twoshakescomedies tm(1)

7/28/2019 TwoShakesComedies TM(1)

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TWO SHAKESPEAREAN

COMEDIES

T e a c h e r s

M a t e r i a l


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C O N T E N T S

To the Teacher ..................................................................................................................... 3

Before Reading: Twelfth Night ............................................................................................ 6

Before Reading: Much Ado About Nothing.......................................................................... 7

After Reading: Extra Challenges .......................................................................................... 8

Worksheet 1: Twelfth Night .................................................................................................. 9

Answers to Worksheet 1 .................................................................................................... 10

Worksheet 2: Much Ado About Nothing ............................................................................. 11

Answers to Worksheet 2 ................................................................................................... 12

Final Test .............................................................................................................................. 13

Answers to Final Test ......................................................................................................... 14

Answers to Questions in the Reader ................................................................................. 15

Copyright 1998 Burlington Books

Before using the following teachers material, we recommend thatyou read the Burlington Reader Series general information leaflet.


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T w o S h a k e s p e a r e a n C o m e d i e s

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T O T H E T E A C H E R

T W E L FT H N I G H T

L I S T O F M A I N C H A R A C T E R S

Orsino: the Duke of Illyria; marries Viola at the end.

Viola: a young noblewoman, disguised as Cesario; serves Orsino and falls in love with him.

Olivia: a noblewoman; refuses Orsinos advances; falls in love with Cesario/Viola; marries Sebastian.

Sebastian: Violas twin brother; rescued from a shipwreck by Antonio; marries Olivia at the end.

P L O T S U M M A R Y

Viola is rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. She believes that Sebastian may have drowned

and decides to hide her identity, pretending to be Cesario. She goes to work for Duke Orsino as his servant,

and becomes his confidant. However, she cannot tell the Duke of her love for him. The Duke attempts to

court Olivia, but she falls in love with Cesario when he brings her the Dukes message.

Meanwhile, Sebastian is rescued from the shipwreck by Antonio and also finds himself in Illyria, thinking

that his twin has drowned. He separates from Antonio, who later sees Cesario about to fight a duel.

Thinking that Cesario is Sebastian and that he is in danger, Antonio runs to protect him, but is arrested as

an enemy of the Duke. Cesario denies knowing the baffled Antonio. In the meantime, Sebastian meets

Olivia, who takes him for Cesario. They fall in love and agree to marry.

The situation is resolved when, by chance, the twins find each other. Orsino realises that Cesario is actually

Viola and asks her to marry him. Everyone celebrates except Olivias steward Malvolio, who was tricked

into thinking that Olivia loved him and has made a fool of himself.

M U C H A D O A B O U T N O T H I N G

L I S T O F M A I N C H A R A C T E R S

Don Pedro: a noble and victorious prince who has just returned with his men from a war.

Don John: the villain; Don Pedros illegitimate, envious and bitter brother.

Claudio: Don Pedros lieutenant; madly in love with Hero.

Benedick: a confirmed bachelor; continually fights with Beatrice; but eventually falls in love with her.

Hero: helps to make Beatrice fall in love with Benedick; falsely accused of being unfaithful to Claudio.

Beatrice: Heros cousin; eventually falls in love with Benedick.

P L O T S U M M A R Y

After the war, Don Pedro arrives in Messina with his men. Everyone is relaxed and romance is in the air.

However, Benedick and Beatrice engage in a war of wits and words. Claudio immediately falls in love with

Hero, and Don Pedro offers to help win her heart. At a costume party, Don Pedro arranges Claudios

wedding to Hero and also decides to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love. However, the bitter Don John

and his follower Borachio plot to ruin Claudios wedding.

According to plan, Beatrice and Benedick overhear how each really loves the other and then their love

grows. Claudio, having seen Heros unfaithfulness, insults her at their wedding. She faints and he

believes that she has died. He realises what he has lost. Benedick declares his love to Beatrice, whodemands that he avenge Heros death. Borachio is captured and confesses. Leonato, Heros father, then

orders Claudio to admit Heros innocence and to marry his brothers daughter, who is really Hero in

disguise. Immediately before they are married, Hero reveals herself and then Benedick and Beatrice agree

to wed.


