blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/study-guide-twelfth-night.docx  · web viewthe duke seems to be...

27
STUDY GUIDE: Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will ACT I Scene I - An apartment in the Duke’s palace Vocabulary abatement—a lessening cloistress—a nun fantastical—unreal, fanciful handmaid—a female attendant hart—a male deer pestilence—disease surfeiting—filling to excess 1. One of the continuing motifs in this play is the idea of excess. The Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to excess. What excessive behavior is Olivia pursuing? What is the Duke’s reaction to this behavior? __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ 2. Where is the Duke going at the end of Scene I? Since he claims to be overcome with love for Olivia, why do you think he does not go to see her himself? __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________ Scene II - The sea-coast Vocabulary abjured—renounced; gave up bounteously—plentifully, abundantly eunuch—a male who has been castrated prattle—mindless chatter provident—wise 1. Define “Elysium.” What does the Captain say that gives Viola some hope that her brother survived the shipwreck? __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________

Upload: dokhanh

Post on 31-Jan-2018

215 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

STUDY GUIDE: Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will

ACT IScene I - An apartment in the Duke’s palace Vocabulary abatement—a lessening cloistress—a nun fantastical—unreal, fanciful handmaid—a female attendant

hart—a male deer pestilence—disease surfeiting—filling to excess

1. One of the continuing motifs in this play is the idea of excess. The Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to excess. What excessive behavior is Olivia pursuing? What is the Duke’s reaction to this behavior? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Where is the Duke going at the end of Scene I? Since he claims to be overcome with love for Olivia, why do you think he does not go to see her himself? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene II - The sea-coast Vocabulary abjured—renounced; gave up bounteously—plentifully, abundantly eunuch—a male who has been castrated

prattle—mindless chatter provident—wise

1. Define “Elysium.” What does the Captain say that gives Viola some hope that her brother survived the shipwreck? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________

2. List the two plans Viola conceives to help her conceal her name and rank in this strange land. Which one does she decide to follow? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. One of the overall themes of this play is the confusion between appearance and reality. In Elizabethan theaters there were no actresses; all of the women’s parts were played by young boys. How does this fact help to enhance this theme? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 2: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

Scene III - Olivia’s house

Voc abulary allay—to calm; to put to rest barren—empty bestowed—granted, gave distaff—a rod that holds flax or other fiber during spinning flax—a type of fiber used in making textiles forswear—to renounce; to give up

prodigal—wasteful, reckless prudent—sensible, practical quaffing—drinking, guzzling revels—parties shrew—a scolding woman

1. The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s time meant “to clothe,” in addition to meaning “to restrict.” Why is the following passage from the play an example of a pun?

Confine? I’ll confine myself no finer than I am: these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be these boots too:-an they be not, let them hang themselves in their own straps. (I, iii) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. List four of the unfavorable traits Maria attributes to Sir Andrew Aguecheek? What does Sir Toby say in Andrew’s defense? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________3. In Shakespeare’s time there were basically only two classes of people: the nobility and everyone else; in his plays the nobility usually speak in verse, but the servants use prose. If this rule is generally true, why then do you think Sir Toby and Sir Andrew speak in prose, just like Olivia’s servant Maria? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scene IV - The Duke’s palace Vocabulary aloof—detached, distant belie—to contradict or disprove clamorous—noisy, boisterous discourse—talk, discussion inconstant—changeable 1. Why does the Duke believe that Viola/Cesario will be more successful than the other messengers at getting in to see Olivia? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 3: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

2. What does Viola say in the aside at the end of this scene that adds a complication to the plot? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Find a line in this scene demonstrating that the Duke treats Cesario with a great deal of trust and affection. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene V - Olivia’s house

Vocabulary assurance—a guarantee or promise blazon—a coat of arms cuckold—a man whose wife has cheated on him decreed—ruled, commanded, ordered dexterously—skillfully, expertly distempered—diseased feigned—pretended, faked fertile—abundant, bountiful fervor—a passion for heresy—sacrilege; profane or unorthodox opinion homage—respect, reverence, worship infirmity—ill-health; also, weakness due to aging lethargy—laziness; stupor

misprision—a mistake, error mollification—appeasement; nonpareil—without equal overture—a proposal or suggestion peevish—irritable, bad-tempered resolute—firm, unyielding reverberate—to echo sustain—to suffer; to incur syllogism—a type of logical argument transgresses—lapses; goes astray usurp—to take over; seize without the right to do so valiant—brave, courageous yond—over there

