Shakespeare uses this theme of different kinds of love to show the many different situations that can arise from these different kinds of love, and henceforth lead the audience to think deeper and ponder upon the wonders of the different kinds of love....

Discuss the different kinds of love presented in the play. Twelfth Night, in itself, portrays many hidden meanings and themes that speak out to different people, in different ways. Shakespeare makes use of the many characters, and choreographs different steps and creates relationships and the plot, and sub-plot, to make Twelfth Night complete, with its many themes. One of the central messages of this play is prominently, love. With this main theme, Shakespeare creates an interesting plot and sub-plot, to entertain, and also provoke his audience to think hard, and allow them to decide for themselves, which kind of love is one that they would choose in their own lives. Different kinds of love, such as in love with the idea of love, imaginary love, self-indulgent love, self-love, or true, sacrificial love are displayed in this play. Shakespeare uses this theme of different kinds of love to show the many different situations that can arise from these different kinds of love, and henceforth lead the audience to think deeper and ponder upon the wonders of the different kinds of love. "What you will", could probably be speaking out to the audience as well, to carefully think about which type of love impresses upon them most, and allow the audience to choose for themselves, what applies to them the most. One of the main types of love portrayed would be romantic love. Romantic

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Dramatic Importance of Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2 referring to other parts of the play wherever appropriate ('Twelfth Night')

The Dramatic Importance of Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2 referring to other parts of the play wherever appropriate The title 'Twelfth Night' seems to suggest that Shakespeare, who wrote the play around 1602, wanted it to be performed on the twelfth day after Christmas; the festival of the Epiphany. This day formally marked the end of the Christmas season, which at the time was celebrated as a special festival. In addition to eating, drinking and generally over indulging, the performance of plays was a common feature on this day. He may have written this romantic comedy whilst keeping this festive spirit in mind. The title therefore may have had some bearing on the actual plot or characters. The secondary title 'What You Will', suggests that the play has something of interest for everyone and it also reflects the theme of excess. This title is appropriate, as this theme is apparent in some of the characters, particularly in terms of their longings and desires. 'Twelfth Night' was the last of Shakespeare's 'mature comedies', the other two being 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'As you like it'. Like most of Shakespeare's other plays, this play does not have an original plot. It has many elements that were common to Elizabethan romantic comedy, including the devices of mistaken identity, separated twins and cross-dressing disguises. The plot revolves around overcoming obstacles to true

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Twelfth Night, Page 88, Questions 1 and 8

Twelfth Night, Page 88, Questions 1 and 8 . How does Act one, scene 1-3, serve as an effective opening to the play? Comment especially on the way in which Shakespeare establishes the overall atmosphere, main characters, important relationships and key elements of the main plot and subplot. In Act 1, scenes 1-3, there are many ways to which these scenes provide an effective opening to the play. Individually, these scenes each serve a different aspect, which contributes to an effective opening. In Act 1, scene 1, Orsino is introduced into the picture, with his whining and pining towards this love for Olivia, with much exaggeration, due to the excessive use of imagery, and gives us one of the central theme of the play - transient and complex love. Act 1, scene 2 displays Viola and the Captain, and how Viola appears naïve, but is actually a strategist, and plans to disguise herself to get protection and also get closer to Orsino - causing a confusion in gender, identity, and intention. Scene 3, however, gives us another side of the play, where minor characters are introduced, vulgarism used, coarse jokes cracked, simply having this crude addition to the play. Henceforth, we can see that these 3 scenes at the beginning of the play serve as an effective opening to Twelfth Night. Scene 1 is set in Duke Orsino's room, who is the Duke of Illyria, a fictional place. This creates a

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Cruelty in "Twelfth Night"