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A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

Unfortunately, no authoritative account of William Shakespeares life exists. His birthdate is believed to be

April 23rd, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, and records exist of his baptism there on

April 24th. He was the eldest son of John Shakespeare, a merchant. As the eldest son, he should have

eventually taken over his fathers shop. However, according to one account, due to a change for the worse

in his fathers financial situation, young William was apprenticed to a butcher. Another account states that

he became a schoolmaster.At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a local farmer, who became the mother of his

three children. Shakespeare is believed to have arrived in London in 1588. It seems that he moved away

from Stratford-upon-Avon because he had been caught poaching in a deer park belonging to a local Justice

of the Peace.

By 1592, Shakespeare had attained success both as an actor and a playwright. In Elizabethan London, if

you were talented, writing plays was a good way to make a living. Shakespeare was truly gifted. He wrote

easily and with great speed, rarely crossing anything out. He made a number of financially advantageous

arrangements that permitted him to share in the profits of his theatre company, the Chamberlains Men

(later called the Kings Men) and the theatres they owned (the Globe and the Blackfriars). Shakespeares

company performed in the courts of both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I more frequently than that ofany other contemporary dramatist.

After 1608, Shakespeares dramatic production diminished. It seems that he entered a period of semi-

retirement in Stratford-upon-Avon. He established his family in a house called New Place and became a

prominent local citizen.

Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616 and was buried in Stratford Church. It is interesting to note that he

died on the same date as another literary genius, Miguel de Cervantes.

H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U N D

Elizabethan Theatre: Shakespeare, like many other Elizabethan playwrights, didnt invent new plots.

He took his inspiration from existing stories, popular pamphlets or historical accounts. Shakespeare

wrote for a variety of people aristocrats, sailors and soldiers on leave, apprentices, wits, wealthy ladies,

students, etc. all of whom made up an ordinary Elizabethan audience who had a variety of interests

and likes. He had to provide action and violence for some, moral subtlety for others, deep thoughts and

witty remarks for the more scholarly, and comic situations for all. His plays usually combined several

plots, covered great expanses of time and space, and mixed royalty with common characters and even

criminals. He combined music, dance and spectacle with plenty of violence, battles and blood.

At this time, plays were presented during the warmer months in circular, open-air theatres. The stage

was a platform that extended into the pit (a standing-room area for the lower-class spectators). Some of

the spectators would actually sit on the stage during the performance. The scenery was minimal,consisting of little more than a few props. No attempt was made to dress the actors in period costumes

except in plays that took place in ancient Rome, for which they wore togas. The spoken word was the

true protagonist of Shakespeares dramas.

Another interesting fact about Elizabethan theatre is that because it was considered immoral for women

to become actresses, all the female roles were played by adolescent boys. It was a specialised style of

performing that required a great amount of dedication and study. Many of these boys became stars in

their own right.

Shakespeares plays usually lasted between three and four hours. The audience would bring food, and

would eat and drink during the performances. It was not uncommon for members of the audience to

leave the theatre during the performance and re-enter a short time later. This is probably one of the

reasons why so many of Shakespeares characters often repeat or summarise what has occurred earlier

in the play.


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Shakespeares writings have been divided into four periods. Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing

were written in his second period (1595-1600) and are classified as happy comedies. Shakespeares

comedies of this period show his genius for combining various dramatic actions into a unified plot. In the

happy comedies, relationships are more deeply explored than in Shakespeares earlier comedies.

Lovers are young and witty. Shakespeare uses his craft to bring people together. Much attention is paid

to the courting of lovers which concludes in marriage. The happy comedies end with almost all

characters being happy, but all are tinged with a certain sadness. Villains receive their just deserts and

outsiders, such as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, remain outsiders at the end. In comparison toShakespeares earlier comedies, the comedies written in the second period are more intellectual and have

multiple plots.

Few of Shakespeares plays were published during his lifetime and those that were published were not

supervised by him. Heminge and Condell, two actors who are considered to have been close friends of

Shakespeare, published 36 of his plays in 1622. This alone can be considered a highly prolific literary

output without taking into account two more plays which were probably the result of a collaborative

effort between Shakespeare and John Fletcher Henry VIIIand The Two Noble Kinsmen and, of

course, his poetry, most notably his sonnets.

Twelfth Night or What You Will was probably first performed in 1600. It was first published in 1623. The

comedy is partly based on a story in Farewell to the Military Profession, a collection of stories writtenby the English author Barnabe Riche. Twelfth Night was probably first performed on the festival of

Epiphany or Twelfth Night.

