Examine the ways in which Shakespeare creates comedy for the audience in Act 3 Scene 4 of Twelfth Night

Examine the ways in which Shakespeare creates comedy for the audience in Act 3 Scene 4 Shakespeare creates comedy for the audience in a variety of ways during Act 3 Scene 4 of Twelfth Night, some techniques more subtle than others. These comic devices generate humour throughout the play through, in the eyes of the Elizabethans, outrageous puns based on the high or low status of the characters, play on words, dramatic irony and many other means. Shakespeare uses such comic devices in many of his famous Comedies, such as 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream', 'Measure for Measure' and 'As You Like It'. Shakespearean comedies often include a mix of tragedy and humour, although this tragic side could be seen as a modern interpretation of Elizabethan humour, or perhaps just an attempt on Shakespeare's part to experiment and blend together two contrasting genres of play. Either way, the mix of humour and tragedy is one of the factors that singles out Shakespeare's work as original and timeless. All Shakespearean comedies have five acts, of which the climax is the third act. This is certainly true for Twelfth Night, because this is the act in which the main plot, the sub-plot, and all of the confusion, comes to a head. Shakespearean heroes are often only introduced in the very early stages of the play through the conversation of other characters. Their personalities are nearly always

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Choose 2 scenes in Twelfth Night and state how you would direct them

Choose 2 scenes in Twelfth Night and state how you would direct them. Discuss some of the challenges you might face in directing the play to a modern audience. Being one of Shakespeare's best romantic comedies, Twelfth Night has been re-enacted many a times, be it during Elizabethan times, or in modern times. Although set in the Elizabethan era, Twelfth Night has its charms. And indeed, it proves to be relevant and intimate to a modern audience, with its applicable themes and endearing characters. In directing a play of such mannerism, one would have to consider many factors affecting the overall effect of the play, and how it brings forth its true message and intentions. Hence, I have chosen to direct Act 3 Scene 1, as well as Act 2 Scene 3. The reasons why I have chosen the above scenes, is so as in Act 2 Scene 3, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria and Feste portray a kind of platonic love, that can be applied to a modern audience. In addition, Malvolio is shown forth as the typical puritan, who is the wet blanket for every party and discourages any kind of fun and disorder. This, hence, is also applicable to a modern audience, as the audience see Malvolio as the kind of person everyone would dislike. Thus, later on, when Malvolio is plotted against, the audience can comprehend why. This scene is seen to be a comical one, where humour is the main theme. Henceforth,

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A joyful fantasy full of impossibilities. To what extent is this a true description of Twelfth Night?

A joyful fantasy full of impossibilities. To what extent is this a true description of Twelfth Night? I believe that Twelfth Night is a satirical fantasy comedy with an outrageously improbable plot that depends on the imagination of the audience. The implausible situations and unrealistic coincidences require a suspension of disbelief to revel in the entertainment value of the play. The comedy engages in real life themes, such as love, mistaken identities, ambition, homoeroticism, and deception, but although seemingly conceivable, these themes are exaggerated to a point of scepticism. I thoroughly agree that Twelfth Night is ‘a joyful fantasy full of impossibilities’, as although there are undoubtedly plenty of points in the play when the situation seems too unlikely to believe, there are also parts of the plot which emphasize the believable realism in the play and prevent it from being purely an escapist play. Shakespeare achieved prominence during the Elizabethan period when society was in an epoch of socio-political security and respect for the arts. The ‘twelfth night’ in the play’s title is an unambiguous reference to January 6th, the final night of the twelve day long Christmas season. This ‘twelfth night’ was seen as a time of wild revelry and mayhem, and when social and sexual freedom could be freely contravened. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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how Shakespeare uses disguise to suit his comic purpose

