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Are You a Shakespearean Lover or a Villain? Take the Test, Then Talk the Talk

In honor of the birthday (and death date, we think) of the greatest writer in the English language, today, April 23rd, is Talk Like Shakespeare Day. In cities from Chicago to London “all citizens are encouraged to express themselves through the incorporation of Shakespearean language and dialect.”


Of course, before you can start speaking in rhymed couplets, you must first figure out which character you are. To that end, the online dating site OK Cupid devised a test to determine “if you are a tragic hero, a hopeless romantic, a fool, or a villain.”

Here is a sample question:

A fairy gives you a magic potion that will make whoever drinks it fall in love with the next person he or she sees. What do you do?

Go ahead, take the test, and then get into character. That might involve a wardrobe change. The “official” Talk Like Shakespeare page has some helpful tips about this, such as “When wooing lads: try dressing up like a man. If that fails, throw him in the Tower, banish his friends and claim the throne.”

We also recommend you check out Big Think’s special series, How to Think Like Shakespeare, and stay tuned throughout the day for more features in honor of the Bard’s 448th birthday. 


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