5th Grade English Worksheet on William Shakespeare (A2 Level) – Reading Comprehension & Vocabulary Activities

READING COMPREHENSION

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in English literature, was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father, John, was a glove maker, and his mother, Mary, was from a farming family. He had multiple siblings, including both older and younger sisters and brothers.

Shakespeare likely attended school where he studied subjects like Latin and Greek. He left school in his mid-teens and married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. The couple had three children: a daughter, Susanna, and twins, Judith and Hamnet.

In the late 1580s, Shakespeare moved to London, where he began working as an actor and eventually started writing plays. London’s first permanent theater opened in 1576, but when the plague struck in 1593, theaters were closed, prompting Shakespeare to write poetry. His sonnets became famous during this time.

By 1599, he was involved in the construction of The Globe Theatre, which could hold up to 3,000 spectators. The theater had an open roof, and audiences were free to express their emotions during the plays by clapping, booing, or cheering. Interestingly, during Shakespeare’s era, female roles were played by men and boys, as women were not allowed to act.

Shakespeare wrote a wide range of plays, including comedies like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, tragedies like Romeo and Juliet, and historical plays featuring figures like Henry V. He authored over 38 plays and contributed many new words and phrases to the English language that are still used today.

Despite living over 400 years ago, his works continue to be celebrated and loved worldwide. Shakespeare passed away in 1616 at the age of 52, but his legacy lives on.

VOCABULARY & COMPREHENSION ACTIVITIES

I. Fill in the Blanks

Use the words below to fill in the blanks:

• William Shakespeare
• twins
• London
• theater
• actor
• plays
• musicians
• comedy
• tragedy
• history

1. The ________ called The Globe could hold up to 3,000 people.
2. Shakespeare wrote many ________ with happy endings.
3. In his time, all parts in the ________ were performed by men.
4. The ________ created special sound effects to enhance the plays.
5. His daughter Susanna and his ________ Judith and Hamnet were born in Stratford.

II. Arrange the Events in Order

Below are some events from Shakespeare’s life. Arrange them in the correct order:

1. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and had three children.
2. He left Stratford and moved to London.
3. The Globe Theatre was built with Shakespeare’s involvement.
4. He began writing sonnets when the plague closed theaters.
5. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

III. Multiple Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer for each question:

1. Shakespeare had _________ siblings.
   a) six
   b) seven
   c) eight
2. His children included a daughter and _________, a boy and a girl.
   a) twins
   b) friends
   c) sons
3. The Globe Theatre had space for _________ people.
   a) 2,000
   b) 3,000
   c) 4,000
4. In Shakespeare’s time, plays included _________ sound effects.
   a) food
   b) noises
   c) pictures

VOCABULARY ACTIVITY

IV. Word Definition Challenge

1. Plague
   Definition: __________________________________________
   Sentence: __________________________________________
2. Sonnet
   Definition: __________________________________________
   Sentence: __________________________________________
3. Comedy
   Definition: __________________________________________
   Sentence: __________________________________________
4. Tragedy
   Definition: __________________________________________
   Sentence: __________________________________________
5. Actor
   Definition: __________________________________________
   Sentence: __________________________________________

Answer Key for the Worksheet

I. Fill in the Blanks

1. theater
2. comedy
3. plays
4. musicians
5. twins

II. Arrange the Events in Order

1. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.
2. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and had three children.
3. He left Stratford and moved to London.
4. He began writing sonnets when the plague closed theaters.
5. The Globe Theatre was built with Shakespeare’s involvement.

III. Multiple Choice Questions

1. c) eight
2. a) twins
3. b) 3,000
4. b) noises

IV. Word Definition Challenge
(Note: Definitions may vary slightly based on dictionary sources)

1. Plague
   Definition: A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium.
   Sentence: The plague forced the closure of many theaters in London.
2. Sonnet
   Definition: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.
   Sentence: Shakespeare is known for writing beautiful sonnets.
3. Comedy
   Definition: A play or story with a humorous tone and a happy ending.
   Sentence: One of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies is A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
4. Tragedy
   Definition: A type of drama that ends in disaster for the main character.
   Sentence: Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most tragic plays.
5. Actor
   Definition: A person who performs in plays, movies, or television shows.
   Sentence: In Shakespeare’s time, all the actors were men.

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