Twelfth Night
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare: Bare Bones Biography
 He was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon and died in 1616.
 He is arguably the most admired author of all time.
 The only known education he received was grammar school
 He married Anne Hathaway who was 9 years his senior.
 While he had three children, his son Hamnet died at a young
age (possibly from the plague).
 Shakespeare gained a reputation as an actor, playwright and
poet and was the co-owner of The Globe Theatre in London.
 Because of the plague, the London theatres closed from 15921594. Thus, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets during this time.
Historical Context
 The basic plot of TN is not original to Shakespeare.
 This play was inspired by several Italian comedies
that appeared in the decades prior to TN’s first
performance.
 The theatre was an integral part to life in Elizabethan
England.
 The Globe Theatre seated 3,000 spectators of all
classes
 Groundlings paid 1 penny for admission– their entire
day’s wage!
William Shakespeare’s
plays had universal
appeal among all classes
in Elizabethan England.
The Globe Theatre
Elizabethan Comedy
 A genre named for Queen Elizabeth I, the ruling
monarch during Shakespeare’s time.
 Elizabethan comedies included the following
conventions:
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A lighthearted tone
Mistaken identities
Multiple plot lines
Frequent use of puns
A clever “fool” or servant
A conflict between propriety and debauchery
Young lovers who overcome obstacles to their relationship
A happy ending that includes marriages, reconciliations, and
reunions.
Characters
 Orsino, Duke of Illyria: Loves Olivia; loved by
Viola
 Lady Olivia: A rich countess; loved one of the
Duke; loves Viola (as Cesario)
 Viola: Twin sister of Sebastian; Cesario; page to
Lady Olivia; loves the Duke
Characters
 Sebastian: Twin brother of Viola; Roderigo; one
who is confused with his twin sister (as Cesario)
 Sir Toby Belch: Olivia’s uncle; a drunkard; coconspirator with Sir Andrew, Feste, and Maria
 Sir Andrew Auguecheek: Suitor for Olivia’s hand
in marriage; a foolish man; co-conspirator with Sir
Toby, Maria, and Feste
Characters
 Feste: Clown; co-conspirator with Sir Toby, Sir
Andrew, and Maria; occasional commentator on
what is happening
 Malvolio: Olivia’s steward (Manager of Estate); a
vain and pompous man; object of the conspiracy to
humiliate him
 Maria: Servant of Olivia; co-conspirator with Sir
Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste
Characters
 Sea Captain: Friend of Viola
 Valentine and Curio: Aristocrats in Olivia’s court
 Fabian: An aristocrat in the Duke’s court
Major Themes
 Appearances do not always reflect reality.
 Role playing is a part of social life.
 Love often resembles madness.
Motifs : A Reoccurring Idea in a Work of
Literature
 Fools/Madness
 Deceptions/Illusions
 Role-playing/Disguises
 Inversion of Normal Order
 The Fleeting Nature of love and beauty
 Concealed love
 Letters/Messages
Figurative Language & Literary Devices
 Metaphors
 “If music be the food of love, play on.”
 Similes
 “Like Arion on the dolphin’s back”
 Personification
 “words are very rascals”
 Allusion: a reference to a person, place, myth, event
which is not part of the story, but the reader is
expected to recognize.
Figurative Language & Literary Devices
 Paradox: a statement that appears contradictory
but contains truth.
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“Than love that would seem hid: love’s night is noon.”
 Oxymoron: A term or phrase that is apparently
self-contradictory.
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“sweet pangs”
 Verbal Irony: a discrepancy between what is said
and what is really meant.
 Pun: an expression that utilizes two distinct
definitions of the same word or phrase to achieve
emphasis or humor.
Dramatic Conventions and Techniques
 Conflict: external & internal
 Soliloquy: A speech delivered by a character while
alone on stage. Provides insight into the character’s
thoughts, emotions, and motives.
 Aside: words spoken by a character on stage that are
meant to be heard by the audience only.
 Situational Irony: when a situation has results
contrary to those expected.
 Dramatic Irony: when the audience is aware of
something the characters don’t know.