Twelfth NightTwelfth Night by William by William ShakespeareShakespeare

ComedyComedy Definition – a comedic play has at least one humorous Definition – a comedic play has at least one humorous

character, and a successful or happy ending.character, and a successful or happy ending. Characteristics of …Characteristics of …

The main action is about The main action is about lovelove. . The would-be lovers must The would-be lovers must overcome obstaclesovercome obstacles and and

misunderstandings before misunderstandings before being united in harmonious unionbeing united in harmonious union. . The ending frequently involves a parade of couples to the altar and The ending frequently involves a parade of couples to the altar and a festive mood or actual celebration (expressed in dance, song, a festive mood or actual celebration (expressed in dance, song, feast, etc.)  feast, etc.)  Twelfth NightTwelfth Night has three such couples. has three such couples.

Frequently (but not always), it contains elements of Frequently (but not always), it contains elements of the the improbable, the fantastic, the supernatural, or the improbable, the fantastic, the supernatural, or the miraculousmiraculous, e.g. unbelievable coincidences, improbable scenes of , e.g. unbelievable coincidences, improbable scenes of recognition/lack of recognition, willful disregard of the social order recognition/lack of recognition, willful disregard of the social order (nobles marrying commoners, beggars changed to lords), (nobles marrying commoners, beggars changed to lords), instantaneous conversions (the wicked repent), enchanted or instantaneous conversions (the wicked repent), enchanted or idealized settings, supernatural beings (witches, fairies, Gods and idealized settings, supernatural beings (witches, fairies, Gods and Goddesses). The happy ending may be brought about through Goddesses). The happy ending may be brought about through supernatural or divine intervention (comparable to the supernatural or divine intervention (comparable to the deus ex deus ex machinamachina in classical comedy, where a God appears to resolve the in classical comedy, where a God appears to resolve the conflict) or may merely involve improbable turns of events. conflict) or may merely involve improbable turns of events.

In the best of the mature comedies, there is frequently a In the best of the mature comedies, there is frequently a philosophical aspectphilosophical aspect involving weightier issues and themes: involving weightier issues and themes: personal identity; the importance of love in human existence; the personal identity; the importance of love in human existence; the power of language to help or hinder communication; the power of language to help or hinder communication; the transforming power of poetry and art; the disjunction between transforming power of poetry and art; the disjunction between appearance and reality; the power of dreams and illusions). appearance and reality; the power of dreams and illusions).

Twelfth NightTwelfth Night: What does the : What does the title refer to?title refer to?

The play was written as a Christmas season The play was written as a Christmas season production for presentation on Epiphany – production for presentation on Epiphany – the twelfth night after Christmas, when, the twelfth night after Christmas, when, according to religious tradition, Jesus was according to religious tradition, Jesus was introduced to the world.introduced to the world.

It is a time for celebrating, gifts are It is a time for celebrating, gifts are exchanged, and parties and other exchanged, and parties and other celebrations occur. celebrations occur.

The full title of the play is The full title of the play is Twelfth Night, or, Twelfth Night, or, What You WillWhat You Will – i.e. “Call it anything you – i.e. “Call it anything you choose.”choose.”

Twelfth Night Twelfth Night Type of work: play (Shakespeare also wrote: Type of work: play (Shakespeare also wrote:

poetry)poetry) Genre: comedyGenre: comedy Time written: between 1600-1602Time written: between 1600-1602 Place written: EnglandPlace written: England Tone: Light, cheerful, comic; occasionally frantic and Tone: Light, cheerful, comic; occasionally frantic and

melodramatic, especially in the speeches of Orsino melodramatic, especially in the speeches of Orsino and Olivia.and Olivia.

Tense: Present (the entire story is told through Tense: Present (the entire story is told through dialogue)dialogue)

Setting (time): UnknownSetting (time): Unknown Setting (place): The mythical land of Illyria (Illyria is a Setting (place): The mythical land of Illyria (Illyria is a

real place, corresponding to the coast of present-day real place, corresponding to the coast of present-day Yugoslavia, but Yugoslavia, but Twelfth NightTwelfth Night is clearly set in a is clearly set in a fictional kingdom rather than a real one.)fictional kingdom rather than a real one.)