Much Ado About Nothing was probably first performed in 1599 and published in 1600. It is partly based

on Orlando Furioso, an epic poem written by Ludovico Ariosto, and on a story in Novelle, written by

Matteo Bandello. Witty debates between lovers had become familiar to Elizabethan audiences through

the comedies of John Lyly.

Elizabethan England: The clearest indication of the influence and domination that Queen Elizabeth I

(1533-1603) had over England is the fact that this period is known by her name. She succeeded in ending

the political intrigues and instability that had marked the previous three reigns.During her reign, Elizabeth restored popular confidence in the monarchy and inspired a new sense of

optimism in the country. Inflation fell to normal levels and confidence in English currency was restored.

The government encouraged foreign trade, which quickly became a highly profitable enterprise. In 1588

the English, under the command of Sir Francis Drake, defeated the Spanish Armada. England became a

great maritime power and began to take Spains place as the great coloniser of the New World.

Throughout Elizabeths reign, her monarchical duties were her primary concern. Their importance was

greater than any personal considerations, including marriage. Parliament repeatedly requested that

Elizabeth marry in order to guarantee an heir to the throne. Her answer was always the same. She

intended to live and die a virgin and thus, she became known as the Virgin Queen.

Elizabeths popularity decreased towards the end of her reign. Her advisors during this period were

considerably less capable than her earlier ones. This led to weaker and less popular policies.

The woman who oversaw the beginning of what would become modern England died in London on

March 23rd, 1603.


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B E F O R E R E A D I N G


S U G G E S T I O N S F O R L E A D - I N A C T I V I T I E S

In pairs, students ask and answer the following questions. Alternatively, you can ask the questions and

elicit the answers from the whole class.1. Have you got a brother or sister who looks like you? Do you think you could make people believe

that you were your brother or sister?

2. What situation can you think of when pretending to be your brother/sister could be interesting or

useful?

3. Have you ever been alone in a foreign country? When? What happened? How did you feel?

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult for a woman to start a new life in a foreign country with no

family and friends than it is for a man?

5. Do you think it was easy for a woman to travel on her own in the past? Have things changed?

6. What would you do first if you had to settle in a foreign country without any family or friends? What

would you do after that?

As you work on the questions below with the class, write the underlined words on the blackboard. (Some

suggested answers are provided in italics.)

1. Do you remember any famous shipwrecks? (Considering the popularity of the film Titanic, the

students will probably know about that shipwreck.)

2. When and where did the Titanic sink? (It sank on its first voyage in 1912 in the North Atlantic.)

3. Why did the Titanic sink? (It hit an iceberg.)

4. Did many people survive? How many people were rescued? (No, only approximately 700 people

survived; about 1500 people died.)

5. Why did so many people die? How did they die? (There were not enough lifeboats; they drowned;they died of the cold and exhaustion, etc.)

K E Y V O C A B U L A R Y

Add brother, in mourning, drown and bachelorto the list of words already on the blackboard. Tell your

students that all these words appear in Act I (pages 8-9). Elicit meanings of new words or get students to

look them up in the dictionary. Make sure they know their meanings. Then form students into groups and

get them to predict what happens in Act I using all the vocabulary on the blackboard. You can also give

them the names of the main characters: Viola, Sebastian, Orsino, Olivia. Then have the groups share their

predictions. When students read Act I, they can compare their own stories to Shakespeares.

(Summary of Act I: Violas ship sank off the coast of Illyria, but she was rescued from the shipwreck and

taken ashore by a kind sea captain. She believes that her brother Sebastian may have drowned. So, alone in

this foreign country, she decides to hide her identity. She pretends to be Cesario and becomes a servant to

Duke Orsino, a bachelor. Orsino is in love with Olivia, who has been in mourning since the death of her

father and brother.)

See the Burlington Reader Series general information leaflet, pages 8-11, for more Before Reading

activities.


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B E F O R E R E A D I N G


S U G G E S T I O N S F O R L E A D - I N A C T I V I T I E S

Students can be asked the following questions in pairs, groups or as a whole class. (Some suggested

answers are provided in italics.)1. Do you feel and act differently when you are on holiday? If so, how? (more relaxed, happier, more

interested in people and their feelings, willing to make new friends, more likely to enjoy oneself, etc.)

2. Imagine a group of young men and women spending a few weeks on holiday together. What is likely

to happen? (have fun, friendship, romance, etc.)

