Page 1: Basic Information (Please include sources)
1. Title of Work, date of first publication, edition of your book, analysis of “As You Will” as an
alternative title, analysis of “Twelfth Night” as a title.
Title: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Date of first publication: 1623 (in the First Folio)
Edition: Pelican Shakespeare edition (2000)
“As You Will:” Although no one is really sure why this play has an alternate title (it is the only one
of Shakespeare’s plays to do so), there are several different interpretations for “As You Will.”
Firstly, it connotes the jovial festivity of the play. The story line itself is whimsical and humorous
and the title suggests that there is no “heaviness.” Along with this, Shakespeare may also have been
titling the play in such a way that involves the audience collectively. The audience is the “you” and
so Shakespeare is saying that this comedy was written solely for the enjoyment of the audience and
the events are really up to the viewers. The third, and most literal, analysis of this title is that
Shakespeare was implying that the title was “what you will,” in other words, the name is unimportant
and the audience can call it however they wish. All of these support the idea that this play was by no
means meant to be a grave and serious production.
“Twelfth Night:” This is most commonly believed to be a reference to the festival of Epiphany
where everything was believed to be “turned upside down.” This certainly makes sense because
nothing in Twelfth Night is as it should be. The maid is sassy, Olivia falls in love with Viola, Viola
falls in love with a man who believes her name is Cesario, and Sebastian and Viola both believe the
other to be deceased. The only ones who know the truth are the audience and this irony provides
much of the humor of the play because everything that could go wrong, has. What further
compounds the humorous confusion of the play is that male actors were used to portray women, and
so Viola’s character is in fact a man, pretending to be a woman, pretending to be a man. (SparkNotes)
Shakespeare, William, and Jonathan V. Crewe. Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will. New York:
Penguin, 2000. Print.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Twelfth Night.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
2. Elements of comedy evident
Pun- Act One, Scene Five: The fool talking with Olivia and twisting all her words.
Deflation-Act Three, Scene Four: Malvolio being thought to be a madman and being bound and
placed in a dark room.
Knaves and Fools- Act Two, Scene Five: Malvolio is tricked that Olivia loves him and to signal to
her that he loves her, he is to smile constantly and dress in yellow stockings with his garters crossed.
Dramatic Irony-Act Three Scene Four: Antonio confuses Cersario/ Viola for Sebastian and tries to
protect her from the fencing match. He is caught by the guards and is arrested.
Act Four, Scene One: The fool and Olivia confuse Sebastian for Cersario/Viola and confesses
her love to him.
3. According to Aristotle, what makes this a comedy? How is it different from a tragedy?
Aristotle claimed that comedies were for thinkers and tragedies were for the more emotionally
driven. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies. It fits into Aristotle’s definition with
the heavy use of wit and word play in its dialogue, especially from the characters of Sir Toby, Sir
Andrew, and Feste. It differs from a tragedy in its emotional cycle. Twelfth Night is relatively static
in emotion, while a play such as Hamlet has more dynamic characters and emotions.
4. The Four Humours - what are the characteristics
The now-debunked theory of humoralism sought to characterize temperaments and ailments based
on an excess or deficiency in one of four bodily fluids. The four-humor system was developed by
Hippocrates and pervaded until the beginning of medical research in the late middle ages. The
humors are blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.
Blood is associated with the season of spring, the element air, and the liver. Its temperament
is “sanguine,” which is characterized by sociability, impulsivity, and pleasure-seeking. The faces of
sanguine people may appear florid.
Yellow bile is associated with the season of summer, the element fire, and the spleen. People with an
excess of yellow bile are “choleric,” and are generally assertive, charismatic, and dominating. They
may swing to extremes of mood or organization.
Black bile is associated with the season of autumn, the element of earth, and the gall
bladder. “Melancholic” people tend to be thoughtful, introverted, and creative, but may tend towards
moroseness or self-absorption.
Phlegm is associated with the season of winter, the element water, and the brain/lungs. “Phlegmatic”
people tend to be relaxed, lacking passionate extremes of emotion. They are self-confident and kind,
but may be passive-aggressive or unwilling to change. They are curious and rational.