Twelfth NightTwelfth Night Characters: Characters:

Viola (a.k.a. Viola (a.k.a. Cesario)Cesario)

Duke OrsinoDuke Orsino OliviaOlivia SebastianSebastian MalvolioMalvolio FesteFeste

Sir Toby BelchSir Toby Belch MariaMaria Sir Andrew Sir Andrew

AguecheekAguecheek AntonioAntonio

1. Viola1. Viola

A young ___________ of aristocratic birth. A young ___________ of aristocratic birth. Washes up on the shore of Illyria when her Washes up on the shore of Illyria when her ship is ___________ in a storm, she decides ship is ___________ in a storm, she decides to maker her own way in the world. She to maker her own way in the world. She disguises herself as a _______, calling disguises herself as a _______, calling herself “Cesario,” and becomes a page to herself “Cesario,” and becomes a page to Duke Orsino. She ends up ___________ with Duke Orsino. She ends up ___________ with Orsino, while the woman Orsino loves, falls Orsino, while the woman Orsino loves, falls in love with Cesario. Now she finds herself in love with Cesario. Now she finds herself trapped: she cannot tell Orsino that she trapped: she cannot tell Orsino that she loves him and she cannot tell Olivia why loves him and she cannot tell Olivia why she, as Cesario, cannot lover her. Her she, as Cesario, cannot lover her. Her dilemma is the central conflict to the play.dilemma is the central conflict to the play.

woman

wrecked

man

falling in love

2. Duke Orsino2. Duke Orsino

A __________ nobleman in the country of A __________ nobleman in the country of __________. He is lovesick for the beautiful __________. He is lovesick for the beautiful Lady Olivia, but finds herself more and Lady Olivia, but finds herself more and more fond of his handsome new page, more fond of his handsome new page, Cesario, who is actually a __________ - Cesario, who is actually a __________ - Viola. He mopes around complaining how Viola. He mopes around complaining how heartsick he is over Olivia, when it is clear heartsick he is over Olivia, when it is clear that he is chiefly in love with the _________ that he is chiefly in love with the _________ of _______________ and enjoys making a of _______________ and enjoys making a spectacle of himself.spectacle of himself.

romantic

Illyria

woman

idea being in love

3. Olivia3. Olivia

A _____________, beautiful, and noble Illyrian lady, A _____________, beautiful, and noble Illyrian lady, she is __________ by Orsino and Sir Andrew she is __________ by Orsino and Sir Andrew Aguecheeck, but to each of them she insists that Aguecheeck, but to each of them she insists that she is in __________ for her __________, who has she is in __________ for her __________, who has recently __________ and will not __________ for _____ recently __________ and will not __________ for _____ years. She and Orsino are similar characters in that years. She and Orsino are similar characters in that each seems to enjoy wallowing in his or her own each seems to enjoy wallowing in his or her own __________. Viola’s arrival in the masculine disguise __________. Viola’s arrival in the masculine disguise of Cesario enables Olivia to break free of her self-of Cesario enables Olivia to break free of her self-indulgent melancholy. Olivia seems to have no indulgent melancholy. Olivia seems to have no difficulty transferring her affections from one difficulty transferring her affections from one _______________ to the next, however, suggesting _______________ to the next, however, suggesting that her romantic feelings – like most emotions in that her romantic feelings – like most emotions in the play – do not run terribly deep.the play – do not run terribly deep.

witty/intelligentdisgusted

mourning

brotherdied marry 7

misery

love interest

4. Sebastian4. Sebastian

Viola’s lost ____________. When he Viola’s lost ____________. When he arrives in Illyria, traveling with arrives in Illyria, traveling with Antonio, his close friend and Antonio, his close friend and protector, he discovers how many protector, he discovers how many people seem to think that they people seem to think that they ____________. Furthermore, the ____________. Furthermore, the beautiful Lady Olivia, whom he has beautiful Lady Olivia, whom he has never met, wants to ____________. never met, wants to ____________.

twin brother

know him

marry him

5. Malvolio5. Malvolio

The straitlaced head servant in the household The straitlaced head servant in the household of Lady Olivia. He is very efficient but also of Lady Olivia. He is very efficient but also very ____________, and he has a poor opinion very ____________, and he has a poor opinion of drinking, __________, and __________. His of drinking, __________, and __________. His haughty attitude earn him the enemies of Sir haughty attitude earn him the enemies of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria who play a cruel Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria who play a cruel __________ on him, making believe that Olivia __________ on him, making believe that Olivia __________________. In his dreams about __________________. In his dreams about marrying his mistress, he reveals a powerful marrying his mistress, he reveals a powerful ambition to rise above his _________________.ambition to rise above his _________________.

self-righteous

singing

joking

trick

is in love with him

social standing

6. Feste6. Feste

The _________ or __________ of Olivia’s The _________ or __________ of Olivia’s household; he moves between Olivia’s household; he moves between Olivia’s and Orsino’s homes. He and Orsino’s homes. He ________________ by making pointed ________________ by making pointed jokes, singing old songs, being generally jokes, singing old songs, being generally witty, and offering ___________ cloaked witty, and offering ___________ cloaked under a layer of __________. In spite of under a layer of __________. In spite of being a professional __________, he often being a professional __________, he often seems the wisest character in the play.seems the wisest character in the play.