3. Tell the class they are going to read a comedy in which some of the male characters have just

returned from winning a war. Get them to study the clues in the list of characters in the book (page

43) and to answer the following questions:

a. Can you guess which of these characters are likely to fall in love with each other? (hopefully theyll

mention the young lords, as well as Hero and Beatrice; perhaps some of the servants too)

b. Does any of the characters look like a possible villain? Which one? Why? (if they mention Don Johnand his illegitimate origin, a brief discussion could follow about how peoples origins may determine

their lives and destinies)

c. What might the friars role be? (marry the young couples)

4. Look at page 47. Study the picture and the caption.

a. Scan the previous page to identify the names of the two characters in the picture. Who says the words

of the caption? What answer is he/she given? (Beatrice is speaking to Benedick. Benedick answers, "I

pray you never change your opinion. This will assure that no man will ever be condemned to your

company.")

b. What kind of relationship is there between Beatrice and Benedick? (both are witty and nasty to the

other; they sound as if they could be angry lovers)c. Have you ever met a couple who behaved like this? What happened?

7. Do you know the meaning of "ado"? (archaic for "fuss" or "trouble")

8. What does "Much Ado About Nothing" mean? (a lot of fuss or trouble over something unimportant)

9. Can you guess what sort of play you are going to read? Based on all the previous clues, predict an

outline of the plot in 50-75 words.

K E Y V O C A B U L A R Y

1. Copy the table below onto the blackboard, leaving out the adjectives and adverbs. Ask students to fill in

the adjective and adverb for each noun, using their dictionaries if necessary. An example or two can bewritten on the blackboard.

2. Tell students to scan pages 44 and 45 to find which of the words above are used and underline them.

See the Burlington Reader Series general information leaflet, pages 8-11, for more Before Reading

activities.

Nouns Adjectives Adverbs

constancy constant constantly

courage courageous courageously

vanity vain vainly

safety safe safely

equality equal equally

innocence innocent innocently

affection affectionate affectionately

pleasure pleasant pleasantly


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88

A F T E R R E A D I N G : E X T R A C H A L L E N G E S


M A K E Y O U R S T U D E N T S T H I N K

Here are some points that more advanced students can be asked to consider after reading the book.

1. How would you describe Violas personality and character? Does she show initiative, intelligence, self-control, endurance, tact, loyalty? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

2. Is looking like a person from the opposite sex just a matter of wearing a disguise? Explain your answer.

3. Having one character mistaken for another is a common way of creating misunderstandings and

humorous situations in literature. Can you think of other plays, films, novels, etc. where humour is

based on mistaken identities? Explain your answer. (Examples: Mrs Doubtfire / The Birdcage)

D R A M A A C T I V I T I E S A N D P R O J E C T S U G G E S T I O N S

1. Group work: Choose a scene you would like to act out. Design the sets and costumes, as well as an

advertising poster for that scene. Learn your parts and perform the scene.2. It is a tradition that the best man makes a short speech at the wedding party. Imagine that Sir Toby is

Orsino and Violas best man and Antonio is best man for Sebastian and Olivia. Write and give their

speeches.

3. Role play: (Can also be done for Much Ado About Nothing) Work in two groups: journalists and

characters. Each student in the second group chooses a character from the play. The journalist prepares

a list of interesting questions to ask the character about his/her past, his/her plans for the future, hobbies

etc. The character prepares answers to the above questions. After preparation, conduct the interview.


M A K E Y O U R S T U D E N T S T H I N K

Here are some points that more advanced students can be asked to consider after reading the book.

1. Describe Benedicks and Beatrices personalities. Would the trap their friends set work in real life?

2. Why are the circumstances and setting of the play ideal for love? Can you think of a similar set of

circumstances and setting that you and your friends could find yourselves in nowadays? Explain.

3. Do you feel any sympathy for Don John? Explain.

D R A M A A C T I V I T I E S A N D P R O J E C T S U G G E S T I O N S

1. How would a modern journalist write an article for an English tabloid about any of the different

episodes in this comedy? Invent some possible headlines. How would a serious newspaper like

The Times report the same event? (Can also be done forTwelfth Night)

2. Do some research about Shakespeare and his comedies in particular. Prepare a short lecture to give to

your class. (Can also be done forTwelfth Night)

3. Imagine Benedick and Beatrice 15 years later. What will their lives be like? Will they be together? Will

they have any children? Will they have changed much? Will they still be trying to outwit one another

sometimes? Use future tenses.

4. Write the letters Beatrice and Benedick could have written to tell their parents about their marriage.

Some of the above activities and projects can be used for both plays. See the notes in the text.