5. Plot summary of each act. Highlight the characters’ names.
The play begins with Duke Orsino, ruler of Illyria, lamenting the fact that he cannot speak with
nor have contact with the woman he madly loves, Lady Olivia. Olivia’s brother has recently died
and she refuses to marry anyone for seven years. As Orsino laments, the Captain has saved Viola
from a shipwreck off of the Illyrian coast. Having traveled on the ship with her brother who
cannot be found at the moment, Viola is concerned that he has died in the accident. While the
Captain informs Viola about Orsino and Olivia, she expresses a desire to serve in Olivia’s court
and escape from the world in this manner. The Captain does not believe that Olivia will accept
Viola’s service and as a result she takes on the identity of “Cesario”, a favorite male servant of
Orsino. Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, is introduced with Maria and Sir Andrew. Sir Toby and
Sir Andrew are consistently associated with his drinking habits, by which Olivia is sometimes
bothered. Toby believes that Andrew would be a perfect match, claiming his wealth and
accomplishment, but Maria still views him as a drunk when they meet. In attempts to win back
Olivia’s love, Orsino sends Cesario to Olivia with messages of his love. Throughout her brief
time at Orsino’s, Viola (Cesario) has fallen for the Duke. When Cesario arrives at Olivia’s, she
originally does not wish to see him, but because Cesario is persistent and “handsome” she agrees
and is instantly enchanted by his presence, not knowing “he” is actually Viola. Cesario returns
with unfortunate news for Orsino as Viola has rejected his pleas for love.
Act II
This act introduces Antonio and Sebastian, Viola’s brother who thinks she has drowned. Antonio
saved Sebastian from the shipwreck and the two became friends (so much so that when
Sebastian travels into Orsino’s court, Antonio is willing to accept the danger of facing the
enemies he has there). Malvolio succeeds in catching Cesario to give him the ring he “left.” In
reality, Olivia is using this as a sign for him to return. While Olivia attempts to figure out
this “love triangle”, Sir Toby and Andrew are acting foolishly and drinking. Malvolio scolds the
men and Maria creates a plan to get back at Malvolio for being no fun. Cesario and Orsino have
a discussion about love while Toby, Andrew and the “fool” plan revenge on Malvolio by making
it appear as though Olivia loves him.
Characters:
Malvolio- ‘mal’ meaning bad implies the feelings Toby, Andrew and Maria have towards
him, and also his bitter nature
Fabian: literally meaning “one who grows beans” this implies Fabian’s role as a servant
Feste: a joker, his name implies is fun and joking nature
Olivia/Viola: the similarities of their names suggest their similarities; they were involved in
the same love triangle and both had the feeling of grief and wanting to hide from the world
Maria: In Hebrew, the word means bitter, implying Maria’s somewhat bitter attitude
Act III
Cesario (Viola) has come back to Olivia’s house to deliver another message form Orsino. When
Cesario arrives to the house Feste is out front and they joke around with one another. Feste then goes
to announce that Cesario is here. Cesario goes to the garden and meets with Sir Toby and Sir
Andrew, there conversations are very awkward because they are both drunk. When they are about to
go inside Olivia and Maria come to the garden and sends everyone away so she can talk to Cesario
alone. Once they are alone Olivia expresses her love for Cesario and does not want any more love
letters from Orsino. Cesario rejects her and tells her no one can have his(her) heart. Back in the
house Sir Andrew wants to leave because he saw Olivia all over Cesario. Sir Toby convinces him to
stay by telling him that she was simply trying to make him jealous. Maria then enters to tell them that
Malvolio is acting like a complete idiot and doing everything that the letter had told him to do. The
plot then goes to the streets of Illyria and Sebastian and Antonio find out that it is not safe for
Antonio to talk in the streets because Orsino does not like him. They are going to try and find a place
to stay. Sebastian continues to roam the streets and has the money Antonio gave him. Olivia sends a
servant after Cesario and tries to figure out how to win him over. She then calls for Malvolio, and
once he enters and starts talking Olivia thinks that he has gone mad. Cesario returns and Olivia
leaves Malvolio to go talk to him. Malvolio is then placed in the dark room to contain his madness.
Sir Andrew gives a letter to Sir Toby for a duel against Cesario. He does not give it to him but goes
back and forth talking to both Sir Andrew and Cesario for a duel of wits, instead. Olivia is trying to
convince Cesario to love her. Cesario does not want to fight, but crosses paths with Sir Andrew and
they both draw their swords. Antonio then shows up, mistaking Cesario (Viola) for Sebastian. The
Duke’s men recognize Antonio and arrest him; he asks for the money he gave Sebastian but Viola
does not know what he is talking about.
Act IV
Feste sees Sebastian thinking that he itCesario, and tries to bring him back to Olivia’s house (he
does not know what is going on). He is then attacked by Sir Andrew because he think that it is
Cesario. Sebastian then starts to fight with Sir Andrew and he cries for mercy. Sebastian tries to
leave but Sir Toby does not let him and and pulls out his sword to fight. Olivia sees them and grabs
Sebastian and takes him to her house. At Olivia’s house, Feste dresses up in monk’s robes to go and
talk to Malvolio in the dark room to pull another prank on him by convincing him that he is indeed
mad. Sebastian is walking around the house and agrees to marry Olivia even though she thinks that
he is Cesario. They go off to get married.
