* Greetings Well-Wishers and Nay-Sayers! * It's Shakespeare Trivia Time! *

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Question 1

Which character in a Shakespearean Tragedy spoke these words?

'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace!
No, I will speak as liberal as the north:
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.

Without googling it, name the character and the play.

For double brownie points, describe what happened to this character after these words were spoken?

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Question 2

And now for a difficult one.

Which Ancient Philosopher proved that these words, by Lord Polonius to Queen Gertrude in "Hamlet", are meaningless?

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.

For double brownie points, describe the consequence that befell the whole state of Denmark when these words were taken seriously.

And now, for double secret whammy special brownie points, answer this:

What bloviating, right wing talk show host extolls the virtues of the phrase "brevity is the soul of wit" on a regular basis?

Here's a clue. And another. And another.

For discussion, does this bode well for the future of our country?


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These Trivia Questions have been brought to you by:

Erik B. Anderson (aka Kire)
The King of Funny Faces
Independence Township, New Jersey
Established 1782

http://www.myspace.com/thekingoffunnyfaces * http://thetragedyoferik.blogspot.com


Cross-posted at Daily Kos