Twelfth Night – Contract of Assessment
Your work on Twelfth Night in this class will be based on the assignments you complete, as
identified below. The mark you receive on this unit will be a direct reflection of the effort and
work you put into it. As long as your work meets an accepted standard and is submitted on the
specific due dates (TBA), you are guaranteed the mark associated with the assignments.
The three groups of assignments from which you may choose have specific points attached to
each task. You accumulate marks by completing each task. Tasks with an * are required
material. Beyond these requirements, you may decide which tasks to complete. You must
complete at least 60 points and no more than 100 points.
Assignment
Worksheet for Act I *
Worksheet for Act II *
Worksheet for Act III *
Worksheet for Act IV *
Worksheet for Act V*
Points
10
10
10
10
10
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



05
05
05
05
05





Character Description of Viola/Cesario
Character Description of Duke Orsino * at least one
Character Description of Feste
character description
Character Description of Sir Toby Belch
must be written
05
05
05
05




Exploration of Love Triangle
Exploration of Scene Themes
05 
05 
Comparison to a Different Genre
05 
Evaluation of the Play
05 
Visual Representation of the Play
10 
Interview with a Character
10 
Theme Song for the Play
10 
Poetic Interpretation
10 
Reaction Report from Act I
Reaction Report from Act II
Reaction Report from Act III
Reaction Report from Act IV
Reaction Report from Act V
* at least one reaction
report must be completed
Name: _______________________________
Twelfth Night Assignment Descriptions
Worksheets
A question sheet must be completed and submitted at the end of each
Act. Answers are to be written on your own paper.
Reaction Reports
These 250-word (1 full page) papers are a means for you to react on a
personal level to the play. There are no right or wrong answers, but
rather, your own perspective on events. Proper sentence and paragraph
structure is expected.
Character Descriptions
These five-paragraph descriptions of the character should include
commentary on the character’s role in the play as well as primary
character traits. It is expected that you will refer directly to the play to
support your ideas.
Exploration of Imagery
These 250-word (1 page) papers allow you to articulate your
understanding of Shakespeare’s intricate use of image patterns. Refer
directly to the text frequently to show how the image is used.
Comparison to Genre
Perhaps the themes, plot or characters of the play remind you of a movie
you have seen, a book you have read, a poem you have studied or a
news report you have heard. In chart format, identify the significant
similarities and differences. Be specific.
Evaluation of the Play
Write a 250-word (1 page) evaluation of Shakespeare’s work. What
works well and what does not? Consider character development, plot
and themes. Is it relevant to today?
Visual Representation
Choose an aspect of the play that you can represent in an artistic
manner. You may want to paint a scene, sculpt a character, model a
wardrobe… This must be presented and explained to the class verbally.
Interview Character
Write a script that involves an interview with a character. It may take
place after the action of the play or during the action. Try to capture the
personality, fears or anxieties of the character. This must be presented
to the class. You may enlist the help of a friend simply to ask you the
questions, or you may work with a partner to write and present the
script.
Theme Song
You may either create an original song or find a song that you believe
reflects the theme(s) of the play. The song must be played in class and
explained in terms of its relevance.
Poetic Interpretation
Using the play in its entirety, or an isolated portion or theme, write a
poem which you believe captures the essence of the mood / character/
action. You may determine the poetic style best suited to your needs.
Twelfth Night
A Contractual Study Unit
Mrs. A. Adilman
Fredericton High School
English 102
Background and Historical Points of Interest
Complete the following table as information is presented in class.
Shakespeare’s
Source
Setting
Changes from
Historical
Facts
Time:
Oliva:
Orsino:
Viola:
King James/
Queen
Elizabeth I
The Comedy
The Love
Triangle
Twelfth Night Worksheet for Act I
Act I, scene i
1.
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
a. What literary devices are represented in this line?
b. What themes does it suggest?
2.
The play has two titles: Twelfth Night and What You Will. Find out the significance of
“Twelfth Night” and what will happen then. Is there any connection between the two titles? What
possible predictions can you make about the play from these titles?
Act I, scene ii
1.
How is Viola’s response to her “crisis” different from that of Orsino and Olivia in the
previous scene? Compile a list of words and phrases that describe the Viola you meet in
this scene.
2.
Why would Viola decide to disguise herself as a young man while she is in Illyria?
What uncertainties would she face as a women alone in a strange land?
