The Twelfth Night

1. The Twelfth Night By Erika Sottiaux

2. Table of Contents • Background History • Glossary • Artifacts • Summary • Insider Perspective • She’s the Man • Video • References

3. Background History of Shakespeare • He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Will went to grammar school where he studied Latin, and Greek. He ended up marrying Anne Hathaway. Will eventually decides to join the Theatre and become an actor. The plague interfered with the Theatre performances and sooner than later the owner did not want to renew the lease. The idea of the Globe was then invented. It was built at night so it was not discovered until it was all done. By the midd-1599 the Globe had its grand opening and it soon became very popular. After the Globe was built is when Will wrote his greatest plays.

4. Background History of The Twelfth Night • The other title for this play is What You Will, and it is a comedy. Shakespeare got his idea for this play from the Italian play Gl’Ingannati, which has a similar love triangle and twins that get misinterpreted for each other. He also used the ideas from an English play called “Apollonius and Silla,” by Barnabe Riche. This play involves, twins and a woman dressing up as a man. So Shakespeare copied the plot from this play because it even includes the shipwreck.

5. Glossary for Twelfth Night Shakespeare put his own spin on words just like the singers do on American Idol. • By= nearby • ‘havior= behavior • Proper-false= handsome and deceitful man • Swabber= sailor • Tis not that time of moon with me • Pyramises= pyramids • ‘slid= God’s eyelid • ‘slight= God’s light

6. Artifacts • The clothing- because Viola is dressing up as Cesario which disguises her from being a woman and causes confusion throughout the play. • Complicated mirrors- everyone is interpreting people for someone else. This is how the love triangle happens.

7. Summary of Play • The main characters are Viola, Olivia, Orsino, Cesario, and Sebastian (Viola’s twin brother). This takes place in the Kingdom of Illyria. Viola and her brother Sebastian get in a shipwreck and Viola is the only one that makes it to land(Illyria). She needs work, but needs to dress up as a man because Lady Olivia does not welcome strangers. Viola takes the name of Cesario and works for Duke Orsino. After sometime being at Illyria the love triangle occurs. Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario and everyone is just plain miserable.

8. Insider Perspective • Viola dressing up as a man and then falling in love with Duke Orsino had to be very confusing. She loved the Duke but could not express her feelings for him because she was dressed as a man. Also, she has to hear the Duke talk about how he loves Olivia and Cesario(Viola) is offended by this and wants the Duke to be in love with Viola.

9. She’s the Man • She’s the Man is a modern form of the Twelfth Night. Most people did not know this and I was not aware until my Senior year in High School. It is very similar but just the minor details are different. Viola knows Sebastian is alive and disguises herself as him and goes to an all boys school called Illyria to play soccer.

10. Shakespeare Knowledge Video

11. References • Brandenberg, Aliki. William Shakespeare and the Globe. United States: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999. Print