Discuss with close reference to the play, how Shakespeare uses disguise to suit his comic purpose. Twelfth Night was written by William Shakespeare in 1600 and was performed at the Royal Palace on the 6th January 1601. Shakespeare's men who were also known as the Lord Chamberlains men performed it for Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare wrote the play for the Queen herself so that on the 6th January, which is the Christian feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night, she could celebrate it with some entertainment at court. The play was commissioned to please Elizabeth and was to be shown for her enjoyment. Twelfth night is traditionally about when everything gets turned on its head like masters waiting for their servants and this is what happens in the play. Many of Shakespeare's plays were written for comedy, a bit of a laugh and a joke but they all have different types of comic purpose. Shakespeare's comic purpose in Twelfth Night is all based around the theme of disguise, and the problems it can cause. The disguise plays a big part in the play. This is seen when Viola pretends to be Cesario to work for Orsino in order to find her brother. This disguise plays a big part in the comedy of the play. Orsino says " Who saw Cesario,ho?" and Viola replies " On your attendance, my lord here." This shows us straight away that disguise will play a big part in the play because Olivia is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the different types of love presented in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Discuss the different types of love presented in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. In this essay intend to examine the theme of love in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The theme of love is the main part o the play and is portrayed in many varying forms. For example, unrequited love, excessive love, true love, physical love, which fall under the category of romantic love. The other types of love, for example, friendship love, filial love (love for family), avarice (love for money), self - love (and also true love) fall under the category of Platonic love. I will also intend to explore the influences of time on the play and analyze Shakespeare's language in the play. First of all I will start off by examining the different types of romantic love in the play. In Act 1,scene 1 the opening lines of Twelfth Night suggest that the play will be much about love as Orsino, the Duke of Illyria expresses his love throughout the play. You can tell that Orsino is not really in love with anything accept the thought of love. You can tell this by the way he speaks. For example in line 4, Orsino asks for the musical refrain to be repeated, 'That strain again', but in line 7 when he demands, 'Enough; no more', he has already had enough and tells the musicians to stop playing. Just by looking at these sentences we have already seen the quick change of mood in Orsino and more is yet to come. In this

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A close, critical analysis of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' with regard to relating a particular extract to the play as a whole through the play's key themes

Shakespeare: 'Twelfth Night' Write a close critical analysis of your chosen fragment of text, exploring its importance within the play as a whole. In your answer, you should: * Analyse the language and dramatic impact of your fragment * Relate the fragment to the play as a whole * Suggest how the play reflects the world in which it was first performed. This fellow is wise enough to play the fool; And to do that well craves a kind of wit: He must observe their mood on whom he jests, The quality of persons, and the time, Not, like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye. This is a practise As full of labour as a wise man's art For folly that he wisely shows is fit; But wise men, folly-fall'n, quite taint their wit. These lines - and indeed Act Three Scene One itself - is taken from almost exactly the middle of the play. Many of the characters' secrets are beginning to come out - or are at least suspected. Viola is troubled by her love for Orsino, and it is possible that this is something that Feste explores earlier in the scene. Orsino however is still stuck deeply in the throes of his romantic love, but below the surface there are hints that he is confused by Viola and his feelings for her. Viola also inspires confusion - or at least infatuation - in the mind of Olivia, who has fallen deeply in love with Orsino's young servant.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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DID MALVOLIO DESERVE TO BE TREATED SO HARSHLY?

Twelfth night Did Malvolio deserve to be treated so harshly? The story of twelfth night is formerly the story of two twins, - Viola & Sebastian, who become shipwrecked, &, both believing the other is dead, adopt new lives in this foreign country. Viola, however, perhaps sensibly considering the 1600th view of women, decides to dress up as a boy, - coincidently, she looks extraordinarily like her brother Sebastian. Viola gets herself a position in Duke Orsino's court. Duke Orsino has, in fact, fallen in love with the countess Olivia, who's brother & father have recently died. It is in Olivia's household that the part of the story that we will be focussing on happens.. We meet some new characters there: Feste - Who is the court Jester Fabian - One of Olivia's household. Maria - Olivia's waiting woman Sir Andrew Aguecheek - Who is Sir Toby's companion. Sir Toby Belch - Olivia's uncle. Malvolio - Olivia's head Steward. Malvolio, as you will probably find out is extremely narcissistic, very bumptious, often complacent & has a lot of contempt. It is excruciatingly easy to see exactly why he is disliked, but, during the play, the other characters, during a particular awkward scene, are pushed just that little bit too far by Malvolio & plot their revenge. The revenge on Malvolio is devised mainly by Maria,(Olivia's maid), but with the help of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian &

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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By referring to two or three scenes in the play, write about how Shakespeare creates dramatic intrigue in Twelfth night, through plot, character and language.

