Major Test: Twelfth Night (Mrs. B)

Sir Andrew Aguecheek friend of Sir Tobyhe thinks he is witty, brave, young, and good at languages In reality he is not very intelligent. He also attempts to court Olivia–gets denied.
Sir Toby Belch Olivia’s uncle (lives with her) Drinks a lotOlivia doesn’t approve of his rowdy behavior He meets Olivia’s gentlewoman, Maria, and with her help, “ruins” Malvolio.
Sebastian Viola’s lost twin brotherWhen he arrives in Illyria w/ Antonio, everyone seems to know him. Olivia, whom he has never met, wants to marry him. Ends up marrying Olivia
Cesario Caesario is Viola’s eunuch disguise throughout the course of the play. Viola initially disguises herself in order to serve Duke Orsino. Once she meets Olivia, Olivia immediately falls in love with Caesario. Viola is unable to rid herself of the guise until her brother Sebastian inadvertently solves her love triangle for her.
Antonio Rescues Sebastian after his shipwreck, cares for him and accompanying him to Illyria, gives him moneyNot welcome in Illyria because he stole from Orsino’s ships at one point.
Maria Olivia’s lady-in-waiting (servant)Plays tricks on Malvolio to get back at him for being so snobby. Wants social mobility through marriage. Achieves it by marrying Sir Toby.
Feste Olivia’s jester – but is willing to work for everyone for a coin or two. Embodies spirit of Twelfth Night festivities (having a bloody good time). Often foreshadows future plot events in his songs.
What name does Sebastian adopt when he arrives in Illyria?Why does he change his name? RoderigoHe is looking for a fresh start. He thinks that he has had such bad luck with his family’s name that changing his identity might change his fortunes.
Who said it and what does it mean?I’ll do my best To woo your lady. – Yet, a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife. (Viola, Act 1, Scene 4)Viola (disguised as Cesario) is pledging to help Orsino try to win over Olivia, however, Viola reveals that she (Viola) secretly loves Orsino.
Who said it and what does it mean?Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.Act 2 Scene 5 (Malvolio, Act 2, Scene 5)This was in the letter Maria wrote (posing as Olivia) to Malvolio. This was meant to encourage Malvolio to take ahold of the opportunity to rise in social/economic rank by marrying Olivia (“some achieve greatness”).It also further encourages Malvolio because this opportunity seems so sudden, so by saying that “greatness [is] thrust upon ’em” makes it seem like Olivia recognizes how weirdly sudden the opportunity is. Thus, Malvolio is more likely to think this opportunity is legitimate.
Who said it and what does it mean?And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges. (Feste, Act 5 Scene 1)The fool says this to conclude the trick being played on Malvolio. Malvolio was acting like he was better than everyone and was trying to climb the social ladder (which is a HUGE no-no). So, essentially, this means: what goes around, comes around.
Who said it and what does it mean?I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you. (Malvolio, Act 5 Scene 1)Malvolio finds out about the trick everyone played on him, so he swears he’ll be back to get revenge. (NOTE: He still believes Olivia was in on it…that is never resolved.)
Who said it and what does it mean?If music be the food of love, play on,Give me excess of it that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die.That strain again, it had a dying fall.O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound That breathes upon a bank of violets,Stealing and giving odour. Enough, no more,’Tis not so sweet now as it was before. (Orsino, Act 1, scene)Orsino is literally encouraging his musicians to continue singing to help fuel his love for Olivia.Orsino is so lovesick that he thinks that giving himself “excess” might make him so lovesick that his love might go away. But, the love keeps coming to him like a “sweet sound.”This line is also in reference to how Olivia is mourning the loss of her father and brother. So, when Orsino says that the song is stealing his breath and giving odor, it may mean that he is still falling in love with Olivia, but it could also mean that Olivia’s overflowing grief is “giving odour” to the love he is feeling for her.
Who said it and what does it mean?There is no woman’s sidesCan bide the beating of so strong a passionAs love doth give my heart; no woman’s heartSo big, to hold so much. They lack retention.Alas, their love may be called appetite, No motion of the liver, but the palate,That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt.But mine is all as hungry as the sea,And can digest as much. Make no compareBetween that love a woman can bear meAnd that I owe Olivia. (Act 2, scene 4)Orsino is reinforcing that women cannot love as much as men. He says that women can’t hold on to love (and possibly that women are only capable of a moment of lust, and once that appetite is satisfied, they move on).However, HIS love – he goes on to compare his love to the depth of the sea.
