Twelfth Nightby William Shakespeare

The Plot of Twelfth Night

Schmoop: Twelfth Night Presentation.

The TitleTwelfth Night is named after the holiday of the 12th day of Christmas, also known as “Epiphany.” It was the day that the Wise Men finally got to Bethlehem to give presents to the baby Jesus.

On Twelfth Night, people often ate fruit cake and played games. Music and plays were also common, which is why Shakespeare probably wrote the play to perform on this holiday. Such performances are still common today.

Clowns were a big part of Twelfth Night- Englishmen would play a game where they tried to find a bean or a twig hidden inside a fruit cake. Whoever found the bean, got to be the king for a day, and boss the others around. The finder of the twig however, had to be the fool.

Epithany is also a word that means- “Discovery”, which happens

Clip: Shakespeare Explains the Plot of Twelfth Night.

Trailer: Twelfth Night (1998).

Twelfth Night- Globe Theater 2012.

Adaptations of Twelfth NightTwelfth Night (1996, dir by Trevor Nunn).Shakespeare In Love (1998)One of the BoysShe’s the Man (2006).

Trailer- She’s The Man (2006).

Feste-vities: Traditional Twelfth Night Activities.

Bean in cake--Mummer’s PlayWassailLord of Misrule (clown)

For More Information: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/twelfthnight/traditions.html

Twelfth Night (The King Drinks) by David Teniers c. 1634-1640

Mummers Play: A Twelfth Night Tradition