By referring to two or three scenes in the play, write about how Shakespeare creates dramatic intrigue in Twelfth night, through plot, character and language. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's comedies; its title originates back to the Elizabethan period when the play was traditionally performed on the twelfth night after Christmas. However, it is alternatively referred to as 'What you will' which I think suggests that you can interpret this play in whichever form you wish and that it is not particularly serious. It also makes it unique among Shakespeare's works In having a double title, this might also introduce the theme of doubling or duplication from the outset- a theme that has other expressions in the two households of Orsino and Olivia, the motif of twins, which most people are intrigued by and the relationship between the almost enigmatical Olivia and Viola who both mourn a dead brother and friend. The play itself is set in the mythical place of Ilyria, taking place in only a few areas such as Olivia's house. It consists of a main plot, which is a twisted love triangle involving the Duke of Orsino, Olivia, Viola, and later her twin brother Sebastian. Different types of love are presented in Twelfth night among these characters, similarly to common Shakespeare comedies In order for Shakespeare to create real dramatic intrigue, he uses subplots that are

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Although 'Twelfth Night' is a happy comedy, there is a great deal of hurt in this play. In your opinion, should the audience be satisfied with the outcome? Discuss.

Although 'Twelfth Night' is a happy comedy, there is a great deal of hurt in this play. In your opinion, should the audience be satisfied with the outcome? Discuss. The 'Twelfth Night' written by William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era, is a dramatic comedy enriched with a great deal of hurt to accompany scandalous behaviour and shocking deceptions. The comical elements of this play are those which contribute to Elizabethan humour. The principal characters are of a high social status, making any disruption to their life humorous. The main characters are part of the whirlwind of unrequited love and mistaken identity, which when together are hazardous. Viola pays the largest contribution to this play, as she is persistent throughout the scenes. The deceptions and mistaken identity she contributes supplements the play by means of interest, with a string of unrequited love triangles and dramatic irony, of which only the audience observes. The dramatic irony among Viola makes the audience omniscient, as they know something that the characters do not, such as she is a woman dressing herself to be a man, this allowing humour to pass through. Her character is mysterious, as she has no background due to loss of her brother at sea and the death of her father, which made her an orphan at a young age (taken from the film by Trevor Nunn). This holds interest through anticipation to

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What Types of love does Shakespeare explore in Twelfth Night?

Tom Gowing 10A English Twelfth Night Coursework What Types of love does Shakespeare explore in Twelfth Night? From the very first line 'If music be the food of love, play on' Shakespeare tells us that Twelfth Night is going to be a play almost entirely centred around love of some description. There are numerous types of love, some that Shakespeare condones and rewards, and some that he condemns and punishes. The first, and most apparent one, is family love. This particular form of love only applies to a few characters. It's the strongest type of love we see in Twelfth Night and the strongest family bond we see is between the twins, Sebastian and Viola. It becomes apparent during the play that they've endured a great deal together. At the end of the play, when the two siblings are reunited, we learn that their father had died when they were thirteen years old. Viola says 'My father had a mole upon his brow' and 'And died that day when Viola from her birth had numbered thirteen years.' The passing of their father would certainly strengthen their love for each other, and we first see this bond when they each land on the shores of Illyria. Viola's first thoughts when she and the captain land on shore are for her brother, and she fears for his life. 'My brother... perchance he is not drowned... O my poor brother! And so perchance may he be' (saved). Similarly, as soon as

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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