Interview with Will

This year it’s been four hundred years since the death of William Shakespeare. He is known all over the world for the plays and plays and sonnets he wrote. In the video, the famous playwright finally gets a chance to speak for himself.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• autograph - the signature of a famous person
• gloves - a covering for your hands that has separate parts for each finger
• eventually - at some later time; in the end
• come up with something - think of something; invent something
• retell - tell again, often in a different way

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Shakespeare says: “One thing we always had growing up were gloves.”
   Why was this so?


2. Which Shakespearean play is The Lion King based on?


3. When Shakespeare moved to London, what job did he do?


4. How many plays did Shakespeare write?


5. Name the three main categories of Shakespeare’s plays.
   Give a short definition for each category.

Extra words assignment

Shakespeare says that he came up with seventeen hundred new words.

1. Explain what the following words and expressions he mentions mean.
   You may use a dictionary.
   
   - countless
   - laughable
   - buzz
   - puking
   - assassin
   - moonbeam
   - eyesore
   - wild goose chase
   - break the ice