clown fool

makes his money

good advice

sarcasm

fool

7. Sir Toby Belch7. Sir Toby Belch

Olivia’s __________. Olivia lets ___________ Olivia’s __________. Olivia lets ___________ Belch lives with her, but she does not Belch lives with her, but she does not __________ of his rowdy behavior, __________, __________ of his rowdy behavior, __________, heavy drinking, late-night carousing, or heavy drinking, late-night carousing, or friends (specifically the idiotic Sir Andrew). friends (specifically the idiotic Sir Andrew). He also earns the anger of Malvolio, but he He also earns the anger of Malvolio, but he has an ally, and eventually a __________, in has an ally, and eventually a __________, in Olivia’s __________ serving-woman Maria. Olivia’s __________ serving-woman Maria. Together they bring about the __________ of Together they bring about the __________ of the controlling, self-righteous Malvolio.the controlling, self-righteous Malvolio.

uncle Sir Toby

approve dancing/singing

mate

witty

demise/downfall

8. Maria8. Maria

Olivia’s __________, __________, young Olivia’s __________, __________, young serving-woman. She is remarkably serving-woman. She is remarkably similar to her antagonist, Malvolio, similar to her antagonist, Malvolio, who harbors aspirations of who harbors aspirations of _______________ through __________. _______________ through __________. She succeeds where Malvolio fails.She succeeds where Malvolio fails.

loyal witty

rising in social class

marriage

9. Sir Andrew Aguecheek9. Sir Andrew Aguecheek

A __________ of Sir Toby’s. He A __________ of Sir Toby’s. He attempts to __________ Olivia but he attempts to __________ Olivia but he doesn’t _______________. He thinks he doesn’t _______________. He thinks he is witty, __________, __________, and is witty, __________, __________, and good at languages and __________, good at languages and __________, but he is actually an __________.but he is actually an __________.

“friend”court

stand a chance

strong smart

dancing

idiot

10. Antonio10. Antonio

A man who rescues Sebastian after A man who rescues Sebastian after Sebastian’s __________. He is very Sebastian’s __________. He is very fond of Sebastian, caring for him, fond of Sebastian, caring for him, accompanying him to Illyria, and accompanying him to Illyria, and furnishing him with __________. He is furnishing him with __________. He is also an enemy of Duke Orsino.also an enemy of Duke Orsino.

shipwreck

money

Other characters…Other characters…

Fabian – servant to Olivia; friend to Maria, Sir Fabian – servant to Olivia; friend to Maria, Sir Toby, and Andrew. Assists in the practical Toby, and Andrew. Assists in the practical joke on Malvolio.joke on Malvolio.

Valentine – gentleman attending to the DukeValentine – gentleman attending to the Duke Curio – gentleman attending to the DukeCurio – gentleman attending to the Duke Priest - (named Sir Topas); he marries Olivia Priest - (named Sir Topas); he marries Olivia

to “Cesario;” he is impersonated by Feste.to “Cesario;” he is impersonated by Feste. Captain (sea captain) – assists Viola (helps Captain (sea captain) – assists Viola (helps

disguise Viola as Cesario)disguise Viola as Cesario)

A Closer Look at the play…A Closer Look at the play…

Plot Summary: In Twelfth Night, as in most of his works, Shakespeare has several different plot-lines going on at the same time. He expertly weaves these separate stories together throughout the play. As the play begins to move towards its conclusion the different stories begin to converge until they all come together for a resolution in the final scenes.

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure Major Conflict (__________): Viola is in love with Major Conflict (__________): Viola is in love with

Orsino, who is in love with Olivia, who is in love Orsino, who is in love with Olivia, who is in love with Viola’s male disguise, Cesario. This with Viola’s male disguise, Cesario. This __________ is complicated by the fact that neither __________ is complicated by the fact that neither Orsino nor Olivia knows that Cesario is really a Orsino nor Olivia knows that Cesario is really a __________ (Viola).__________ (Viola).

_____________: The mounting __________, _____________: The mounting __________, ___________________, and _______________, leading ___________________, and _______________, leading up to Act V.up to Act V.

__________: __________ and ________ are ________, __________: __________ and ________ are ________, and everyone realizes that and everyone realizes that CesarioCesario is a woman. is a woman.

___________: Viola _______________ Orsino; Malvolio ___________: Viola _______________ Orsino; Malvolio is freed and _______________.is freed and _______________.

__________________: Everyone goes off to celebrate.__________________: Everyone goes off to celebrate.

Problem

love triangle

womanRising Action confusion

mistaken identities

professions of love

Climax Sebastian Viola reunited

Falling Action prepares to marryvows revenge

Denouement/Resolution

ThemesThemes

__________ as a cause of ___________________ as a cause of _________The uncertainty of genderThe uncertainty of genderThe _____ of __________The _____ of __________

Love suffering

folly ambition