Act V - Comprehension Questions & Answers

Act V

1. Whose letter does Feste refuse to show Fabian?

Feste refuses to show Fabian Malvolio’s letter.

2. With what disparaging term does the Clown refer to himself and Fabian?

Feste/Clown refers to himself and Fabian as Olivia’s trappings – her mere accessories.

3. Who does Antonio think Cesario (Viola) is?

Antonio thinks Cesario (Viola) is Sebastian.

4. Cesario (Viola) is accused of three things. What are these?

A. Stealing money, tricking Malvolio into thinking Lady Olivia loves him and disguising herself as a man

B. Missing the wedding, beating Sir Andrew and Sir Toby and failing in 'his' duty to woo Lady Olivia

C. Absence without leave from her ship as reported by the ship's captain who suddenly appears on stage

4. Why is Viola so confused?

Because she did not agree to marry Olivia (the audience knows this was Sebastian), she did not injure Sir Andrew and Sir Toby (the audience knows this was Sebastian too), and she has not betrayed Orsino because she never wanted to woo Olivia for herself. She cannot understand why everyone is accusing her of things she has not done.

5. Why does Olivia call in the priest?

Olivia calls in the priest to prove that Cesario was in fact secretly betrothed to her – the priest admits having been with the couple before him two hours ago.

6. Why are Sir Toby and Sir Andrew injured?

Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are injured because they were fighting with Sebastian.

7. What does Sebastian’s presence signal?

Sebastian’s presence signals the resolution of the mistaken identity plot.

8. Whom does Malvolio cast blame on in his letter?

Malvolio casts blame on Olivia.

9. With Olivia and Sebastian being the first couple, who make up the second couple?

Viola and Orsino make up the second couple.

10. What does Duke Orsino do when he realises the true identity (and gender!) of Viola?

A. Is horrified that he has revealed his closest thoughts
B. Immediately declares his love for her
C. Runs away at high speed towards the nearest cliff

11. Who make up the third pairing?

Sir Toby and Maria are the third couple to get married.

12. How does Malvolio exit?

Declaring he will take out revenge upon them all and leaves the stage angry and upset.

13. Malvolio wants satisfaction for the...

Way in which he had be cruelly abused and fooled by Maria, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Fabian.

14. What does the play end with?

A. A song from Viola and Sebastian
B. Everyone living happily ever after
C. A rousing dance routine
D. A song from the clown

Act IV - Comprehension Questions & Answers

Act IV

1. What is the result of Sebastian’s reappearance in IV.i?

The characters mistake Sebastian for Cesario (Viola).

2. Who dresses up and how does disguise create comedy in scene IV.ii? Compare the reasons for this character’s disguise with Viola’s motivations to pretend to be a boy servant in I.ii.

Feste/Clown dresses up as Sir Topaz in IV.ii – and Malvolio thinks that he has come to console him, however the audience is aware of the continued trickery. Both characters disguise themselves in order to deceive people of their identities however Viola pretends to be a boy not to play a practical joke but in order to get work at Orsino’s court.

3. What might Feste/Clown’s quote ‘there is no darkness but ignorance’ (IV.ii.41-2) tell us about the relationship between trickery and deception, and ignorance, gullibility and self-deception? (Relate your answer specifically to Malvolio who falls for the joke set up by Maria, Sir Toby & Sir Andrew).

Feste means to say that one will remain unaware of the truth (in darkness) if they are ignorant, that is completely oblivious, unaware and uninformed. Malvolio’s self-importance and pride means that he is gullible and easily tricked, because he actually thinks Olivia loves him because he thinks so highly of himself. If Malvolio was not ignorant or blinded by his vanity he would have realized this was a joke and would not have fallen for it or would not have allowed himself to be tricked.

4. Who gets married in IV.iii? What are your thoughts about this marriage?

Sebastain and Olivia marry – it is believable that Olivia readily marries Sebastian because we know she thinks he is Cesario (Viola) and that she is deeply in love with him (her). Sebastian on the other hand quickly agrees to marry a person he hardly knows – is this love at first sight? Is Olivia’s position and good looks enough to tempt any suitor?

Act III - Comprehension Questions & Answers

Act III

1. What do you think Cesario (Viola) might mean when she says ‘I am not what I am’ (III.i.133)?

Cesario (Viola) is pointing out the fact that she is not actually the person she is claiming or pretending to be – she is alluding to her disguise as Cesario, a man servant. This is dramatic irony because the audience can fully understand the weight of her comment, whereas Olivia cannot.

