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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed > Mixed Topic

Taylor Swift or Shakespeare: Quote Trivia Challenge

Can you tell Shakespeare vs Taylor Swift quotes? Start the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a quiz comparing Taylor Swift lyrics and Shakespeare verses.

This quiz helps you tell whether a quote is by Taylor Swift or Shakespeare. Read each line, pick the author, and see your score grow; it's a quick way to have fun and learn a tidbit or two. When you're done, try a related lyrics quiz to keep the streak going and compare with friends.

"Shake it off, shake it off."
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
These lyrics are from Taylor Swift's hit song "Shake It Off," released in 2014 as the lead single from her album "1989." The repeated phrase "shake it off" is a signature chorus moment. This pop anthem encourages listeners to ignore criticism and negativity.
"All that glitters is not gold."
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Taylor Swift
This proverb appears in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice," Act II, Scene VII, warning that appearances can be deceiving. It's been widely anthologized as a Shakespearean adage. The modern variant "not all that glitters is gold" owes its origin to this line.
"We are never ever getting back together."
Jane Austen
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
William Shakespeare
These words open Taylor Swift's song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," released in 2012 from her album "Red." It's a definitive breakup anthem by Swift. The conversational tone and pop-country style mark Swift's songwriting.
"To be, or not to be: that is the question."
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
This is perhaps Shakespeare's most famous line from "Hamlet," Act III, Scene I. It opens a soliloquy in which Prince Hamlet contemplates existence and suicide. Its enduring popularity has made it a staple of English literature.
"I got that red lip, classic thing that you like."
Ed Sheeran
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
Taylor Swift
This lyric is from Taylor Swift's song "Style," featured on her 2014 album "1989." The imagery of red lip and classic style underscores a timeless romance theme. It was co-written with Jack Antonoff and celebrated for its sleek production.
"The course of true love never did run smooth."
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
This line appears in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Act I, Scene I, spoken by Lysander. It acknowledges obstacles in romance, a recurring theme in Shakespeare's comedies. The phrase has entered common usage to describe challenging relationships.
"Darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
This lyric is from Taylor Swift's track "Blank Space," released on her 2014 album "1989." It playfully addresses media portrayals of her dating life. The contrast between "nightmare" and "daydream" highlights the song's wit.
"If music be the food of love, play on."
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
Taylor Swift
This famous opening line of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Act I, Scene I, likens music to nourishment for love. Duke Orsino utters it, desiring an excess of music to cure his lovesickness. It's often quoted in discussions of art and emotion.
"I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here."
Jane Austen
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
William Shakespeare
This metaphor is from Taylor Swift's song "All Too Well," originally released in 2012 and re-recorded in 2021. Swift compares her emotional state to discarded paper to show heartbreak. Critics often cite this song as one of her most poignant ballads.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
This line is spoken by Malvolio in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Act II, Scene V. It explores different paths to greatness. The comedic context contrasts ambition with folly.
"I once believed love would be burning red."
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Taylor Swift
These lyrics come from Taylor Swift's song "Daylight," the final track on her 2019 album "Lover." She uses the color red to symbolize intense passion that ultimately changes to something calmer. Reviews praised its reflective tone.
"And I knew you were trouble when you walked in."
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
Ed Sheeran
William Shakespeare
This opening lyric is from Taylor Swift's 2012 single "I Knew You Were Trouble," off her album "Red." Swift blends pop, rock, and dubstep influences and warns of a toxic romance. It marked a stylistic shift in her music.
"Now is the winter of our discontent."
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
This famous opening line of "Richard III," Act I, Scene I, signals a political and personal turnaround. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, celebrates the end of civil strife. The phrase describes relief after hardship.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."
William Shakespeare
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
Ed Sheeran
This line is from Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part II," Act III, Scene I. King Henry IV laments the burdens of kingship. It underscores that leadership brings constant worry.
"This love is difficult, but it's real."
Jane Austen
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
These lyrics are from Taylor Swift's song "Love Story (Taylor's Version)," released as part of her 2021 re-recorded album "Fearless." She describes overcoming challenges to achieve true love. The line reflects the narrative twist from her original version.
"To thine own self be true."
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Jane Austen
Polonius utters this advice to his son Laertes in "Hamlet," Act I, Scene III. The phrase advises authenticity above all else. It's one of Shakespeare's most quoted moral maxims.
"I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry."
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
This tender line is from Taylor Swift's song "You Belong With Me," off her 2008 album "Fearless." The lyric highlights the narrator's deep understanding of her love interest. It helped cement Swift's reputation for relatable teenage perspective.
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!"
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
King Lear speaks this line in "King Lear," Act I, Scene IV, lamenting filial ingratitude. The vivid simile underscores his emotional pain. It remains a powerful commentary on family dynamics.
"You call me up again just to break me like a promise."
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
This lyric appears in Taylor Swift's song "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)," released in 2021 on "Red (Taylor's Version)." It uses the simile of a broken promise to describe heartbreak. Fans and critics hail the extended version for its emotional depth.
"If you prick us, do we not bleed?"
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
Shylock speaks this line in "The Merchant of Venice," Act III, Scene I, to argue for his shared humanity. The rhetorical question emphasizes common human vulnerability. It's frequently cited in discussions of tolerance.
"Band-aids don't fix bullet holes."
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
This sharp metaphor comes from Taylor Swift's song "Bad Blood," off her 2014 album "1989." She compares superficial fixes to deep wounds in a fractured friendship. The song's music video featured cinematic visuals of conflict.
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
Taylor Swift
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Ed Sheeran
Queen Gertrude utters this line in Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Act III, Scene II, when commenting on an overacted vow of fidelity. It criticizes insincere or excessive declarations. The phrase remains common in modern use.
"You see my problems so much older than me."
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
This introspective line is from Taylor Swift's song "The Outside," featured on her debut 2006 album "Taylor Swift." It reflects feelings of isolation during her early teens. Fans note its raw emotional honesty as a hallmark of her early work.
"Be great in act, as you have been in thought."
Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran
This line comes from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," Act I, Scene II. Cassius encourages Brutus to turn his honorable intentions into action. It underscores the theme of political ambition.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Differentiate Taylor Swift vs Shakespeare quotes -