See the Burlington Reader Series general information leaflet, pages 13-15, for more After Reading

activities.


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A. Correct the underlined errors.

1. Malvolio is Olivias uncle. .................... 4. Cesario is Orsinos twin brother. ....................

2. Sir Toby is Olivias steward. .................... 5. Antonio is Sebastians servant. ....................

3. Sebastian is Violas friend. ....................

B. Choose the right meaning of the words in bold.

1. "He starts arguments and is such a coward that he wont face his enemies when the arguments

become too intense."

a) plot, account of the main events in a story b) disagreements, quarrels

2. "Olivia paused for a moment, smiled and removed her veil."

a) took off b) stirred, moved round

3. "It is above what my current fortunes reflect. I am a noble."

a) normal, ordinary b) of the present time

4. "Gentlemen, do you realise how late it is?"

a) know, be aware of b) do, carry out a task or a plan

5. "You dont really intend to deliver that note, do you?"

a) reach a decision b) take parcels, letters, etc. to houses

Why do we call these words "false friends"? Can you think of other false friends?

C. Fill in the blanks with words from Exercise B. Be careful with grammar (verb tenses,

singular/plural, etc.).

1. Nobody .................... that Cesario was a woman (Viola) till she told them.

2. Orsino asked Cesario to .................... his messages to Olivia.3. Violas .................... life as a servant didnt correspond with her noble origin.

4. Sir Andrew Aguecheek was a foolish knight who liked starting .................... .

5. Viola never .................... her disguise; she always wore mens clothes.

D. What had already happened before Olivia told Malvolio that the letter wasnt hers? Number

these statements in the correct order.

.... a. After reading the letter, Malvolio had put on yellow stockings.

.... b. Maria and Sir Toby had decided to lock Malvolio in one of the cells in the basement.

.... c. Malvolio had found the letter on the ground.

.... d. Malvolio had asked Olivia why she had treated him so badly after he had followed her

instructions.

.... e. Maria had written a letter which would make Malvolio think that Olivia loved him.

.... f. Olivia had noticed Malvolios strange behaviour and had told Maria to take care of him.

E. Complete the passage using the Third Conditional form of the verb.

If Viola and Sebastians ship hadnt been wrecked, nobody (1) ........................................ (rescue) them.

Viola (2) ........................................ (behave) like a young manservant and she

(3) ........................................ (fall) in love with the Duke. Sebastian (4) ........................................ (meet)

Olivia. Nobody (5) ........................................ (mistake) one for the other. So Twelfth Night

(6) ........................................ (be) completely different.

W O R K S H E E T 1


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W o r k s h e e t 1 : T w e l f t h N i g h t

10

A N S W E R S

A. 1. steward

2. uncle

3. twin / brother / twin brother

4. servant

5. friend

B. 1. b2. a

3. b

4. a

5. b

English words that look like Spanish words but have a different meaning in English are called "false

friends".

Some false friends are: actually, eventually, sympathetic, miserable, advise, exit, success.

C. 1. realised

2. deliver

3. current4. arguments

5. removed

D. a. 3

b. 5

c. 2

d. 6

e. 1

f. 4

E. 1. would have rescued

2. wouldnt have behaved

3. wouldnt have fallen

4. wouldnt have met

5. would have mistaken

6. would have been

10


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W O R K S H E E T 2


A. Fill in the blanks with the suitable noun, adjective or adverb.

B. Fill in the blanks with the name of the right character.

1. .......................... fell in love with .......................... when he returned from the war.

2. .......................... was ..........................s only child and so his only heir.

3. .......................... was ..........................s uncle and everybodys host.

4. .......................... and .......................... pretended that Margaret was .......................... that night.

5. ..........................s opinion of love and marriage changed completely when he fell in love.

6. .......................... and his men were Leonatos guests.

C. Complete each of the following sentences so that it means the same as the given sentence.

1. Claudio said that Hero was not pure. He also said that she was not innocent.

Claudio said that Hero was neither ..................................................................................

2. Borachio was arrested. Don John was also arrested.Both ..................................................................................

3. They told Claudio that Hero was dead.

Claudio ..................................................................................

4. Claudio regretted killing Hero.

Claudio wished ..................................................................................

5. Leonato said Antonio had a daughter. She looked like Hero.

Leonato said Antonio had a daughter ..................................................................................

6. Benedick said to Don Pedro, "Find a wife!"

Benedick told ..................................................................................

