Twelfth Night - Act One Questions

Blank Verse: A poetic form that uses five feet (measures) of iambic rhythm (unstressed/stressed syllables). Shakespeare wrote almost all of the lines in all his plays using this technique. Note in this play when it is NOT used.

Soliloquy: a speech spoken by an actor often alone on stage, addressed to the audience/self, which expresses inner thoughts and feelings. An “aside” is a shorter version of the same. Note Olivia’s speech in Act I, scene 5, lines 279 - 288.

Act One

Scene 1:

1.   Where is the play set?

2.   In Orsino’s first speech, what is it he’s ordering the musician’s to do and then not do?

3.   Write down the first line of the play. What does it mean?

4.   What do we learn is the reason for Orsino’s agitation?

5.   What is “eye-offending brine”?

6.   What does Valentine tell Orsino about Olivia’s intentions (lines 26 – 30)? Why is she doing this (30 – 32)?

7.   What does Orsino decide to do to comfort himself at the end of this scene?

Discussion Questions:

·   It’s been said that Orsino is in love with love, and not Olivia. Do you see a hint of this so far?

·   Does Olivia’s reaction to her grief seem a bit over-dramatic? Why?

·   What conflicts are being set up at this early point in the play?

Scene 2:

1.   What do we learn has just happened to Viola from her conversation with the ship’s captain?

2.   What has happened to Viola’s brother? What hopeful news does the captain give her?

3.   What does the captain tell Viola about Orsino and Olivia? And about their involvement with each other?

4.   What does Viola ask the captain to help her do? Why does she decide to follow this odd plan?

Discussion Questions:

·   How are Viola’s and Olivia’s reactions to losing a brother quite different?

·   How does this scene answer the question “How do you get what you want?” (theme)

Scene 3:

1.   In line one, what opinion does Sir Toby express about Olivia’s mourning?

2.   Why does Maria reprimand Sir Toby? (lines 14 – 16)

3.   What is a “belch”? Why do you think Shakespeare gave a character in his play this name?

4.   Who has Toby brought home to woo Olivia? What does his name mean, and why did Shakespeare name him thus?

5.   What is Maria’s opinion of this suitor? (lines 22 – 23)

6.   In what sorts of activities do Sir Toby and Sir Andrew partake?

Discussion question:

·   What do we learn of these three characters in this scene?

Scene 4:

1.   What boy’s name has Viola taken?

2.   What are the duke’s feelings toward Viola/Cesario? (lines 1 – 4)

3.   What does Orsino want his servant to do? Why?

4.   How does he describe Cesario’s physical appearance? Give three examples.

5.   What surprising thing does Viola say at the very end of this scene?

Discussion questions:

·   How do you think Viola would react to lines 32 – 36?

·   What is the dramatic irony in this scene? (Dramatic irony occurs when the audience is aware of plot situations of which the characters in the play are not)

Scene 5:

1.   What is Olivia’s reaction to seeing Feste, her clown? (line 36) What two reasons does she give for wanting rid of him?

2.   Olivia calls Feste a fool. How does his speech in lines 40 – 50 prove otherwise?

3.   How does the clown cheer Olivia up and meet her challenge to him in lines 63 –69?

4.   What disturbs their conversation?

5.   What does Malvolio say about the visitor’s behavior?

6.   What is ironic about Malvolio’s description of the visitor? (lines 152 – 157)

7.   What question does Viola repeatedly ask of Olivia when they first meet? Why does she do this?

8.   After discussing Olivia’s beauty, what do the two discuss? What message does Olivia want Cesario to take to Orsino?

9.   What is Olivia’s response to Viola’s “news” of her master’s love for Olivia?

10. What surprising conflict does Olivia reveal she has in lines 282 - 288?

11. Why does Olivia give Malvolio a ring to give to Cesario? (lines 292 – 297)

Discussion questions:

●          Theme: being a fool. Who are the fools in this Act? Why?

●          What kind of person is Malvolio? What do you think is the significance of his name?

●          How does Feste get away with speaking to his “uppers” the way he does?

●          Twice in scene 5 the subtitle of the play (What You Will) is echoed. Can you find them? What does this subtitle mean?