Act I, scene iii
1. What is the purpose(s) of this scene?
2. What does this last introductory scene tell us about Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria?
3. This scene provides an excellent example of low comedy. Using examples of puns, slapstick,
bawdy humor, caricature, innuendo, and verbal nonsense; develop a definition of low comedy.
Act I, scene iv
1.
2.
Discuss the dramatic irony in Orsino’s praise of Cesario’s “feminine” qualities. What effect
does it have on the audience?
List all the references to Olivia in the first four scenes of this play. Summarize the image of
Olivia that is presented by those who know her.
Act I, scene v
1.
What do we learn of the character of Feste through his kind of humor (satire)?
2.
Sir Toby plays the stereotypical role of the comic drunk. The drunken rascal is a stock
character that was popular in the Medieval and Renaissance drama. Reread lines 114-133, explain
how this gives comedy to the play. Compare this to Feste’s humor.
3.
What characteristics cause Olivia to fall in love so quickly with Cesario?
4.
In lines 161 to the end trace Viola/Cesario’s attempt to win Olivia’s affection for Orsino.
Outline the step-by-step process by which Viola/Cesario courts Olivia.
5.
List all the conflicts (external and internal) that have arisen in Act I. Predict at least one
resolution or outcome for each conflict.
6.
Consider one or two of these characters: Olivia, Orsino, Sir Andrew, Feste.
 What role does the character play?
 What values does the character seem to have?
 What values does the character consider insignificant?
Give examples from the plat to support your answer.
7.
Explain the love triangle so far in the play.
8.
Locate two Allusions in the play so far. Explain the purpose and effectiveness of each.
Twelfth Night Worksheet for Act II
Scene I
1.
2.
What has happened to Sebastian?
What sort of attraction does Antonio hold for Sebastian?
Scene ii
1.
Examine the ‘ soliloquy’ and answer the following questions.
a. How does the soliloquy add to the atmosphere of the play?
b. What realizations and insights into the nature of love and attraction does the speech
reveal?
c. What thoughts and feelings about Viola’s specific situation does the speech reveal?
2.
Find an example of
a. alliteration
b. Metaphor
c. simile
d. personification
“Frailty, thy name is woman!” Explain.
This scene marks the second appearance of Malvolio in the play. What are your first
impressions? Do they agree with Olivia’s? Support your answer.
3.
4.
Scene iii
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reread the words of Feste’s song (“O, Mistress Mine”) to discover how the songwriter uses
the idea of carpe diem to show the urgency and passion of the lover who speaks the words
of the song.
In what ways is Feste’s song a typical love song? Explain. Comment on the thematic
parallels between a modern day love song and “O, Mistress Mine.”
What qualities in Malvolio’s character do others find disagreeable. Why?
What significance does the line 146 (“I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love
…”) have in this scene.
Scene iv
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find the contradictions in Orsino’s “wisdom”. Why is he unclear or uncertain about love?
How is this scene consistent with Orsino’s character from Act 1, Scene 1, lines 1-15?
Explain.
What are the features of Orsino’s character or personality that Viola admires? Quote to
support your answer.
Carefully examine the lyrics of Feste’s song in order to determine its true subject matter.
How is it suitable to the court of Duke Orsino? What do we learn about the Duke?
Scene v
1.
2.
This scene contains many words and phrases that are the colloquial language or slang of
Shakespeare’s time. Rewrite the opening 20 lines in modern English, replace the
colloquialisms.
Sir Toby and Malvolio represent opposite extremes in their attitudes towards life. What
does each represent? Which do you find more disturbing and why?
By the end of this Act, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s admiration for Maria and her scheme
knows no bounds. Did it have the desired effect? Explain.
Twelfth Night Worksheet for Act III
3.
scene i
1.
Do a summary of this scene.
2.
Feste and Viola agree that words are ambiguous if used cleverly, and can be deceiving (lines
14-15). How does the warning apply to the following lines: a) lines 16-18, b) lines 84-91 and c)
lines 95-164. Explain your answer.
3.
How have Olivia and Cesario/Viola changed in this Act. Use a chart to explain the changes.
Look at the illustration that appears on page 124. Does this image match what you have pictured
him? Why or why not?
scene ii
Compare Sir Toby and Fabian’s abuse of Sir Andrew with the abuse of Malvolio earlier
in the play. Use the following headings: Motivations of the perpetrators, “weakness” of
the victims, hatching of the plots, and the use of letters to “trick” the victims.
This scene contains four allusions what is the purpose of each? Explain.