1. What does the Clown reveal about Maria and Sir Toby in the following passage from this scene? “If Sir Toby would leave drinking, thou wert as witty a piece of Eve’s flesh as any in Illyria.” (I, v) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. The following line from this scene is spoken by the Clown when he is alone on stage. What do you think Shakespeare is telling the audience about the importance of the Clown’s role in the play? “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” (I, v) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How does the Clown show Olivia her own foolish behavior? Why doesn’t she punish him for pointing out the flaws in her behavior? _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 4: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

4. What is Olivia’s opinion of Malvolio? _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. List the three levels of a drunken man, as explained by Feste. What evidence is there that Olivia cares about Sir Toby’s well-being despite his drunkenness? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Why does Olivia agree to see the messenger? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. In what way can the following line from this scene be interpreted as both a compliment and an insult? What other insult does Viola/Cesario give to Olivia in this scene? Excellently done, if God did all. (I,v) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. At the end of this scene why do you think Olivia is willing to turn her life over to fate? I do I know not what, and fear to find Mine eye too great a flatterer for my mind. Fate, show thy force: ourselves we do not owe; What is decreed must be, and be this so. (I, v)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Why do you think Olivia speaks in both prose and verse in this scene? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACT II

Scene I - The sea-coast

Vocabulary determinate—decisive extort—to extract or obtain in a forceful manner malignancy—malevolence, wickedness recompense—repayment

Page 5: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

1. Love is a major theme of this play. The Duke professes his romantic love for Olivia, but Olivia falls in love with Viola/Cesario. What kind of love does Malvolio demonstrate? What two kinds of love are illustrated in the following passage from this scene?

By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly over me: the malignancy of my fate might perhaps distemper yours; therefore I shall crave of you your leave that I may bear my evils alone: it were a bad recompense for your love, to lay any of them on you. (II,i)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why do you think Sebastian does not want Antonio to accompany him to Count the Duke’s court? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scene II - A street

Voc abulary churlish—rude, impolite frailty—weakness thriftless—unprofitable

1. What evidence is there that Malvolio is a rude person? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. One of the major themes in this play is the confusion between appearance and reality; what is Viola/Cesario suggesting about the consequences of using a disguise? Who is “thou” in the passage below?

Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Briefly describe the romantic tangles Shakespeare has presented so far in the play. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 6: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

Scene III - Olivia’s house

Voc abulary caterwauling—loud shrieking; unpleasant noise making constrained—obliged, compelled disposed—willing, inclined epistles—letters equinoctial—referring to the line that marks the midway point between the poles

gait—a manner of walking indignation—righteous anger knave—a rogue or villain mellifluous—smoothly flowing mitigation—alleviation; lessening of intensity or severity

1. Define “catch” in this context. What are Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and the Clown doing when Maria enters the room? What is Maria trying to do? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Malvolio comes into the room to deliver a message from Olivia. Why do you think Sir Toby and the Clown poke fun at Malvolio? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why does Maria want to play a trick on Malvolio to make him look foolish? What “vice” in Malvolio is she referring to in the following passage from this scene?

The devil a puritan that he is, or any thing constantly, but a time-pleaser; an affectioned ass, that cons state without book and utters it by great swarths: the best persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks, with excellences, that it is his ground of faith, that all that look on him, love him; and on that vice in him will my revenge find notable cause to work. (I, iii)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What new information does Sir Toby reveal about his relationship with Maria and about his continued interest in keeping Sir Andrew around? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene IV - The Duke’s palace Vocabulary damask—a blend of red and white opal—a type of gem pined—sulked, brooded

retention—the ability to keep or hold spinsters—women who worked at spinning yarn wavering—indecisive, fickle

1. What advice is the Duke giving Viola/Cesario in the following passage from this scene?

Page 7: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

Then let thy love be younger than thyself, Or thy affection cannot hold the bent; For women are as roses, whose fair flower, Being once display’d, doth fall that very hour.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why is the following passage ironic?