    Use stylistic and linguistic cues to correctly identify whether a line comes from a modern pop song or an Elizabethan play.

  2. Analyze lyrical and poetic devices -

    Detect rhyme schemes, meter, metaphors, and other devices that distinguish Taylor Swift's songwriting from Shakespeare's verses.

  3. Compare thematic elements -

    Recognize recurring themes like love, loss, and nature across both modern lyrics and classic poetry.

  4. Recognize linguistic patterns -

    Spot archaic language and iambic pentameter in Shakespeare and contemporary slang in Taylor Swift's lyrics.

  5. Sharpen critical listening and reading skills -

    Improve your ability to pick up on subtle textual and auditory clues in quotes and lyrics.

  6. Evaluate cultural and historical contexts -

    Understand how the era and cultural background shape the tone, style, and language of each quote.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Iambic Pentameter vs Pop Meter -

    Spot the difference in Taylor Swift or Shakespeare quotes by tapping out iambic pentameter (five unstressed-stressed pairs) versus a 4/4 pop rhythm aligned to choruses. According to the Purdue OWL, Shakespeare's lines use five "da-DUM" beats, while Swift's songs match lyrical syllables to four beats per measure - try it out aloud to train your ear.

  2. Archaic Vocabulary vs Contemporary Slang -

    Distinguish Shakespeare or Taylor Swift by spotting words like "thee," "thou," and "ere" in the Bard's works versus modern idioms and proper nouns in Swift's lyrics. A quick mnemonic - "T for Thou, T for Taylor, T for Today" - helps you recall archaic English words belong to Shakespeare while contemporary slang marks a Taylor Swift lyric (Oxford English Dictionary).

  3. Sonnets and Stage Directions vs Verse - Chorus Structure -

    When testing Taylor Swift vs Shakespeare, look for 14-line sonnets or scene markers in Shakespeare's texts versus labeled verses, choruses, and bridges in Swift's songs. Cambridge University Press notes that sonnet form and act/scene cues pinpoint the Bard, while materials like "Verse 2" and "Chorus" in album booklets signal Taylor Swift.

  4. Rhetorical Devices vs Pop Hooks -

    In Shakespeare vs Taylor Swift face-offs, watch for metaphors, antithesis, and soliloquies (e.g., "all the world's a stage") versus catchy hooks, anaphora ("we are never ever…") and pop-culture nods in Swift's choruses. The University of York highlights that a repeating lyrical hook is a signature of modern songwriting, while extended metaphor flags a Shakespearean line.

  5. Historical Context vs Personal Narrative -

    Deciding Taylor or Shakespeare often comes down to context: Shakespeare references Elizabethan politics and myth, whereas Swift writes first-person tales of contemporary romance. A JSTOR study shows that mentions of queens, classical gods, or old currency hint at the Bard, while callouts like "2009," "dream," or "cardigan" are Swift giveaways.

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