 “an icicle on a Dutchman’s beard” (line 25)
 “I had as life be a Brownist” (line 29)
 “sheet … big enough for the bed of Ware”. (line 43)
 “the new map with the augmentation of the Indies” (lines 73-74)
1.
2.
scene iii
1.
This scene reinforces a positive image of Antonio as a loyal and loving friend. Compare his
actions with his words in this scene, with Act II sc. I, to confirm the positive stereotype we
saw earlier. Support your answer.
scene iv
1.
2.
3.
How does Malvolio’s soliloquy (lines 62-81) reveal that he deceives himself as much as the
others have deceived him? How does he misinterpret Olivia’s reactions to support his belief
in her affection for him?
What values, attitudes, and reactions does the code of honor require? Discuss this code as it
would appear in Shakespeare’s time.
Organize a play into two plots: the plot involving Orsino, Olivia, Cesario/Viola, and
Sebastian; the plot involving Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, and Malvolio.
scene v
1.
Document Feste’s skill as a wise fool, referring to (Act I, sc.5 and Act II, sc. 4) with Viola
and Orsino.
Twelfth Night Worksheet for act IV
scene i
1.
2.
Sebastian asks, “Are all people mad?” ( lines 26-27) How does each character confuse and
baffle Sebastian?
The humor of Sir Andrew’s second encounter with Cesario depends very much on gender
stereotyping. Explain using quotes.
scene ii
1.
2.
Make a sketch of the stage and where the characters and props might be.
Explain Feste’s portrayal of the clergy.
scene iii
1. How necessary is this scene? Explain what you would do if you were the playwright; leave it in
or take it out. Why?
scene iv
.
3. Compile a list of words and phrases to describe the character of Sebastian as he appears in
Scene 1 and 3 of this act.
3. What are the chances for a happy ending? Use information regarding Sebastian and his
conflicts, Sir Toby and Olivia to aid you in this decision.
Twelfth Night Worksheet for Act V
scene i
What motivates Antonio’s indignation (feeling of being wronged) in this scene?
“I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love,
To spite a raven’s heart within a dove.” (lines 126-127). Explain the meaning of this quote.
3. Why does Sir Toby blame his injury upon Sir Andrew? What does this reveal about him?
3. Reread Feste’s song and answer the following:
 What are the stages of life presented in the first four stanzas of the song?
 How does the final stanza suggest that this pattern of life has not changed over the
centuries?
 Why is it always raining in the song?
 In what ways is the song typical of the songs Feste has been singing throughout the play?
 What would be Feste’s main “message” to his fellow characters and audience?
 How does this song provide an appropriate ending for a comedy?
1.
2.
Twelfth Night Reaction Reports
These reaction reports require you to express your opinion on various situations. There are
no right or wrong answers, just opinions which need to be substantiated. Each paper should
be approximately 250 words in length. Be sure to refer to the text in each response, to prove
your understanding of the play. You may choose to do any of the seven separate topics.
Act I
1.
What are some examples of the weakness and foolishness that plague humanity? How
might they be avoided?
Act II
2.
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Twelfth Night includes many lines and images that stimulate thought. Use one of the
quotations listed below as a springboard for creative writing.
If music be the food of love, play on.
Care’s an enemy to life!
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness, thrust upon ‘em.
Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.
‘Tis but fortune, all is fortune.
Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?
Act III
3. Twelfth Night is filled with music and song. Research the following:
 What instruments did court musicians play in Shakespeare’s time?
 What instruments were played by ordinary people?
 What instruments were used to accompany singing?
 What was the characteristic style of singing?
 What instrument would you play and why?
Act IV
4.
People are not always what they appear to be on the outside. Explain how this is true in the
play, and then recount a situation (perhaps a personal one) for which this has held true. Who
was wrongly judged, and what happened as a result?
Act V
5.
6.
Twelfth Night ends with the marriage of three couples. Draw some conclusions about good
and bad reasons for getting married. Use these to compile a checklist for the use of
prospective husbands or wives. In the play which marriages do you think will last, support
your answer.
The language of Twelfth Night includes a great deal of colloquialism and slang, particular in
the scenes with Sir Toby and his friends. Compile a glossary of Elizabethan expressions
used in the play. Translate each expression into modern language. Use your new dictionary
to write a short script.
7.
Shakespeare uses names of his characters to give us a hint of their characters. Explain.
With your own name, discuss what it tells us about your qualities.