A blank, my lord. She never told her love, But let concealment, like a worm i’ the bud, Feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. In this play, Shakespeare presents examples of several types of love: love for a friend, love for a family member, romantic love, mature, unselfish love, and self love. Contrast the Duke’s behavior toward the woman he claims to love with Viola’s behavior toward the man she loves. Which type of love are each of these characters illustrating? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene V - Olivia’s garden Voc abulary abhors—hates amend—to improve; to alter austere—strict, severe coffer—money commend—to praise; compliment demure—modest detests—hates disposition—temperament, nature dowry—a gift of money or property from a bride’s family exult—to gloat; rejoice

injunction—a command or order manifests—reveals; makes known mockery—ridicule, derision niggardly—stingy, ungenerous pension—an income, allowance portend—to foretell; signify prerogative—a privilege, right quenching—stifling, extinguishing sinews—muscles, tendons surly—rude, gruff

1. What would Malvolio’s first speech in this scene be called, and why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________3. What does Malvolio fantasize about his new life after he marries Olivia and moves up in social position? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Why does Malvolio believe the letter is from Olivia? What convinces him that the letter

Page 8: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

is written about himself? _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. List the four things the letter asks Malvolio to do if he wants to be Olivia’s husband. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What evidence is there that Sir Toby is fond of Maria even though she is a servant? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACT III Scene I - Olivia’s garden Voc abulary construe—to interpret courtier—an aristocrat desirous—eager fetter—to tie or bind whet—to stimulate or awaken; sharpen 1. Define “tabor.” One of the major themes in this play is the confusion between appearance and reality. In what way does the Clown demonstrate to Viola/Cesario that this theme also applies to words? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Shakespeare uses many simile’s and metaphors in his writing. Find an example of a simile and a metaphor in this scene. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Viola/Cesario learns from the Clown to chose her words very carefully. Find an example of how she is able to tell Olivia the truth about herself, without telling Olivia that she [Viola] is really female.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scene II - Olivia’s house Voc abulary augmentation—an addition, extension bestowed—gave exasperate—to frustrate or annoy

laudable—praiseworthy, admirable prevail—to triumph or succeed

Page 9: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

1. In this play, there are two distinct plot lines. One is the romantic plot line revolving around the Duke, Olivia, and Viola. Which characters do you think are part of the comic plot line? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How is Maria’s practical joke on Malvolio progressing at this point in the story? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Find examples of hyperbole and litotes in the end of this act. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scene III - A street Vocabulary unhospitable—unwelcoming, unfriendly

1. Why doesn’t Antonio accompany Sebastian when Sebastian decides to look around the town? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________

Scene IV - Olivia’s garden Vocabulary adheres—sticks to, holds tightly concurs—agrees couplet—two rhymed lines of poetry devout—religious, devoted dram—a unit of measurement; small amount entreat—to beg headstrong—willful, stubborn impetuosity—impulsiveness, rashness implacable—unable to be pacified; unyielding incites—provokes, rouses intercepter—one who interrupts the progress of something negligence—carelessness, neglect pacified—calmed, placated paltry—wretched, miserable

penance—an act of self-punishment perdition—destruction, ruin more vocab:prospect—an expectation rapier—a double-edged sword rave—to rant; talk deliriously reproof—criticism, blame sanctity—holiness, purity scabbard—a sheath for a sword swaggering—overconfident, arrogant venerable—honored, respected vile—wicked, low wrath—anger

Page 10: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

1. Which type of “greatness” does Malvolio imagine for himself, as expressed in the dialogue he has with Olivia? Why do you think he does not realize that Olivia is baffled by his behavior? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What evidence is there in this scene that Olivia is a compassionate woman? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Find a passage in this scene where Malvolio is acting superior to Sir Toby, Maria, and Fabian. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Find an example of Shakespeare’s use of irony and explain the irony. _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why does Sir Toby not want to give Cesario Sir Andrew’s letter? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. The Duke has been shown to be a man who enjoys pining away over his unrequited love to great excess. What does the following passage from the play say about Olivia’s tendency toward excessive behavior?