2. What literary device is used when Olivia declares her love for Cesario (Viola)? Why do you think Shakespeare chose to use this device (III.i.139-48)? (HINT: Shakespeare used this device in the final two lines of a sonnet. Pay attention to the way the lines are paired).

Rhyming couplets is the literary device used. They establish a simple rhyme scheme, and because the rhyme is so evident and pronounced, it tends to call attention to itself. These lines "snap" as both the rhyme and the idea come to a quick close in two lines. It creates a rhythm and contributes to making these lines of Viola’s soliloquy memorable and distinct from the other speech in the rest of the play.

3. Why does Sir Andrew want to return home?

Because he thinks that Olivia is really not interested in him and he has evidence of her paying attention to Cesario (Viola) – it would be pointless for him to stay and continue his failing pursuit.

4. What comic mischief do Sir Toby and Fabian stir up regarding Sir Andrew and Cesario (Viola)?

Both Sir Toby and Fabian persuade Sir Andrew that Olivia is trying to rouse his jealousy by paying attention to Cesario, and therefore encourage him to fight the so-called objectionable Cesario. While Sir Andrew goes off to write a challenge, Sir Toby gloats over the amusement they are going to derive from a duel between a man of no courage at all and a page who is anything but brave.

5. Had Sir Andrew and Cesario (Viola) actually had an argument?

No, they had not had an argument at all.

6. How does Cesario (Viola) feel about being challenged to a duel?

Very frightened and reluctant, he (she) is certain she has caused no offence to Sir Andrew and really does not want to fight.

7. Why did Antonio give Sebastian money?

Antonio proposes to wait for Sebastian at the inn, and gives his purse to him in case he may want purchase something while he is sight-seeing. Antonio does not go with Sebastian in case someone in the street recognizes him, he is an enemy to Orsino.

8. Why does Cesario (Viola) suddenly think Sebastian might be alive?

Antonio rushes between duel of Sir Andrew and Cesario, because his mistakes Cesario for Sebastian. Antonio, offers to fight in Cesario’s stead, and he (she) proves so eager to grant him that privilege, that Sir Toby interferes, and Antonio, in anger, challenges him.

Toby and Antonio are just crossing swords, when officers enter to arrest him. Turning to Cesario, whom he still thinks is Sebastian, Antonio now demands the return of his money. Cesario is confused and attempts to offer Antonio a reward, but he accuses the Cesario for ingratitude – describing how he saved Sebastian from the jaws of death, and the officers lead him away.

Suddenly Cesario (Viola) sufficiently recovers his senses to wonder whether his brother, whose name has just been uttered, may have been saved by this seaman, and exclaims rejoicing, 'O, if it prove, tempests are kind, and salt waves fresh in love!'

DISGUISE: Post-it Competition

Thematic Focus: Disguise - Key Quotes & Talking Points

Group A

“The element itself till seven years’ heat

Shall not behold her face at ample view

But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk…”

(I.i.26-28)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking and/or who are they speaking about?

- Why does this character choose to use a disguise?

- How does this quote relate to the wider theme of disguise and mistaken identity in Twelfth Night?

Group B

“And though that nature with a beauteous wall

Doth oft close in pollution”

(I.ii.48-49)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking?

- Paraphrase this quote into your own words. What proverb or popular saying does this relate to? (HINT: Don’t judge a book…)

- Describe how this quote foreshadows mistaken identity and disguises used in Twelfth Night.

Foreshadowing can be described as references, hints, indications or suggestions in a text to future events or developments in a plot.

Group C

“Conceal me what I am, and be my aid

For such disguise as haply shall become

The form of my intent.”

(I.ii.53-54)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking?

- What is the speaker asking?

- How does this character’s disguise relate cause identities to be mistaken in the play?

Group D

“And yet, by the very fangs of malice, I am not that I play”

(I.v.181-82)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking? Who is the character speaking to?

- What does the character mean when s/he says this?

- Why might this be an example of dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony occurs when the plot development of the plot allows the audience to know more about a character’s situation that the characters themselves do.

Group E

“Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,”

(II.ii.27)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking?

- The character is speaking alone on stage. Identify and discuss this dramatic convention.

- What is the character’s opinion of disguise? Why might she feel this way?

Group F

“She did commend my yellow stockings of late; she did praise my leg being cross-gartered.”

(II.v.163-5)

TALKING POINTS

- Who is speaking? What character is the speaker referring to?

- Why is this character motivated to ‘dress up’?

- Why do you think the audience would have found this character, when “dressed up” in this costume, so comical?