D. 1. Choose the correct word(s) in each sentence.

2. Number the sentences in the order they happened.

.... a. They planned to stay in Messina for a (month / week / fortnight).

.... b. At the wedding, Claudio said publicly that Hero (would betray / had betrayed /

was going to betray) him and that he wouldnt marry her.

.... c. Hero agreed (marrying / marry / to marry) Claudio in a weeks time.

.... d. Claudio fell in love (long after / as soon as / before) he met Hero for the second time.

.... e. Don Pedro and his men (had just won / hadnt won / just won) a war before they arrived

in Messina.

.... f. One night, in Heros room, (Claudio / Borachio / Leonato) held Margaret in his arms and

called her Hero.

.... g. Leonato, (that / which / who) was a hospitable man, wanted them to stay even longer.

.... h. Borachio (told / said / was told by) Don John about his plan to spoil Claudios wedding.


courtesy .......................... ..........................

disdain .......................... ..........................

.......................... fortunate ..........................

.......................... sincere ..........................

.......................... beautiful ..........................

.......................... .......................... honestly

.......................... happy ..........................

disgrace .......................... ..........................


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W o r k s h e e t 2 : M u c h A d o A b o u t N o t h i n g

12

A N S W E R S

A.

B. 1. Claudio, Hero

2. Hero, Leonato

3. Leonato, Beatrice

4. Borachio, Don John, Hero

5. Benedick

6. Don Pedro

C. 1. Claudio said that Hero was neither pure nor innocent.

2. Both Borachio and Don John were arrested.

3. Claudio was told that Hero was dead.

4. Claudio wished that he hadnt killed Hero.

5. Leonato said Antonio had a daughter who/that looked like Hero.

6. Benedick told Don Pedro to find a wife.

D. 1. a. month

b. had betrayed

c. to marry

d. as soon as

e. had just won

f. Borachio

g. who

h. told

2. a. 2

b. 8

c. 5

d. 4

e. 1

f. 7

g. 3

h. 6


courtesy courteous courteously

disdain disdainful disdainfully

fortune fortunate fortunatelysincerity sincere sincerely

beauty beautiful beautifully

honesty honest honestly

happiness happy happily

disgrace disgraceful disgracefully


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F i n a l T e s t

F I N A L T E S T

A. Choose the correct answer.

T W E L F T H N I G H T

1. After first meeting Olivia, Cesario refused to

a. tell Olivia how much Orsino loved her.

b. take any money from her.c. return to Orsinos palace.

2. Orsino noticed that Cesario was in love and

a. gave him some advice.

b. felt jealous and told him off.

c. gave him a ring.


5. Beatrice said that she would rather

a. listen to her dog bark than to a man

saying he loved her.b. listen to Benedick than to anybody else.

c. condemn a man to her company

than be alone.

6. At the costume party, Don Pedro

a. talked to Don John about family matters.

b. danced with and kissed all the ladies.

c. pretended to be Claudio and told Hero

about his love for her.

B. Choose the correct words in the following passages.


Fabian and Sir Toby (1. were blocking / had blocked / blocked) Cesarios way when he was leaving

Olivias house and (2. told / said / explained) him that Sir Andrew was waiting for him (3. at / in / on)

the garden gate to avenge his honour. Cesario tried ( 4. to avoid / avoid / avoiding) the fight by

explaining that he had never meant to offend (5. someone / anyone / somebody).


Leonato thought that Benedick and Beatrice (6. would talk / talked / will talk) each other crazy,

(7. however / what is more / but) still he helped to carry out Don Pedros plan. When Don Pedro,

Leonato and Claudio were sure that Benedick (8. was overhearing / could overhear / had overheard)

them, they pretended to gossip about Beatrices feelings (9. for / of / from) Benedick. (10. After /

Then / Some time ago) Hero and her servant held a similar conversation for Beatrice to overhear.

C. Choose one topic and write a paragraph. Your paragraph should be at least 80 words long.


1. Describe Malvolio. Is he the villain in this comedy? Why or why not?

2. Viola pretends to be a man, Cesario. How does this affect the other characters in the play?


3. In your opinion, what is the best episode in the play? Who is your favourite character? Is there a

character or an episode you particularly dislike? Explain your answers.

4. What would you do if you found out that a person you disliked was in love with you? Would you

react like Beatrice or Benedick? Explain.

T W E L F T H N I G H T A N D M U C H A D O A B O U T N O T H I N G

5. All comedies have a happy ending. How could you change the ending of these Shakespearean

comedies to turn them into tragedies?