“A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell.” ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. How does Sir Toby manage to get Sir Andrew to agree to the duel? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 11: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

8. Why does Antonio want to fight Sir Andrew? Why do you think Sir Toby draws his sword on Antonio? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What happens to give Viola the idea that her brother Sebastian is still alive? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACT IV Scene I - The street in front of Olivia’s house

Vocabulary barbarous—brutal, uncivilized ruffian—a hooligan tarry—to delay or linger wretch—a miserable person

1. What do you think is happening in his mind when Sir Andrew says, “Now, sir, have I met you again? there’s for you”? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why would the Clown’s line, “Nothing that is so is so,” be a good title for this scene? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is Olivia asking Sebastian in the following passage? Nay, come, I prithee; would thou’dst be ruled by me!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene II - Olivia’s house

Vocabulary convey—to communicate; to express curate—a cleric, pastor dispossess—to deprive; to strip notoriously—infamously, disgracefully

Page 12: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

1. Why does Maria want the Clown to disguise himself as Sir Topas, the curate? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What philosophical statement does the Clown, pretending to be Sir Topas, make about darkness? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why does Sir Toby want to end the practical joke on Malvolio? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. This scene can be very difficult to follow when it is read. Think back to the movie. How did the Clown let the audience know when he is speaking to Malvolio as himself and when he is speaking as Sir Toby? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scene III - Olivia’s garden

Voc abulary consecrated—holy, sacred 1. What possible explanations does Sebastian offer to try and explain Olivia’s proposal of marriage? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. It is important the audience believes that it is possible for Olivia to be unable to tell the difference between Sebastian and Viola. For what reasons do you think the audience is willing to accept this scenario? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACT V

Scene I - Before Olivia’s house. Vocabulary.adverse—hostile bounty—a payment, reward cohere—to join together contrary—opposite covetousness—greed deity—a god edified—instructed, enlightened

induced—provoked, caused interim—an interval parentage—ancestry, origin peruse—to read carefully plaintiff—the accuser or claimant in a lawsuit retention—withholding reverence—respect, admiration

Page 13: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

1. Why does the Clown believe he is “the better for my foes and the worse for my friends”? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________2. What does Viola mean when she says, “Here comes the man, sir, that did rescue me”? Why does the Duke think Antonio must be a madman? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. At what point in this scene do you think the Duke realizes that Olivia is interested in Cesario? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Once the Duke realizes he has lost Olivia’s love to Viola/Cesario, he threatens to kill Olivia. What does he decide to do instead? Why do you think Viola willingly goes with the Duke? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What do Sir Toby’s remarks to Aguecheek show? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. How does Viola come to realize that Sebastian really is her brother? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Define “durance.” In what way does Shakespeare cleverly work Malvolio back into the plot? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What does Fabian suggest, as a possible remedy for Malvolio’s mistreatment? How does Malvolio react to the speech?

How with a sportful malice it was follow’d May rather pluck on laughter than revenge; If that the injuries be justly weigh’d That have on both sides pass’d.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 14: blog.wsd.netblog.wsd.net/.../01/STUDY-GUIDE-Twelfth-Night.docx  · Web viewThe Duke seems to be carrying his desire to be in love to ... The word “confine” in Shakespeare’s

11. Why do you think Shakespeare ends the play with a song sung by the Clown? In what way does it support the overall theme that it is important to laugh at the confusion and foolishness in life? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional Questions which encompass the entire play

1. List two incidents in this play, that by modern terms, can be called “slapstick” comedy. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Briefly describe the two practical jokes in this play. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The twelfth day of the Christmas season is traditionally, in Elizabethan times, a day for masquerades and parties. Do you agree or disagree with Shakespeare’s choice of Twelfth Night for the title of this play? Can you think of a better title? Cite incidents from the play to support your answer. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Most of Shakespeare’s comedies end with a marriage. Do you think the matches made in Scene V are believable and offer the characters a chance at happiness? Cite incidents from the play to support your answer. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Comment on the use of characters’ names in the play. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________