Cruelty in "Twelfth Night"- "Twelfth Night" is also subtitled as "What you Will" which shows that this should be a happy, festive comedy, its title is from the twelve-day cycle of celebration enjoyed by medieval revellers each December. As this is a comedy it means that there are multiple marriages in the final scene and happy endings for most, except maybe one person who is seen as a fool throughout the play in this instance, Sir Andrew or Malvolio or some may even think, Orsino if they have seen the Trevor Nunn film of this play, in my opinion Feste will not be an object of humour throughout the play as in the Nunn film he is quite a serious character. There are not any deaths in the play that occur directly as this is a comedy. In this essay I am going to write about how Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" has an underlying cruelty. I am going to look, in particular at Sir Toby's exploitation of Sir Andrew, the way in which Sir Toby uses Sir Andrew as a wallet to buy drinks. I shall also concentrate my essay on the cruelty towards Viola in the love triangle and also briefly at the cruelty towards Antonio. I could also look at cruelty towards Malvolio but I do not think I will be able to have enough time to do so. In the cartoon version, the BBC film and the Nunn film production Andrew is portrayed as a silly, thin, feeble fool with blonde hair and a pale, pasty complexion, the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the different types of love presented in Twelfth Night

Discuss the different types of love presented in the play. True love is sincere based on actions and sacrificial services to make the other happy. It is always quiet and in disguise. Its based on inner qualities and driven by reason, principles of trust and commitment. True love is centered on pleasing the other and is more permanent; growing stronger as time passes. Infatuation on the other hand, is insincere and driven by emotions. It's superficial; based on just words and displays of affection. Infatuation is also self-centered; based on external appearances. It expects the other to meet your needs. Moreover, it's temporary. It's just a phase that one goes through. William Shakespeare shows us these two types of love outlining the entire play. However, there are more than just these types of love being presented in the play. There is also friendship and self-love, which are two other kinds of love, which is presented in the play. Sir Andrew and Malvolio show self-love in the play. Friendship is also another kind of love that is being presented in the play by Orsino and 'Caesario'. Almost every type of love is being expressed in this play. Sibling relationships, genuine love, self-love leading to complete blind love. The characters also seem to go to extremes to get want they want which is the love that they desire. From this we can sometimes even associate love with their

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare explore the theme of deception and self-deception in Twelfth Night?

How does Shakespeare explore the theme of deception and self-deception in Twelfth Night? Deception is the use of deceit that deceives everyone around you including yourself. It is the fact or state of being deceived. It can be a ruse or a trick in disguise, which deludes, giving a sense of indirection. It's a misleading falsehood. One can deceive by running away from even their true self either physically or mentally. Self-deception on the other hand is the act of deluding oneself by creating illusionary ideas. It is a misconception that is favourable to the person who holds it. On the whole, self-deception basically is when a character is lying to his or herself. William Shakespeare shows us these two different types of deception in Twelfth Night. In the play not only does deception act as a quality shown in the play. It is also one of the themes in Twelfth Night that the play revolves around as Shakespeare makes it out to be by presenting the character of 'Caesario'. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare presents the obvious deception of the play that is Viola. Viola's role in the play is purely based on the ideas of disguise and deception. She initially deceives everyone by disguising herself as a man, 'Cesario', in order to serve Orsino. We can see this from the quote, "For such disguise as haply shall become: The form of my intent". From this quote, we can see that Viola

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Twelfth Night is a feminist play. Discuss.

Twelfth Night is a feminist play. Discuss. The play Twelfth Night was written in the Elizabethan days, near the end of the ruling of Queen Elizabeth I. It was also during The Renaissance, which is also the rebirth of learning, which this play was born. It was a period of change, questioning and vitality. People no longer believed everything they were told, but tried to find things out for themselves. As to whether Twelfth Night is a feminist play, would have several differing points to show against or for it. As it was the 'period of change', this play could have been written to change people's ideas of females and males in general. Since the olden days, women have always been viewed as emotional, irrational, petty people, and when compared to the men, not as able and capable. In the play Twelfth Night, there are many different characters, both male and female, and even a female in the disguise of male. Indeed, the play in itself is complex, and has many different hidden themes and meanings within. Shakespeare, having also lived in this time of change, could be trying to satisfy the people who are trying to find things out for themselves. He could be trying to display to the people, and let the people question themselves, and wonder, whether females are who they were said to be, and men, likewise. As to whether Twelfth Night is a feminist play, there are arguments both

