakespeare is still famous today?

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William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

Who Shakespeare was and his theatre company (00:00 – 00:49)

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1. During which era did Shakespeare live?

The Medieval era
The Victorian era
The Modern era
The Elizabethan era

2. How did Shakespeare start his career according to the video?

As a printer and publisher
As an actor and playwright
As a teacher and poet
As a soldier and politician

3. Why did every role have to be played by men in the company?

Because the scripts required it
Because there were only male members in the company
Because costumes were too expensive
Because women were not allowed in the audience

William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

Why the plays were popular: complexity and audiences (00:49 – 01:25)

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1. What was Shakespeare trying to match by writing texts of high complexity?

The various tastes of a diverse audience
The style of Italian painters
The rules of the church
The weather in London

2. Which combination best describes Shakespeare’s storytelling style in the video?

Relatively simple plots as well as subtle nuances
Only simple plots with no hidden meaning
Only subtle nuances without clear plots
Only poems, not plays

3. Where did Shakespeare’s company perform for the amusement of the aristocracy?

At the Globe Theatre only
In universities
In village squares
At the king’s court

William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

Works, language, influence, and legacy (01:25 – 02:27)

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1. What kinds of writing did Shakespeare produce besides plays?

Newspapers
Travel guides
Sonnets and poems
Scientific textbooks

2. What does the video say about Shakespeare’s language?

It was written only in Latin
It was rich in metaphors and vivid images
It avoided metaphors and vivid images
It was copied from other authors

3. Which statement is true according to the ending of the video?

Shakespeare’s plays are no longer performed today
Shakespeare’s stories appear in today’s movies, books, and music
Only men can play Juliet today
Shakespeare lived to the age of 80

William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

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1. What main reason does the video give for Shakespeare’s wide popularity?

His stories were always completely serious
He combined simple plots with subtle nuances and twists for many tastes
He was the first person to build a theatre
He wrote only for kings and queens

2. Which best summarizes how Shakespeare’s work changed over time in the video?

He wrote only poems at first and later wrote only novels
He started with tragedies and later wrote only comedies
He only wrote one type of play his whole life
He started mostly with histories and comedies and later added tragedies

3. What is one example of Shakespeare’s long-term impact mentioned in the video?

He created the English alphabet
Many modern English words first appeared in his works
He invented the printing press
He ended theatre performances in England

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

William Shakespeare – in a nutshell

Do you think stories should try to include “something for everyone,” or is it better to focus on one audience? Why?
What makes a play or movie “complex” in a good way? Give an example of a twist or an interlocking plot you enjoyed.
The video says Shakespeare created new words. Should writers today try to create new words too, or use existing ones?
How do you feel about old stories being remade in modern movies, books, or music? What are the advantages and disadvantages?