3. At first Sebastian wished that

a. he had been rescued before.

b. his father had not been a noble.c. he had drowned with his sister.

4. Antonio was considered an enemy in Illyriabecause

a. he had killed a guard.

b. he had called the Duke a fool.

c. he had fought against Orsino.

40 points (5 points each)

30 points (3 points each)

30 points

7. Benedick said that

a. all women were fools.

b. he would always be a bachelor.c. married men were like wild bulls.

8. At the costume party, Don John told Claudiothat Don Pedro shouldnt marry Herobecause

a. of her lower social status.

b. Benedick loved her.

c. Hero was neither pure nor innocent.


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A N S W E R S

A. T W E L F T H N I G H T

1. b 2. a 3. c 4. c


5. a 6. c 7. b 8. a

B. T W E L F T H N I G H T

1. blocked 2. told 3. at 4. to avoid 5. anyone


6. would talk 7. but 8. could overhear 9. for 10. Then

C. Accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.

Possible points for inclusion:

T W E L F T H N I G H T1. Malvolio is self-righteous, vain, arrogant and thinks that everyone else loves him. He is self-

important, self-opinionated, foolish and gullible. He has got a vivid imagination. He is obedient,

following instructions to the letter. He is easily flattered and is also ambitious. He is thick-skinned

and persistent. He thinks he is superior to others, and enjoys wielding power over them. He is not

easily embarrassed.

For the second part of this question, accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.

2. It confuses them: Orsino thinks that Viola is his servant, Cesario, a man; Olivia thinks she is

Cesario, a young man with whom she falls in love; Antonio thinks she is Sebastian, whom he saved

and to whom he gave his wallet; Sir Andrew and Sir Toby think she is Cesario, a suitor to Olivia;

Olivia initially thinks Sebastian is Cesario and marries him; Orsino, realising his love for Viola,marries her.


3. Model answer: I think the best episode is when Benedick is being trapped into falling in love with

Beatrice. It is funny and also shows that people can change and allow themselves to express their

true feelings. My favourite character is Beatrice because she is very witty and has clever responses

to whatever Benedick says. I dislike Don John because he is bitter and does not wish others to be

happy. I dislike the episode when Margaret is portrayed as Hero being unfaithful because it is a

plot to destroy Claudio and Heros happiness.

4. Model answer: I would tell the person how I felt about them. I would do so diplomatically and not

in a hurtful manner. No, I would not react like Beatrice or Benedick. I would be direct with theother person, telling them of my feelings, as I would not want to play games with our emotions.

T W E L F T H N I G H T A N D M U C H A D O A B O U T N O T H I N G

Possible endings:

5. T W E L FT H N I G H T (1) Viola does not meet her twin brother, is forced to keep her false identity,

and is unable to declare her love for Duke Orsino; (2) Cesario is killed in the duel with Sir Andrew

and Sir Toby; (3) Malvolio kills Olivia and becomes master of her house.

M U C H A D O A B O U T N O T H I N G (1) Hero really dies, Don John escapes, Claudio is grief-

stricken and never forgives himself. Benedick and Beatrice do not marry, but continue their verbal

war. (2) Benedick kills Claudio. Hero is griefstricken. Benedick then finds out about Don Johns

plot, is overcome with remorse and kills himself. Beatrice never finds another love.

F i n a l T e s t


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Act I

1. At first she wants to serve Olivia. This is not

possible and she then plans to serve Orsino.

2. Positive: He speaks four languages.

He is very rich.

He is friendly.

Negative: He is foolish.

He is argumentative.

He is a coward.

He drinks a lot.

3. Orsino sent Cesario to Olivias house to declare

his love for her.

4. Olivia initially did not want to see Cesario. She

then sees him, but tells him that she does not

love Orsino. She then falls in love with Cesario.

Act II

1. Sebastian and Viola are twin brother and sister.

2. Sebastian thinks that Viola drowned in the

shipwreck.

3. Maria planned to write a letter which would

appear to have been written by Olivia. Malvolio

would find the letter, from which it would

appear that Olivia is in love with him. It would

tell him to do things and act in ways that would

make a fool of him and annoy Olivia.

4. Viola/Cesario does not want to go to Olivias

house again because Olivia is in love with her,

as Cesario. She, however, is in love with Orsino

but has to court another woman on his behalf.