Act V
Orsino is approaching the house with Cesario and Antonio. Orsino questions Antonio as to why he is
there, but Antonio is still bitter to Cesario (who he think is Sebastian). Olivia then enters talking to
Cesario, thinking it is the person she just married. Orsino is mad that Cesario betrayed him and takes
him off to be killed. Cesario (Viola) then expresses her love for Orsino and Olivia is taken by
suprise. Sir Andrew then enters and is in pain and blames it on Cesarioalthought it was really
Sebastian who hurt him. Sebastian finally enters and apologizes to Olivia for hurting her relative. He
then sees Antonio and is happy to see him finally. Everyone sees that Sebastian and Cesario look just
alike. They interrogate each other and realize that they are who they say. Then everyone realizes that
Cesario is in fact a woman. Viola then expresses her love to Orsino once again. Olivia then realizes
Malvolio is not mad and lets him out of the dark room. He enters very angrily, demanding why
Olivia wrote that note (which she sees is not her handwriting, revealing the trick). Finally the Duke
proclaims his intent to marry Viola.
Page 2
6.
1. She never told her love,
But let concealment, like a worm i’ the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought,
And with a green and yellow melancholy
She sat like patience on a monument,
Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?
- Viola (2.4.96-101)
2. “Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.”
-(2.4, 55)
7.
1. Shakespeare’s style is concise, the most notable element being the frequent use of double
entendres. Shakespeare also uses paradox to heighten the emphasis and meaning of the related
metaphor and similes. Viola speaks of a paradox when she says that the concealment of love reveals
it. Simile and metaphor are another 2 devices evident in this passage. Viola likens concealment to a
worm and patience to a monument. Melancholy is characterized as a green and yellow object.
2. In quote two Shakespeare uses several different literary devices such as alliteration,
apostrophe, personification, oxymoron, and repetition. We see alliteration with “sad cypress” and
apostrophe/personification with the comment on death. An oxymoron is present with “fair cruel
maid”. Repetition is used in “Come away, come away” and “Fly away, fly away” which further
stresses the presence of death. The element of repetition adds to the poetic and musical aspect
of “Twelfth Night”.
8.
1. A spirit I am indeed, But am in that dimension grossly clad Which from the womb I did
participate. Were you a woman, as the rest goes even, I should my tears let fall upon your check, And
say ‘Thrice welcome, drowned Viola!”
-Sebastian (5.1.228-234)
mistaken identity, disguise, gender
mention of womb - symbol of femininity
thrice drowned - he has lost his sister 3 times (1st - he believed she downed in the accident, 2nd - she
dressed as a man, so he lost his ‘sister’ though Viola was not lost, only her identity as female/sister,
3rd -
2. The more fool, Madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul, being in heaven.
Take away the fool, gentlemen.
-Feste, the fool (1.5.65-67)
Feste , Olivia’s fool teases her in saying she should not mourn for her brother if he has indeed
gone to heaven, for he is better off. He calls her the fool and calls to her courtiers to carry her off.
This quote is a good example of the role of clowns in Shakespearean plays, and their relationship
with the characters. The clown is not a symbol, theme or motif himself, but he is representative of the
theme that love is the root of all suffering. Feste points out that Olivia’s suffering is pointless, but she
feels inclined to suffer because she loved her brother.
3. By Innocence I swear, and by my youth
I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth,
And that no woman has; not never none
Shall be mistress of it, save I alone
-Viola as Cesario (3.1.154-157)
Viola is disguised as Cesario, a man. But she slips up in the 4th line when she says no
woman but herself shall be the mistress of her heart.This quote is another example of gender play
and mistaken identity. Although Viola has Olivia completely fooled, she slips up in small ways in
her speeches such as this. Viola claims she has never been in love with a woman, and will never
give her heart to a woman. She has however been in love with a man, so her false gender identity
is a loophole which allows her to lie about her love life in order to connect with Olivia and form an
understanding on the silliness of love.
4. “Make me a willow cabin at your gate, and call upon my soul within...but you should pity me!” -
Viola (Act 1 Scene 5)
>This quote is significant in that it represents the first real chain in the long line of deceit and
deception in the story. This theme is continued throughout the entirety of the story.
Another significance to what Viola says is that the actions she describes that would take place if she
was the one in love with Olivia are the opposite of what Orsino is doing. This sets off Olivia’s