William Shakespeare

Discovering William Shakespeare

An escape room webquest all about the bard

start

INDEX

mission 1

introduction

mission 2

REWARD

MISSION 4

MISSION 3

INTRODUCTION

London, 1610

London is a labyrinth, half of stone and half of flesh.

William Shakespeare's London was a maze of narrow streets and alleys, bridges and ferries -- winding and curving around and within old Roman walls...learn what you can about William Shakespeare in order to find your way through London's maze of streets to the Globe Theatre before the performance of The Tempest begins!

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MISSION 1

London

Explore the webpage linked to the picture below to learn more about Shakespeare's London. When you are done, click START to show your knowledge & complete your first mission and be one step closer to the Globe!

start

QUESTION 1

By 1600, how many people went to the theater each week?

20,000

1,500

30,000

QUESTION 2

Why were the theaters all closed in 1593, right in the middle of Shakespeare's career?

The Pope Said So

The Queen Hated Plays

Outbreak of the Plague

QUESTION 3

London is home to over 120 churches. Which is the largest?

Westminister Abbey

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. George's Church

QUESTION 4

Which of the following is somewhere Shakespeare did NOT live in London?

St. Helen's

SevenDials

Paris Gardens

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE GLOBE!

WRONG!

TRY AGAIN

MISSION 2

Matching

Watch the video linked below. Then, answer the questions by correctly deciphering Shakespeare's language -- you want to be sure you can fully enjoy the performance of The Tempest!

start

mission 2

choose the right photo

Choose the Shakespeare quote to the left that most closely means "Be true to yourself."

mission 2

II

choose the right photo

Choose the Shakespeare quote to the left that most closely means "You creep, people have ignored you since you were born."

mission 2

III

choose the right photo

Choose the Shakespeare quote to the left that most closely means "You have zero brains."

mission 2

IV

choose the right photo

Choose the Shakespeare quote to the left that most closely means "Go away."

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU ARE ALMOST HALFWAY TO THE GLOBE THEATRE!

WRONG!

TRY AGAIN

MISSION 3

TIMELINE

Watch the two videos below about William Shakespeare. Then, click START to begin your next task as you try to make it to the Globe before the performance begins!

start

select the correct date and image

1580

1570

Shakespeare marries his wife, Anne Hathaway. She is 8 years older than him!

Shakespeare becomes a noted Latin scholar, having studied it in grammar school

1564

William Shakespeare is born in a middle-class household in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Which of the following is NOT true? Click the Image.

Shakespeare wrote four types of plays: tragedies, comedies, histories, and (later in his career), tragic comedies.

William Shakespeare became good friends with both Queen Elizabeth and King James, and was invited to the palance many times.

William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest during the period called “the later years"

Which of the following facts is TRUE?

1592

1583

This is the year Shakespeare arrived in London and began his acting & playwriting career

Shakespeare's young twins, Judith and Hamnet, die of the Plague, leaving Shakespeare heartbroken

1560

Queen Elizabeth I makes William Shakespeare a Knight of the Realm -- he becomes Sir William

Which of the following is NOT a play by William Shakespeare?

DoctorFaustus

Comedy of Errors

Henry V

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are almost to the Globe! You can see it in the distance, just across London Bridge! Hurry, the play starts soon!

WRONG!

TRY AGAIN

MISSION 4

museum

William Shakespeare lived in a time of great political turmoil. Elizabeth I, last of the Tudor dynasty died in 1603, leaving the English throne to her Scottish cousin, James. Explore the three websites linked to the images below to learn more about the Tudor & Stuart royal families and then click START to complete your final mission -- hurry! The play begins soon!

start

mission 4

Henry VIII

Most famous for his 6 wives, Henry VIII brought the Protestant Reformation to England. His daughter, Elizabeth, was queen when Shakespeare's career began.

Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector during the period known as the Interregnum -- "between the kings" -- after the English Civil War. Cromwell was a Puritan, and he closed the theaters permanently.

Who is this?

mission 4

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, ruled England during its Golden Age, bringing it political and economic might. She was also the first ruler for whom Shakespeare performed

Mary, Queen of Scot

Mary ruled Scotland in her own right, and was also in line to the throne of England. As part of the endless conflict between Scotland and England, she invited Shakespeare to perform at her court before the English court.

Who is this?

mission 4

Henry Vii

Henry VII came to the English throne following his victory at the Battle of Bosworth field. He commissioned Shakespeare to write several plays commemorating his victory.

James I

James I of England (who was also James VI of Scotland) came to the English crown after the queen died childless. Shakespeare performed at his palace numerous times, and the king was a patron of his.

Who is this?

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sprinting around the corner, pushing past a drunken crowd outside a Southwark tavern, you arrive at the Globe just as you hear the herald call out THE PLAY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!

WRONG!

TRY AGAIN

MISSION 1

REWARD

start

Enter the secret code 🔐

Enter the number