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In-depth Commentary on Act 1 Scene 1 In Act1 Scene1, Count Orsino of Illyria is introduced

English Coursework. Explain how Shakespeare gains and holds the attention of the audience in Act 1of the Twelfth Night. Introduction Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is a play about love and feelings. It is placed in a festive atmosphere in which 3 couples are brought together happily. The play starts with the Duke of Illyria - Orsino, expressing his deep love for the Countess Olivia. Meanwhile, the shipwrecked twin Viola fears her brother is dead and decides to disguise herself as a man and enters the Duke's service as a messenger. The Duke then employs Viola, who takes the name of Caesario. Her job is to woo Olivia for him. Ironically, Caesario falls in love with the Duke, and Olivia falls in love with Caesario, who is really Viola disguised. In the midst of this love triangle are the tense situations and confusions among the characters. As always, like in every romantic comedy everyone ends up happy in the end, well almost everyone! The first act sets the scene because it shows us what has been going on in past between the characters. It also shows us the characters feelings towards each other. The first act is the base of the play because it shows us all the problems that the characters have. It introduces new characters and the roles that all the characters have. The Twelfth Night is Shakespeare's only play that has a double title. I think he gave it a double title

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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Examine the ways in which Shakespeare uses structure and language to dramatise the comparisons between different kinds of love in Twelfth Night focusing on Act 5, Scene 1 and one or two other scenes of your choice.

Examine the ways in which Shakespeare uses structure and language to dramatise the comparisons between different kinds of love in Twelfth Night focusing on Act 5, Scene 1 and one or two other scenes of your choice. Twelfth Night is thought to have been written in 1601, near the middle of Shakespeare's career. The play looks at deception, disguise, illusion and probably most significantly the amazing things that love can cause us to do. Shakespeare does this successfully through clever use of language and structure. Act 1, Scene 1 of the comedy begins with a nobleman named Orsino, pining away for the love of Lady Olivia, a noble Illyrian lady. Shakespeare uses imagery to represent love: "If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting The appetite may sicken, and so die." Orsino's language contains images which recur throughout the play such as music, death, love and food while expressing his love. Orsino doesn't mention Lady Olivia until his discussion with Curio soon after, this leads us to suggest that Orsino is in love with the idea of being in love itself, therefore being selfish. Consequently the reference to food can be perceived as Orsino's hunger for love. This hunger we are told leads to sickness and pain, again the imagery of sickness symbolises Orsino's extreme feelings towards love. The idiom 'If music be the food of love,

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the different kinds of love presented in the play.

Literature Text [Twelfth Night] Pg 319 Discuss the different kinds of love presented in the play. In this play, Twelfth Night, there are various kinds of love presented but they can be categorized as true love and infatuation. There is also another kind of love portrayed in this play which is friendship. Self-love is surely one other factor in this play. Well, what is the definition of love? True love to be exact. True love is basically based on inner qualities and actions. It is genuine and sincere. It is sacrificial meaning that it serves others. True love is driven by reason, principles of trust and commitment. It is centered on pleasing the other party. One character that shows true love is Viola. Well, then what is Infatuation? It is firstly not true love! It is plain obsession which is insincere, superficial which means that it is based on just words and displays of affection. It expects the other party to meet your needs and expectations. It is basically driven by emotions and is based on external appearance. It is self-centered and only temporary which means that it is not ever-lasting like true love which is undying and permanent and short-term like infatuation. Almost all characters in the play Twelfth Nigh portray infatuation, one of them are Orsino. Self-love is portrayed by many in this play, for example it is shown obviously through Malvolio and Sir Andrew.

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  • Subject: English
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