William Shakespeare and His Works Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the biography of William Shakespeare and study notes for The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth.

Stratford-upon-Avon

The small market town where William Shakespeare was born in April $1564$ and where the Holy Trinity Church is located.

John Shakespeare

Shakespeare's father, who was a prosperous shop owner dealing in leather goods and a municipal officeholder.

Anne Hathaway

The woman Shakespeare married in $1582$ at the age of $18$; she was $26$ years old at the time.

Susanna

Shakespeare's first daughter, born in $1583$, five months after his marriage to Anne Hathaway.

Hamnet

Shakespeare’s son and twin to Judith who died when he was $11$ years old.

The Lost (Dark) Years

The period from $1583$ to $1592$ in Shakespeare's life, which is a matter of speculation involving stories of deer poaching, soldiering, and teaching.

The Chamberlain’s Men

The acting company Shakespeare joined and remained with for the rest of his career, later renamed the King’s Men in $1603$.

The Globe Theatre

The new theatre built in $1599$ by the Chamberlain’s Men, in which Shakespeare was a partner.

Henry VIII

Recognized as the final play written by William Shakespeare before his death.

Tragedy

A category of Shakespearean plays featuring likeable protagonists who are doomed by their flaws, such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar.

History

A category of Shakespearean plays that were politically motivated to appeal to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, featuring British and Scottish kings.

Problem play

A term used to describe The Merchant of Venice because it is not fully a comedy or a tragedy.

Anti-Semitism

The hatred, discrimination, or prejudice against Jewish people, which is a central theme in The Merchant of Venice.

The Rodrigo Lopez trial

A $1594$ event where Queen Elizabeth’s doctor, a converted Jew, was executed for allegedly poisoning her, which increased hatred of Jews in England.

Shylock

The Jewish moneylender in The Merchant of Venice who demands a "pound of flesh" as part of a bond with Antonio.

Portia (The Merchant of Venice)

A rich, intelligent heiress who disguises herself as a male lawyer to save Antonio in court.

Senate

The body of members from the noble class who ran the government during the Roman Republic in the time of Julius Caesar.

Consuls

Two leaders elected yearly by the Senate to oversee the government of the Roman Republic.

Ides of March

The date, $15 \text{ March } 44 \text{ BC}$, on which Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius.

Veni, vidi, vici

A famous quote by Julius Caesar meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Brutus

A characters described as noble, honest, and idealistic who kills Caesar because he believes it is for the good of Rome.

Tragic Hero

A noble hero whose internal flaw, such as ambition or pride, leads to their downfall and death.

The Three Witches

Characters in Macbeth who represent evil and the supernatural, giving prophecies that influence Macbeth's actions.

Ambition

The driving force and tragic flaw in the play Macbeth that leads the protagonist to murder King Duncan.

Macduff

The Scottish nobleman who discovers King Duncan’s body and eventually kills Macbeth in the final battle.