Twelfth Night
Act 1
Scene 1:
1. Why is the Duke lovesick?
2. Why does he continue to court Olivia in spite of her rejections?
Scene 2:
1. What are the similarities between Olivia and Viola, and what are the differences?
2. What plan does Viola think of?
Scene 3:
1. Why does Maria tell Sir Toby, “That quaffing and drinking will undo you”?
2. For what reason is Sir Andrew staying at Olivia’s estate?
Scene 4:
1. On what errand does Orsino send Viola and why?
2. What are Viola’s feelings for the Duke?
Scene 5:
1. Name three people who are labeled “fool” in this scene. Who calls whom a fool?
Which of the three are made to look foolish? With whom do we sympathize in
each case?
2. What is Malvolio’s opinion of Feste, the Clown? Account for his “spleen”
(anger).
3. Draw the romantic love triangle and indicate the triangle works only one way by
using arrows.
Review:
State whom and under which circumstances each of the following was said in Act 1.
a)
b)
c)
d)
“O, you are sick of self-love”
“It had a dying fall”
“A plague o’ these pickle-herring”
“’Tis in grain, sir; ‘twill endure wind and weather”
Terms to remember:
Soliloquy: One character, alone on stage, speaks. Only the audience can hear him or
her, allowing the viewers to know what the character thinks.
Aside: One character steps away from a group on stage and addresses the audience. This
allows the viewers to know what the character is thinking although the other characters
are unable to hear.
Dramatic Irony: This term refers to the situations in which the audience may know
things that are not known to all of the characters. For example, the audience knows that
Viola/Cesario is really a woman although the Duke and Olivia believe that she/he is a
young man.
Act II
Scene 1:
1. How are Viola and Sebastian similar/different in character?
Scene 2:
1. How does Malvolio return the ring? What does this reveal about him?
Scene 3:
1. In what condition are Sir Toby and Sir Andrew as they enter?
2. Why is the “catch” an appropriate song for these three and what is its immediate
effect?
3. Why does Maria, who entered to protect Sir Toby and Sir Andrew from Olivia’s
displeasure and to quiet them, turn against Malvolio?
4. What is Maria’s plan to get revenge upon Malvolio, and why is she certain that it
will succeed?
5. What is Maria’s evaluation of Malvolio’s character?
Scene 4:
1. Feste, the Clown, says that the Duke’s mind is “very opal”. What does the Duke
say in this scene to support this description?
2. How is the Clown’s song in keeping with the Duke’s mood?
3. Explain Viola’s lines, “I am all the daughters of my father’s house, And all the
brothers too”.
Scene 5:
1. Fabian has been substituted for the Clown here and will be the third observer of
the prank against Malvolio. What is his grievance against Malvolio?
2. Why does Shakespeare have Malvolio dreaming of being married to Olivia before
he finds Maria’s letter?
3. Is Olivia correct when she says of Malvolio, “O, you are sick with self-love”?
What evidence is there in this scene to support her statement?
4. Malvolio is made to look foolish as he portrays himself as “Count Malvolio”.
Who else is made to look foolish in this scene?
Act III
Scene 1:
1. Viola has demonstrated that she is extremely quick at repartee. At the beginning
of the scene, however, she does not demonstrate her ability to word play. Why
not?
2. In her soliloquy, Viola describes the fool (Clown) and his art. Summarize her
description in your own words. Are there any other qualities which a “fool”
(comedian) should have?
3. Explain the following lines: “I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth/ And
that no woman has, nor never none/ Shall be mistress of it, save I alone.”
4. Earlier in the play, to ensure that Cesario/Viola returned to her, Olivia gave
him/her a ring. Now Olivia resorts to another device to gain further visits from
Cesario. What does she do?
Scene 2:
1. Fabian uses an excellent metaphor here. What two things does he compare? (see
lines 18-20)
2. How do Sir Toby and Fabian convince Sir Andrew to remain at Olivia’s estate?
3. What reminds the audience of the first sub-plot, the ‘gulling’ of Malvolio, while a
second sub-plot is introduced.
4. Find three specific historical references mentioned in this scene.
Scene 3:
1. Why is it dangerous for Antonio to “walk the street”?
Scene 4:
1. How does Olivia explain Malvolio’s strange behaviour, and how do her
instructions for his care lead on to the next part in the ‘gulling’ of Malvolio?
2. At the end of the interview with Olivia, what does Malvolio believe?
3. What line indicates that Olivia values Malvolio highly and wishes no harm to
come to him?
4. Show that on three separate occasions, misunderstanding leads to confusion in the
scene.
5. Describe how each of the following characters feels at the end of the scene:
Olivia, Malvolio, Antonio, Sir Andrew, Viola
Act IV
Scene 1:
1. What is Sebastian’s state of mind, and how do you account for it?
2. What character traits does Sebastian exhibit in this scene?
3. Name three incidents to which Olivia might be referring when she says: “Go with
me to my house,/ And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks/ This ruffian has
botched up”.
4. As the scene closes, how does Olivia feel? How does Sebastian feel?
Scene 2:
1. In your opinion, does Malvolio deserve what happens to him in this scene?
2. In your opinion, why does Feste continue the joke against Malvolio even though
Sir Toby instructs him to end it?
3. Refer to events in the play to support Feste’s claim that he is “for all water”.
4. How are “Hey, Robin, jolly Robin” and the “I am gone, sir” songs appropriate for
Feste to sing to Malvolio at this time?
Scene 3:
1. List three things that have happened that would cause Sebastian to believe that
“he is mad”.
2. Can you justify Sebastian’s sudden love for Olivia?
3. As Sebastian, send a telegram home explaining the central events that have
occurred to you since your departure from Messaline. Unfortunately, you can
only use fifty words in the telegram.
State by whom and under what circumstances each of the following was spoken in Act
IV.
a) “I prithee, foolish Greek, depart from me”
b) “Out, hyperbolical fiend! How vexest thou this man?”
c) “Go with me to my house,/ And here thou there how many fruitless pranks/ This
ruffian hath botched up.”
Act V
Scene 1:
1. What new characteristics of the Duke do we see revealed in his reaction to
Olivia’s announcement that she and Cesario are married?
2. Prior to Sebastian’s entrance, what does each of the following think of Cesario?
a. Olivia
b. Orsino
c. Antonio
d. Sir Andrew
3. What specific grudge does Feste have against Malvolio?
4. What evidence is there that Malvolio has no changed?
5. List the three couples that get married at the end. Use your imagination to think
of which couple will be the most successful of the three and explain why.
6. What do you think of the play? Give your reasons.