How much education did Shakespeare receive? He only went to grammar school.
What were Shakespeare was known as a…(3 things…) ActorPlaywrightPoet
Shakespeare’s plays were performed at… The Globe in London
When The Globe (what happenned to it?)__________________, Shakespeare used that time to write 156 _________________. (1) burned down(2) sonnets (14-line poems)
The people who sat on the floor-level at The Globe were called… groundlings
Twelfth Night is what kind of comedy? Elizabethan comedy
Who is Elizabethan comedy named for? Queen Elizabeth I
One major difference between a tragedy and a comedy is that a comedy ends with… a wedding (or multiple weddings)[tragedies end with lots of death]
What is the purpose of the fool in Twelfth Night He is a source of truth, despite his joking, and often sings about major plot points to come. He serves as a foil to the serious and pious Malvolio.He pokes fun at the characters.His literal job is to make fun of everyone, sing, and dance – especially when paid to do so.
What does this line tell us about the fool?”This fellow is wise enough to play the Fool,And to do that well craves a kind of wit.”~ Cesario (Act 3, scene 1) The job of a fool is to poke fun at people by playing off of their words and by pointing out things they observe about other people. Here, Shakespeare is playing off the duality of being “fool”. One would call a person who is not smart (like Andrew) a fool, whereas here it refers to one who engages in foolery or silly behavior. Cesario was pointing out that the fool is wise, which is extremely necessary for him to do his job well. The fool achieves his jabs at people by using puns. What’s more is that the fool is very good at what he does, so Cesario points out that the fool is wise (hence this contradiction between being a “fool” and being “wise”).
How many days was Christmas during Elizabethan times? 12 days
What was the night of epiphany (during Elizabethan times)?What were people celebrating? It was a time of great festivity, with the emphasis on the fun and confusion when the normal order of things is turned upside down.People were celebrating The night the three wise men (kings) came to see baby Jesus and offer him gifts.
What Roman festival is Twelfth Night descended from? The Festival of Saturnalia
Who ran the activities of Twelfth Night? What was his/her job? The Lord of MisruleWhatever he/she commanded, people had to do. They were responsible for helping the people engage in the confusion and role reversal characteristic of the festival.
Situational Irony When a situation has results contrary to those expected. Ex. Sir Andrew, who is of higher stature, well-learned, and knows several languages, is actually very ignorant, empty-headed, and oblivious. Ex. A giant, buff man with a tiny, itty-bitty voice. Ex. A fire station burning down.
Dramatic Irony When the audience is aware of something the characters don’t knowEx. The audience knows Cesario is actually Viola. Whenever characters reference how feminine Cesario is, that is dramatic irony. Ex. When the audience is aware that there is a monster in a room, and the character on screen who is about to walk in doesn’t know.
Verbal Irony When words are spoken, but the opposite meaning is intended. Sometimes other characters are aware of the play on words. AKA: a punEx. Sir Toby says, “Accost, Sir Andrew, accost!” (Act I, scene iii, line 48)Here, Toby is telling Air Andrew to approach Maria with confidence and woo her, but accost, in nautical language, means “to board” or “undertake”. Sir Andrew is shocked that Sir Toby is suggesting such a lewd act in public. Another GREAT section of examples is in Act I, scene iii, the entire exchange between Sir Toby, Maria, Sir Andrew, and Malvolio.
What was Antonio’s role in the play? He rescued Sebastian; he is the catalyst who gets the ball rolling towards the resolution of the play.(When the police try to take him away and he pleads with Cesario [thinking it’s Sebastian] for the money, Cesario/Viola says she doesn’t know Antonio.)
What is iambic pentameter? a line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllableiamb = metrical foot, unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllableI WENT / to DANCE / but SPLIT / my PANTSpentameter = 5 (so 5 iambs)
When does Shakespeare make a character write in verse (poetry)? when the character is of the higher class or nobility. signals education and refinementIt is also the language of love
When does Shakespeare make a character write in prose? Lower statusFamiliar relationship
What is “blank verse”? unrhymed iambic pentameter
Who does Shakespeare use blank verse with? Used with “noble” characters
What is a couplet? two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit.Ex. Act 3, scene 1 (there are two couplets)Olivia says,Do not extort thy reasons from this clause, For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause;but rather reason thus with reason fetter:love sought is good, but given unsought is better.