5. Malvolio showed his love by acting in a

superior way, showing authority, wearing

yellow stockings and bright colours, and smiling

constantly when he was with Olivia.

Act III

1. Cesario did not return her love. He said that his

heart would never be possessed by a woman.2. Sir Toby and Fabian advised Sir Andrew to

challenge Cesario to a fight in order to gain

Olivias heart.

3. Antonio was considered an enemy of Duke

Orsino because he had fought against him.

4. Antonio gave Sebastian his wallet with money

in it.

5. Sir Toby and Maria wanted to lock Malvolio in

one of the cells in the basement. (This was after

they had made him look like an insane idiot by

getting him to respond to the instructions in theletter which he thought was from Olivia.)

6. Antonio stopped the duel between Sir Andrew

and Cesario.

7. Viola thought that Antonio may have mistaken

her for her brother, Sebastian, and that he may

still be alive.

Act IV

1. Sebastian was passing the front of Oliviashouse when he became involved in a fight with

Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. Olivia intervened and

invited Sebastian into her home.

2. He entered the garden of Olivias home and, at

first, he was confused. He then fell in love with

Olivia and agreed to marry her.

3. Duke Orsino reacted by asking Viola to marry

him.

4. The comedy ends with Viola and Orsino

preparing to be married and Malvolio being

very angry on finding out that he has been madea fool of.


Act I

1. Hero is Leonatos daughter. Beatrice is Heros

cousin and Leonatos niece.

2. Don John is Don Pedros illegitimate brother.

3. Before the war, Claudio did not take much

notice of Hero. On his return, he fell in love

with her.

4. Beatrice did not like Benedick. She thought he

was vain. She looked down on him. She had

very little respect for him. Benedick did not like

Beatrice, thinking her disdainful. He did not like

her company. They continually engaged in a

war of words and wit.

5. Don Pedro decided to intercede with Hero and

her father on Claudios behalf. (This was in

order to arrange the marriage between Claudio

and Hero. Wearing a mask, he would pretend

that he was Claudio and declare his love to

Hero. Afterwards, as himself, he would talk toLeonato.)

6. Don John felt that Claudio held a position

which he (Don John) should have had.

Act II

1. Beatrice said that Benedick was a fool who

wasnt very talented and who was laughed at

because he was a clown.

2. Don John told Claudio that Don Pedro was in

love with Hero and planned to marry her.

3. Don Pedro told Claudio the truth.

4. He planned to make Beatrice and Benedick fall

in love with each other.

These answers relate to the questions on pages 80-81 of the reader itself.

A N S W E R S T O Q U E S T I O N S I N T H E R E A D E R


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5. Their plan was that Don John would inform

Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero was being

unfaithful to Claudio. That night, he would take

them to see Borachio and Margaret (dressed as

Hero) in each others arms and calling each

other Borachio and Hero. Heros

unfaithfulness would ruin the wedding.

6. They said that Beatrice was in love with

Benedick, but that she would not tell him of her

love. (More details of their conversation can be

found on pages 60-63.)

7. Benedick was surprised and then decided not to

ignore his instincts. He decided to change his

ways and respond to Beatrice with love.

Act III

1. Beatrice heard them say that Benedick loved

her, but that they would not tell her of his love.

(More details of their conversation can be found

on pages 64-66.)2. She regretted her character traits and decided to:

a. change her ways;

b. return Benedicks affection; and

c. use her kindness to inspire Benedick to

marry her.

3. He became polite to Beatrice. He showed signs

of melancholy, wore clean clothes every day,

used cologne and washed his face often.

4. Don John told Claudio that Hero was disloyal to

him.

5. They arrested Borachio for his involvement inthe plot to ruin the wedding of Claudio and

Hero.

Act IV

1. Hero fainted because Claudio told her that he

could not marry her because of her true

character. He thought that she had been

unfaithful.

2. The friar made his suggestion because, human

nature being what it is, people dont value what

they have got until they lose it. Accordingly, hethought that when Claudio discovered that his

accusations had caused Heros death, he would

wish that he had not made them. The death

announcement would also give Leonato time to

investigate the truth of the accusations.

3. She asked Benedick to kill Claudio, thereby

avenging Heros death.

4. After being arrested, Borachio told Don Pedro

about Don Johns villainy.

5. Claudio was to announce to the people of

Messina that Hero was innocent. He also had to

marry Leonatos niece.

Act V

1. Claudio discovers that his bride is really Hero;

Beatrice and Benedick agree to marry and Don

John is captured.

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